Outgoing EPCR Chairman reveals plans for four-yearly Club Rugby World Cup

Outgoing EPCR Chairman Simon Halliday has revealed plans for a Club Rugby World Cup every four years, replacing the latter stages of the Heineken Champions Cup.

The outgoing chairman of European Professional Club Rugby Simon Halliday has revealed plans to stage a Club Rugby World Cup every four years.

The new world club tournament would feature teams from the southern hemisphere’s Super Rugby tournament, such as the Crusaders, the Waratahs and the Hurricanes.

The new tournament is also set to replace the knock-out stages of the Heineken Champions Cup. For now however, the EPCR will continue with the reduced pool stage and more knockout games after the success of last season’s re-worked format.

Halliday is set to step down from the role which he held for the past six-and-a-half years, The former England international oversaw the signing of an eight-year arrangement between the clubs and unions as EPCR chairman.

Halliday also outlined plans for the inclusion of the URC’s newest South African teams in next year’s Heineken Champions Cup, by likely expanding the tournaments current format.