Champions Cup and South African sides (A long thread)

News coming out of France this morning that the Champions Cup for next season is to follow a similar format to this year with 24 teams in two conferences of 12 with each team playing four games (2 home and 2 away)

there would be a 2 legged quarter final and then one match at semi final and final stage.
Each league, Top14, Premiership and Pro16 would have 8 sides each in the competition but its up to each league to decide the qualification process.

Because the Pro14 (as it was) didn't have the Cheetahs or Kings take part this year SARU didn't have to pay their £6 million "entry fee". To ensure that money was received the Pro12 was cut short and we got the Rainbow Cup. But that has been altered due to Covid.

SARU still made the £6 million payment despite the fact their teams would only be able to play a domestic version of Rainbow Cup and it wouldn't surprise me if that payment was linked to SOME participation in European competitions next season.

Given the uncertainty over the format of the Champions Cup for 21/22 it appears most of the Pro12 teams worked on the basis that the top three in each conference would qualify because that was the absolute minimum number expected to take part.

Now that two extra places have become available there will be a lot of political pressure about who gets them.
Already qualified Leinster, Ulster, Ospreys, Munster, Connacht and Scarlets.
Cardiff and Glasgow who finished 4th in their respective conference are in limbo.

There has been some talk that the remaining two spots for the Champions Cup could be given out as part of the Rainbow Cup to make it more meaningful and that would link in with the idea of the SARU payment despite the lack of games against northern hemisphere teams.

Its still very unclear if the two spots would be allocated equally - one for the Northern Hemisphere version and one for the SA teams or if the South African teams would get both.
Also Cardiff, through their CEO Richard Holland have been very vocal on the subject of missing out.

"Having South African sides qualifying via the Rainbow Cup would not be agreeable to Wales and they are a shareholder. You cannot move the goalposts like that.

‘We will not be relinquishing a place to the benefit of the South Africans. We would fight any such moves."

While that fighting talk is all good I'm not sure Holland has returned his 500k cheque back to SARU just yet and i think there is a long way to go before the final 8 Pro16 teams will be confirmed for next years competition.