Donal Lenihan: One Champions Cup constant: The importance of being at home for the knockouts

In its latest guise, with four of the six teams emerging from pools and advancing to the Round of 16, it’s harder not to make the knockout phase than to exit the tournament

FINAL RE-RUN: Gregory Alldritt (L) captain of La Rochelle walks out of the tunnel with Leinster Captain James Ryan during the Heineken Cup Champions Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on May 20, 2023. (Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images

It’s the Champions Cup but not as we know it. It’s not even the Heineken Champions Cup anymore with the former title sponsors that will forever be associated with the once-great European tournament, especially in Ireland, no longer on board.

For the sake of accuracy this season's tournament, which kicks off this weekend, has now re-emerged as the Investec Champions Cup. With due respects to the new arrivals and on the back of yet more tweaks to the competition, it just doesn’t feel the same.