Leinster's Cullen wants Champions Cup to be 'protected' after format change reports

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said on Friday that organisers need to safeguard the Champions Cup following reports the leading competition in club rugby is set to be changed again.

English newspaper The Telegraph claimed on Tuesday that prem clubs wanted to replace the pool stages of the tournament with a straight knockout stage and reduce the teams involved to 16.

The Champions Cup has experienced various changes in its 30-year history, but currently has 24 sides, a record high, competing in four pools before the last 16.

"It's an incredible tournament to be part of," Cullen told reporters before Saturday's final against holders Bordeaux-Begles in Bilbao, Spain.

"I hope the organisers, they protect it," the 48-year-old, who has won the tournament four times as a coach and player, added.

Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru said a change is needed to the group stage where teams meet each other just once, unlike the former home and away format.

In recent seasons, during early games of the tournament there have been a host of lopsided results, including the French club's 50-28 hammering of Northampton in a repeat of last year's final.

"What poses a problem is the pool stage that is illegible in how it's prepared and difficult in its running," Bru told reporters.

"I think there are adjustments to be made with the first part of it.

"All of its magic is born during the knockout stages, in that way it's unrivalled," he added.

'FIGURE OUT'

Further doubt has been cast over the competition after the South African Rugby Union announced last Saturday it was reviewing the tournaments its teams are involved in due to worries about player welfare.

Four outfits from the Rainbow Nation have been involved in the Champions Cup, and second-tier Challenge Cup, since 2022 having joined the United Rugby Championship, with teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, two years earlier.

"The South Africans have added hugely to our domestic competition," Cullen said.

"They're still trying to figure out how to manage the problem of that.

"But they'll get better at it," he added.

Bordeaux-Begles and their star-studded backline, including France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, won the club's maiden title with the Champions Cup last season, having been founded in 2006.

"Winning last year unblocked something in us," Bru said.

"It gave us confidence in the way we work.

"We have to make sure that confidence doesn't become overconfidence though."

Cullen's province have travelled to Bilbao eyeing a fifth Champions Cup crown, and a first triumph since lifting the trophy in the Basque city in 2018.

"We know it's going to be a serious challenge, we are fully respectful of the Bordeaux team and what they've achieved in recent times," Cullen said.

"You want to be able to test yourselves against the best," he added.