Cockerill: It’s a level playing field now

The restructuring of European rugby has removed one of the Irish province’s key advantages as they will no longer be able to rest players ahead of big games, according to Leicester Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill.

The European Rugby Champions Cup has replaced the Heineken Cup after a season of bitter political in-fighting with one of the key changes being that sides from the Pro12 must qualify for the following season’s competition.

In previous years they have qualified automatically, which infuriated English and French sides who had to earn their place through their league position.