The format of the two best Heineken Cup runners-up qualifying for the quarter-finals as the No 7 and No 8 ranked clubs has been in operation since the 1999/2000 season with bonus points coming into the equation in 2003/04.
Since then, no club has qualified as a best runner-up with less than 19 points, although in 2003/04, Celtic Warriors, and in 2006/07, Ospreys, both found that 20 points was not sufficient to make the knockout stage.
The clubs (with current names) who have qualified as best runners-up are:
SEASON / CLUB / WINS / BONUS PTS / POINTS
1999/00
London Wasps 5 - 10
ASM Clermont Auvergne 4 - 8
2000/01
Swansea 4 - 8
Pau 4 - 8
2001/02
Munster Rugby 5 - 10
Scarlets 4 - 8
2002/03
Munster Rugby 4 - 8
Biarritz Olympique 4 - 8
2003/04
Gloucester Rugby 5 4 (T 4) 24
Edinburgh Rugby 5 2 (T 2) 22
2004/05
Northampton Saints 5 1 (T 1) 21
Leicester Tigers 4 3 (T 2, L 1) 19
2005/06
Sale Sharks 5 3 (T 3) 23
Leinster Rugby 4 6 (T 4, L 2) 22
2006/07
Munster Rugby 5 3 (T 2, L 1) 23
Northampton Saints 4 4 (T 4) 20
2007/08
Perpignan 5 2 (T 2) 22
Ospreys 5 1 (T 1) 21
2008/09
Toulouse 4 (+ 1 draw) 2 (T 1, L 1) 20
Ospreys 4 4 (T 2, L 2) 20
2009/10
Ospreys 4 (+ 1 draw) 2 (T 2) 20
Northampton Saints 4 3 (T 2, L 1) 19
2010/11
Ulster Rugby 5 2 (T 2) 22
Leicester Tigers 4 (+ 1 draw) 4 (T 3, L 1) 22
2011/12
Cardiff Blues 5 1 (T 1) 21
Ulster Rugby 4 4 (T 4, L 1) 20
(T = Try bonus; L = Losing bonus)
Here are some quarter-final pointers since runners-up and bonus points came into the Heineken Cup qualification equation:
- No club has qualified as a pool winner with less than four wins.
- Since bonus points were introduced, no club has qualified as a pool winner with less than 17 points. Toulon topped Pool 3 with 17 points in 2010/11.
- No club has qualified as one of the best runners-up with less than four wins.
- Since bonus points were introduced, no club has qualified as one of the best runners-up with less than 19 points.
Leicester Tigers in 2004/05 and Northampton Saints in 2009/10 each qualified as a best runner-up on 19 points.
The maximum points and wins attainable by each club on current pool standings are:
Pool 1
Saracens - 24 points / 5 wins
Racing Metro 92 - 22 points / 5 wins
Munster Rugby - 21 points / 4 wins
Edinburgh Rugby - 10 points / 2 wins
Pool 2
Leicester Tigers - 24 points / 5 wins
Toulouse - 23 points / 5 wins
Ospreys - 19 points / 4 wins
Benetton Treviso - 11 points / 2 wins
Pool 3
Harlequins - 29 points / 6 wins
Biarritz Olympique - 19 points / 4 wins
Connacht Rugby - 18 points / 4 wins
Zebre - 10 points / 2 wins
Pool 4
Ulster Rugby - 25 points / 5 wins
Castres Olympique - 22 points / 5 wins
Northampton Saints - 20 points / 4 wins
Glasgow Warriors - 12 points / 2 wins
Pool 5
ASM Clermont Auvergne - 28 points / 6 wins
Leinster Rugby - 20 points / 4 wins
Exeter Chiefs - 19 points / 4 wins
Scarlets - 12 points / 2 wins
Pool 6
Toulon - 28 points / 6 wins
Montpellier - 23 points / 5 wins
Sale Sharks - 14 points / 3 wins
Cardiff Blues - 11 points / 2 wins
