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.
| Event | 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 17 October 2020 | ||||||
| Venue | Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol | ||||||
| Referee | Nigel Owens (Wales) | ||||||
Background edit
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 edit
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
 Exeter Chiefs
|
Round |  Racing 92
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Pool stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| La Rochelle
|
31–12 (A) | Matchday 1 | Saracens
|
30–10 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Glasgow Warriors
|
34–18 (H) | Matchday 2 |  Munster
|
21–21 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sale Sharks
|
22–20 (A) | Matchday 3 |  Ospreys
|
40–19 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sale Sharks
|
35–10 (H) | Matchday 4 | Ospreys
|
40–17 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glasgow Warriors
|
31–31 (A) | Matchday 5 | Munster
|
39–22 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| La Rochelle
|
33–14 (H) | Matchday 6 | Saracens
|
24–27 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pool 2 winner
|
Final standings | Pool 4 winner
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opponent | Result | Knock-out stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northampton Saints
|
38–15 (H) | Quarter-finals | Clermont
|
36–27 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toulouse
|
28–18 (H) | Semi-finals | Saracens
|
19–15 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Match edit
Summary edit
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 edit
| 17 October 2020 16:45 BST (UTC+01:00) |
| Exeter Chiefs | 31–27 | 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 | Report | Try: 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) |
     Exeter
|
     Racing 92
|
Touch judges:
Mike Adamson (SRU)
Craig Evans (WRU)
Television Match Official:
Ian Davies (WRU)
References edit
- ^ "Exeter boss Baxter 'all over the place' after Champions Cup triumph". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 go in search of first Heineken Champions Cup crown". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Heineken Champions Cup | Pool Tables". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Saracens reach Champions Cup quarters with win over Racing 92". ESPN.com. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Imhoff strikes late as Racing end Saracens dreams of Champions Cup glory". ESPN.com. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Exeter Chiefs edge past Racing 92 in thriller to become European champions". ESPN.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Exeter becomes European club rugby champion for 1st time". San Diego Union-Tribune. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.