Pool winners

The pool winners will be decided by reference to the following criteria:

a. The pool winner will be the club with the highest number of match points in each pool. The pool winners will be ranked 1 to 4 by reference to the number of match points earned in the pools.

b. If two or more clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then the order in which they have finished will be determined by:

i. the greater number of matches won by the club and ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the club with the greater total number of tries scored and iii. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against) and iv. if the points difference is equal, the club with the fewer number of red cards and v. if the number of red cards is the same, by the toss a coin.

Semi-finals and final a. Each of the four qualifying clubs shall be ranked as above and shall play each other as follows: Semi-final 1 - 1st ranked club v 4th ranked club Semi-final 2 - 2nd ranked club v 3rd ranked club b. The first club listed in each of the semi-final matches shall be the home club c. In the event of a tie at full-time at either semi-final or the final the winner of that shall be determined by: i. extra-time of 20 minutes (10 minutes each way); then ii if the scores are tied after extra-time, then the team that has scored the most tries in the match (including extra time) shall be deemed the winner; then iii if the teams have scored the same number of tries in the match (including extra-time), then the winner will be determined by a placekick competition.