Fans confused by complicated draw for Heineken Champions Cup

Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh rugby supporters learned their sides’ opponents in the new look Heineken Champions Cup draw this afternoon.

Exeter Chiefs won the cup earlier this month - but fans can't fathom this season's set-up. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

But the new system, brought in as a result of a condensed schedule and the COVID-19 pandemic, left many fans scratching their heads.

Edinburgh will face La Rochelle and Sale Sharks in the round-robin group stages, while there’s a Scotstoun return for Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray as cup holders Exeter Chiefs visit Glasgow Warriors, as will Lyon.

The group stage set up four fixtures for December and January with the quarter finals on April 2/3/4 and April 9/10/11 next year, the semi’s held between April 30 and May 2 before the final in Marseille on May 22.

You can watch the draw here.

The new format was detailed by organisers before the draw this afternoon – but many couldn’t follow and waited for their clubs to confirm the fixtures.

When they did so Edinburgh were facing up to La Rochelle and Sale Sharks while across the country former Glasgow pair Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray will be making a return to Scotstoun when Exeter Chiefs play the Warriors. Lyon are the other team in the section. Dates for the matches are still to be finalised.

However supporters trying to work out who, before when and where were left scratching their heads and took to social media to express their bewilderment at the draw process.

Here’s just some of the confused GIF reactions on Twitter from the perplexed fans and supporters.