The wider issue for South Africa and Argentina is where their future lies in the professional game
The format for next season’s European Champions Cup seems so complicated in its design that it could be an offshoot of the Duckworth-Lewis method. Two pools of 12 teams, who will each play four matches, will be layered by tiers with no two clubs from the same country facing each other.
An earlier plan divided the 24 teams into eight groups of three with the sides playing each other home and away. It was more straightforward than the one that has now been decided on, but with the coronavirus restrictions on travel, distancing and gathering looking as if they will remain in place well into next year, the organisers have given themselves some wriggle room.
Related: Exeter's Rob Baxter fears Champions Cup will be hurt by revised format
Related: England hope up to 22,000 fans will be at Twickenham for autumn games
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