4.7 The pool winners, runners-up and the two best third placed teams will qualify for the knockout stage. The pool winners will be decided by reference to the following criteria:  

4.7.1 The three pool winners shall be ranked 1-3 in each case based on the number of Competition Points earned in the pool stage. The three runners-up and two best third placed teams shall be ranked 4-8 in each case based on the number of Competition Points earned in the pool stage. 

4.7.2 If two or more Clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on Competition Points, then the order in which they have finished will be determined by:  

i. the greater number of matches won by the Club and 

ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the Club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against) and 

iii. if the points difference is equal, the Club with greater number of tries scored and 

iv. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the Club with the fewer number of red cards and 

v. if the number of red cards is the same, the Tournament Organisers shall toss a coin. 

The knock-out Stage:  

4.8 The knock-out stage shall be divided into four quarter-final Matches, two semi-final Matches and a final Match. 

4.9 The quarter-final Matches shall comprise of the top two Clubs from each pool and the two highest ranking third place Clubs across all the pools, in all cases as ranked in accordance with the principles set out in 4.7 above. The winning Club of each pool and the highest ranked second place Club across all pools will play at home as follows:  

• Quarter-final 1: Seed 1 vs. Seed 8

• Quarter-final 2: Seed 2 vs. Seed 7

• Quarter-final 3: Seed 3 vs. Seed 6

• Quarter-final 4: Seed 4 vs. Seed 5

The Tournament Organiser may adjust the quarter-final draw above in order to ensure teams from the same pool do not play each other. 

4.10  The semi-final Matches shall comprise the winners of each quarter-final who shall play each other as follows and the first Club listed in each of the semi-final matches shall be the Home Club:  

• Semi-final 1: Quarter-final 1 vs. Quarter-final 4

• Semi-final 2: Quarter-final 2 vs. Quarter-final 3

The Tournament Organiser may adjust the semi-final draw above in order to ensure teams from the same pool do not play each other. 

4.11 The winners of the two semi-final Matches will proceed to the cup final.  The cup final will be played at a venue determined by the Tournament Organiser in accordance with Regulation 5.4. 

4.12 In the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level, there shall be a five minute break (where the teams and players shall remain on the pitch) and then a period of extra time shall begin between the teams of 10 minutes each way, with a 1 minute interval. If the scores remain equal after this period of extra time then the winner will be the team which has scored the most tries in the game (including extra time). If the scores are level and the number of tries scored is equal, then there shall be a place kick competition (as set out in Appendix 1) to determine the winner.

https://www.englandrugby.com//dxdam/68/68668b6f-5607-4878-882f-dcaa9eb18c77/Championship%20Cup%20Regulations%2019-20.pdf" rel="nofollow - LINK to full 2019/20 regs

http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=1752&season=2019-2020#table" rel="nofollow - https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=1752&season=2019-2020#table  

The official standings after Round 5 and the remaining fixtures:

http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=1752&season=2019-2020#fixtures" rel="nofollow - https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=1752&season=2019-2020#fixtures

If I understand it correctly Falcons are the only team guaranteed to top their pool and seven of the quarter finalists are inked in with the final place going to either Donny or Amptill. Pool 3 seems to have 3 inked in Q/F places but anyone's guess who will top that one.

In your experience do they tend to actually do this? Or are they just leaving the possibility open?

Don't worry Mark you won't have to play us in the QFs now that we have got your measure 

cheshire exile wrote: Not sure whether the same rules/ laws apply to this competition as to the defunct (and lamented) B&I Cup.

 

No, this comp has its own regs that have been tweaked slightly this year, see link in my post above...

Last year the reg said that the organisers 'will' adjust the QF draw; this was what happened as the 2nd (Irish) & 7th (Blues) seeds had been in the same pool, as had the 3rd (Carnegie) & 6th (Cov). So Cov & Blues were swapped.

This year, in a slight change, it says they 'may' adjust the QF.

The 'may' wording for the semi-final is required as in theory you could have 3 of the 4 SF teams originating from the same pool, making it impossible for them to be kept apart.

The lesson is the same as before - once the results are finalised on Saturday, top-4-ranked clubs can start to plan the QF ties they'll stage at home, but without being sure who'll be their visitors; the away teams need to wait for confirmation.

Falcons and Ealing are guaranteed home ties (even though the latter may not win their pool)

They did OK Mark but needed to cut out some of the errors - especially against classy teams who will capitalise on them as the Falcons did on Saturday.