Pool winners

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

a The club with the highest number of match points in each pool.
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 then
ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the club with the greater total number of tries scored, then
iii. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against), then
iv. if the points difference is equal, the club with the fewer number of red cards, then
v. if the number of red cards is the same, by the toss a coin.

The pool winners will be ranked 1-4 by reference to the following criteria:

a The club with the highest number of match points
b If two or more clubs end the pool stage equal on match points, then the order in which they are ranked will be determined by:

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

Semi-finals and Final

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

The order of the semi finals will be determined after consultation with the host broadcaster.