2020 European Rugby Champions Cup final

The 2020 European Rugby Champions Cup Final was the final match in the 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup, and the twenty-fifth European club rugby final in general. The final was held between first-time finalists Exeter Chiefs, and two-time runners-up Racing 92. Originally due to take place at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on 23 May, it was rescheduled to Ashton Gate in Bristol on 17 October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 European Rugby Champions Cup Final
Event2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup
Date17 October 2020
VenueAshton Gate Stadium, Bristol
RefereeNigel Owens

Background

Both Exeter and Racing entered into the 2020 final with significantly little championship pedigree compared to the finalists of the previous year's final, Saracens and Leinster, as neither team had yet won the tournament. Racing had appeared in two previous finals in 2016 and 2018, losing to Saracens and Leinster respectively, while Exeter hadn't previously reached the semi-finals. Exeter entered the final undefeated with a 31–31 away draw to Glasgow Warriors while Racing also had a 21–21 away draw with Munster but also with a 27–24 away loss to Saracens.[1]

Exeter and Racing had never met in European competitions prior to the 2020 final.[2]

Route to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

England Exeter Chiefs Round France Racing 92
Opponent Result Pool stage Opponent Result
France La Rochelle 31–12 (A) Matchday 1 England Saracens 30–10 (H)
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 34–18 (H) Matchday 2 Ireland Munster 21–21 (A)
England Sale Sharks 22–20 (A) Matchday 3 Wales Ospreys 40–19 (A)
England Sale Sharks 35–10 (H) Matchday 4 Wales Ospreys 40–17 (H)
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 31–31 (A) Matchday 5 Ireland Munster 39–22 (H)
France La Rochelle 33–14 (H) Matchday 6 England Saracens 24–27 (A)
Pool 2 winner
Team P Pts
England Exeter Chiefs 627
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 617
France La Rochelle 610
England Sale Sharks 67
Final standings Pool 4 winner
Team P Pts
France Racing 92 623
England Saracens 618
Ireland Munster 616
Wales Ospreys 62
Opponent Result Knock-out stage Opponent Result
England Northampton Saints 38–15 (H) Quarter-finals France Clermont 36–27 (A)
France Toulouse 28–18 (H) Semi-finals England Saracens 19–15 (H)

Match

Summary

Drawn into pools 2 and 4 respectively, Exeter and Racing both finished at the top of their pool. Exeter finished on 27 points, winning five matches and drawing away to Glasgow Warriors.[3] Racing finished on 23 points, winning four matches, drawing away to Munster and suffering defeat away to Saracens in their final pool match.[4] Exeter qualified with a No. 2 seed for the knockout stage, while Racing captured the No. 5 seed. In the knockout stage, Exeter defeated No. 7 Northampton Saints (home) and No. 3 Toulouse (home), while Racing 92 defeated No. 4 Clermont (away) and No. 8 Saracens (home) en route to the final.[5]

In the match, Exeter raced out to a 14–0 lead with tries by Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds in the 8th and 16th minutes respectively, with Joe Simmonds successful on both conversions. Four minutes later, Racing got on the board via Simon Zebo, but the conversion was not successful. Racing's Juan Imhoff scored another try in the 32nd minute, with Finn Russell making the conversion. Exeter responded in the final minute of the half with a try scored by Harry Williams and a conversion by Joe Simmonds, making the halftime score 21–12 in favour of Exeter.[6]

The second half began quickly, as Racing's Simon Zebo found the try zone in three minutes and Exeter's Henry Slade did the same two minutes later. In the 50th minute, Camille Chat narrowed Exeter's lead to one score with a try, and Maxime Machenaud's subsequent conversion narrowed the score to 28–24. Machenaud made it a one-point contest in the 65th minute by scoring Racing's only penalty of the game. The next 15 minutes were the longest scoring drought of the match, as it remained 28–27 until the game's final moments. During this time however, tensions arose when Exeter's Tomas Francis was sin binned by referee Nigel Owens for a deliberate knock-on within their own 22, however a penalty of their own for not releasing permanently put them out of danger. Joe Simmonds's stoppage time penalty goal then all but ensured an Exeter victory, by the score of 31–27.[6]

With the victory, Exeter Chiefs won their first European Champions Cup title, while Racing 92 fell in their third final in the last five years.[7]

Details

17 October 2020
16:45 BST (UTC+01:00)
Exeter Chiefs England31–27France Racing 92
Try: Cowan-Dickie 8' c
S. Simmonds 16' c
Williams 40'+1 c
Slade 45' c
Con: J. Simmonds (4/4) 9', 17', 40'+1, 46'
Pen: J. Simmonds (1/1) 80'+1
ReportTry: Zebo (2) 20' m, 43' m
Imhoff 32' c
Chat 50' c
Con: Russell (1/2) 32'
Machenaud (1/2) 51'
Pen: Machenaud (1/1) 65'
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
FB15Scotland Stuart Hogg
RW14England Jack Nowellred cross icon 67' to 69'
OC13England Henry Slade
IC12Ireland Ian Whittendownward-facing red arrow 59'upward-facing green arrow 67'downward-facing red arrow 69'
LW11England Tom O'Flaherty
FH10England Joe Simmonds (c)
SH9England Jack Maunderdownward-facing red arrow 65'
N88England Sam Simmonds
OF7South Africa Jacques Vermeulendownward-facing red arrow 56'
BF6Zimbabwe Dave Ewers
RL5England Jonny Hill
LL4Scotland Jonny Graydownward-facing red arrow 59'
TP3England Harry Williamsdownward-facing red arrow 56'
HK2England Luke Cowan-Dickiedownward-facing red arrow 56'
LP1England Alec Hepburndownward-facing red arrow 56'
Substitutions:
HK16England Jack Yeandleupward-facing green arrow 56'
PR17England Ben Moonupward-facing green arrow 56'
PR18Wales Tomas Francisupward-facing green arrow 56'yellow card 71' to end'
LK19Scotland Sam Skinnerupward-facing green arrow 59'
FL20South Africa Jannes Kirstenupward-facing green arrow 56'
SH21Scotland Sam Hidalgo-Clyneupward-facing green arrow 65'
FH22Ireland Gareth Steenson
CE23England Ollie Devotoupward-facing green arrow 59'
Coach:
England Rob Baxter
FB15Ireland Simon Zebodownward-facing red arrow 65'
RW14France Louis Dupichot
OC13France Virimi Vakatawa
IC12France Henry Chavancy (c)
LW11Argentina Juan Imhoff
FH10Scotland Finn Russell
SH9France Teddy Iribarendownward-facing red arrow 40'
N88France Antonie Claassendownward-facing red arrow 76'
OF7France Fabien Sanconnie
BF6France Wenceslas Lauret
RL5New Zealand Dominic Bird
LL4France Bernard Le Rouxdownward-facing red arrow 67'
TP3France Georges-Henri Colombedownward-facing red arrow 51'
HK2France Camille Chatdownward-facing red arrow 51'
LP1France Eddy Ben Arousdownward-facing red arrow 76'
Substitutions:
HK16France Teddy Baubignyupward-facing green arrow 51'
PR17France Hassane Kolingarupward-facing green arrow 76'
PR18France Ali Ozupward-facing green arrow 51'
LK19Ireland Donnacha Ryanupward-facing green arrow 67'
FL20France Boris Paluupward-facing green arrow 76'
SH21France Maxime Machenaudupward-facing green arrow 40'
FH22France Olivier Klemenczak
CE23Australia Kurtley Bealeupward-facing green arrow 65'
Coach:
France Laurent Travers

Touch judges:
Mike Adamson (SRU)
Craig Evans (WRU)
Television Match Official:
Ian Davies (WRU)

References

  1. "Exeter boss Baxter 'all over the place' after Champions Cup triumph". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  2. "Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 go in search of first Heineken Champions Cup crown". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  3. "Heineken Champions Cup | Pool Tables". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. "Saracens reach Champions Cup quarters with win over Racing 92". ESPN.com. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. "Imhoff strikes late as Racing end Saracens dreams of Champions Cup glory". ESPN.com. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. "Exeter Chiefs edge past Racing 92 in thriller to become European champions". ESPN.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. "Exeter becomes European club rugby champion for 1st time". San Diego Union-Tribune. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
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