2015–16 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs

Following the two-team play-off in 2014–15, an expanded, four-team format was due to be used. However, on 24 September 2014, it was announced this would instead be a three-team play-off, with the highest placed non-qualifying team taking part.{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/news/28940.php|title=European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR)|website=epcrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}

To accommodate the longer season in the French Top 14, the format was announced as follows:

• One team each would qualify from the Premiership and the Pro12, with each league being represented by the highest placed team not already qualified. These two teams would play in the first game, with home advantage in the match would be decided by a coin toss. In the event that the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup winner was a Premiership club, and it had not automatically qualified for the Champions Cup, it would take the place allocated to a Premiership team.{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/news/30479.php#.VSGSbpM2ffc|title=European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR)|website=epcrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}
• The winner of the first game would host the 7th placed team in the French Top 14. The winner of that game would qualify for the Champions Cup.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Gloucester became the first team to qualify for the play-off, taking the place allocated to the Premiership, when they beat Edinburgh 19–13 in the Challenge Cup final on 1 May 2015. This result meant that the 7th place team in the 2014–15 Premiership will no longer take part in the play-off, and will compete in the Challenge Cup. Connacht qualified next, when the finished seventh in the 2014–15 Pro12 with 50 points, narrowly edging Edinburgh who had 48 points. Bordeaux Bègles qualified for the play-off on 23 May 2015.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Connacht played Gloucester away at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium on Sunday 24 May 2015,{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2015/0516/701597-connacht-ospreys/|title=Connacht lose but make Champions Cup play-off|publisher=RTÉ|date=16 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2015|quote=Connacht will now play Gloucester away at Kingsholm next Sunday, with the winner of that tie playing the French Top 14 seventh-placed side for a spot in next year's Champions Cup.}} with the venue having been decided earlier by a coin toss.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-s-Champions-Cup-play-home-advantage/story-26430513-detail/story.html|title=Gloucester's Champions Cup play-off home advantage to be settled by Twickenham coin toss|publisher=Gloucester Citizen|author=Mike Brown|date=2 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2015|quote=The coin toss will take place during coverage of the Champions Cup final between Clermont Auvergne and Toulon at Twickenham. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506110224/http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-s-Champions-Cup-play-home-advantage/story-26430513-detail/story.html |archive-date=6 May 2015 }} It was decided that, in the event of a Gloucester win, the second play-off match would be played at Sixways Stadium in Worcester, to avoid a clash of fixtures with a Madness concert.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

{{Rugbybox

|date = 24 May 2015

|time = 15:30 GMT

|home = Gloucester {{flagicon|ENG}}

|score = 40−32
{{aet}}

|report = Report{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/32803113|title=Champions Cup play-off: Gloucester 40-32 Connacht|date=24 May 2015|access-date=14 September 2017|via=www.bbc.com}}

|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Connacht

|try1 = Moriarty 1' c
Sharples 26' m
Meakes 80' c
Dawidiuk 95' m
May 98' c

|con1 = Laidlaw (3/5) 1', 80', 98'

|pen1 = Laidlaw (2/3) 19', 43'
Hook (1/1) 92'

|try2 = J. Cooney 8' c
Carty 29' c
Healy (2) 60' m, 92' c

|con2 = Carty (3/4) 9', 30', 92'

|pen2 = Carty (2/3) 7', 79'

|stadium = Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

|attendance = 7,633

|referee = Romain Poite (FFR)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top"|

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

|}

• Gloucester advanced to play Bordeaux Bègles. Connacht went on to compete in the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

{{Rugbybox

|date = 31 May 2015

|time = 17:00 GMT

|home = Gloucester {{flagicon|ENG}}

|score = 22−23

|report = Report{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/32883925|title=European Rugby Champions Cup: Gloucester 22-23 Bordeaux-Begles|date=31 May 2015|access-date=14 September 2017|via=www.bbc.com}}

|away = {{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles

|try1 = Purdy 15' c

|con1 = Laidlaw (1/1) 16'

|pen1 = Laidlaw (5/6) 2', 10', 24', 32', 70'

|try2 = Talebula (2) 37' c, 56' c

|con2 = Bernard (2/2) 39', 58'

|pen2 = Bernard (2/2) 28', 35'

|drop2 = Bernard (1/1) 80'

|stadium = Sixways Stadium, Worcester

|attendance = 5,447

|referee = Leighton Hodges (WRU)

}}

|style="vertical-align:top"|

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

|}

• Bordeaux Bègles qualified for the 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup. Gloucester played in the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

• 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup
• 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup

{{reflist}}

{{European Rugby Champions Cup}}

{{European Rugby Challenge Cup}}

{{Connacht Rugby}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:play-offs}}

2015-16

Category:2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup

Category:2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup

Category:2014–15 in English rugby union

Category:2014–15 in French rugby union

Category:2014–15 in Irish rugby union

Category:Connacht Rugby matches

Category:Gloucester Rugby