This weekend several Round 4 matches will determine who will qualify to play in the Top 16 of the Investec Champions Cup. Only seven clubs have qualified for the Top 16, with the Hollywoodbets Sharks and the DHL Stormers currently placed fourth in their respective Pools.
- The top four clubs in each Pool all qualify for the Round of 16
- The top two clubs in each Pool secure a home tie in the Round of 16
- The ranking for the knock-out stage is based on the total number of match points across all four pool matches, with the clubs ranked in the following bands:
• Top-placed clubs in each Pool ranked 1-4
• Second-placed clubs in each Pool ranked 5-8
• Third-placed clubs in each Pool ranked 9-12
• Fourth-placed clubs in each Pool ranked 13-16
- The ranking is retained throughout the knock-out stage – crucial when it comes to playing at home or away in both the quarter-finals and/or semi-finals
- The fifth-placed clubs progress to the EPCR Challenge Cup knock-out stage