2018–19 European Rugby Champions Cup

Teams

1. Champions Cup winner, if not already qualified
2. Challenge Cup winner, if not already qualified
3. Challenge Cup losing finalist, if not already qualified
4. Challenge Cup semi-finalist, if not already qualified, or the winner of a play-off between both semi-finalists, if both have not already qualified
5. Highest ranked non-qualified club by virtue of league position from the same league as the Champions Cup winner

• England: 7 clubs
• * The top 6 clubs in the English Premiership.
• * The runner-up of the 2017–18 Challenge Cup Final, Gloucester.
• France: 6 clubs
• * The top 6 clubs in the Top 14.
• Ireland, Scotland & Wales: 7 clubs, based on performance in the Pro14.
• *Following the inclusion of 2 South African teams into the Pro14, the tournament format and qualification process was changed.
• *The top 3 sides in each Pro14 conference, automatically qualify for the Champions Cup. The previous requirement for each country to be represented was waived beginning with this season.
• *The next best placed eligible team in each conference compete in a one-off play-off game to determine the 7th Pro14 team.

Team details

Team	Coach / Director of Rugby	Captain	Stadium	Capacity	Method of qualification
Seeding The twenty competing teams are seeded and split into four tiers, each containing five teams. For the purpose of creating the tiers, clubs are ranked based on their domestic league performances and on their qualification for the knockout phases of their championships. For example, a losing quarter-finalist would be seeded below a losing semi-finalist, even if they finished above them in the regular season. Rank Top 14 Premiership Pro14 1 Pool stage The draw took place on 20 June 2018, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Teams in the same pool play each other twice, at home and away, in the group stage that begins on the weekend of 12–14 October 2018, and continues through to 18–20 January 2019. The five pool winners and three best runners-up progress to the quarter-finals. Teams are awarded group points based on match performances. Four points are awarded for a win, two points for a draw, one attacking bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one defensive bonus point for losing a match by seven points or fewer. In the event of a tie between two or more teams, the following tie-breakers are used, as directed by EPCR: Where teams have played each other # The club with the greater number of competition points from only matches involving tied teams. # If equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches. # If equal, the club that scored the most tries in those matches. Where teams remain tied and/or have not played each other in the competition # The club with the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage. # If equal, the club that scored the most tries in the pool stage. # If equal, the club with the fewest players suspended in the pool stage. # If equal, the drawing of lots will determine a club's ranking. Winner of each pool, advance to quarter-finals. Three second-place teams with the highest number of points advance to quarter-finals. Knock-out stage Format The eight qualifiers are ranked according to their performance in the pool stage and compete in the quarter-finals which will be held on the weekend of 28–31 March 2019. The four top teams will host the quarter-finals against the four lower teams in a 1v8, 2v7, 3v6 and 4v5 format. The semi-finals were played on the weekend of 19–21 April 2019. As in recent seasons, a fixed semi-final bracket was set in advance. Beginning this season, the higher-seeded team received home country/venue advantage for each semi-final, regardless of whether they won their quarter-final at home or on the road. Also new for this season was the EPCR's use of discretion to allow semi-finals to be played at a qualified club's home venue. The winners of the semi-finals contested the final, at St James' Park, on 11 May 2019. Attendances Does not include the attendance at the final as it takes place at a neutral venue. Club Home Games Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity Player scoring Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes. Most points Rank Player Team Points 1 Most tries Rank Player Team Tries 1 |rugby union Season records Team ;Largest home win – 49 points 52–3 Leinster at home to Wasps on 12 October 2018 ;Largest away win – 26 points 41–15 Munster away to Gloucester on 11 January 2019 ;Most points scored – 56 points 56–27 Saracens at home to Glasgow Warriors on 30 March 2019 ;Most tries in a match – 8 Leinster at home to Wasps on 12 October 2018 ;Most conversions in a match – 6 Leinster at home to Wasps on 12 October 2018 Leinster at home to Bath on 15 December 2018 Saracens at home to Glasgow Warriors on 30 March 2019 ;Most penalties in a match – 6 Saracens at home to Munster on 20 April 2019 ;Most drop goals in a match – 1 Castres at home to Exeter Chiefs on 20 October 2018 Lyon at home to Saracens on 13 January 2019 Player ;Most points in a match – 26 Joey Carbery for Munster at away to Gloucester on 11 January 2019 ;Most tries in a match – 2 Multiple players ;Most conversions in a match – 6 Alex Lozowski for Saracens at home to Glasgow Warriors on 30 March 2019 ;Most penalties in a match – 6 Owen Farrell for Saracens at home to Munster on 20 April 2019 ;Most drop goals in a match – 1 Julien Dumora for Castres at home to Exeter Chiefs on 20 October 2018 Jonathan Wisniewski for Lyon at home to Saracens on 13 January 2019 Attendances ;Highest – 51,930 Saracens versus Leinster on 11 May 2019 ;Lowest – 6,383 Newcastle Falcons at home to Montpellier on 21 October 2018 ;Highest average attendance — 34,285 Leinster ;Lowest average attendance — 6,750 Newcastle Falcons