2013–14 Heineken Cup

The default allocation of teams was as follows: • England: 6 teams, based on performance in the Aviva Premiership and Anglo–Welsh Cup • France: 6 teams, based on regular-season finish in the Top 14 • Ireland: 3 teams, based on regular-season finish in Pro12 • Wales: 3 teams, based on regular-season finish in Pro12 • Italy and Scotland: 2 teams each, based on participation in Pro12 (as there are only 2 from each nation) The remaining two places were filled by the winners of the previous year's Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup. If the cup winners were already qualified through their domestic league, an additional team from their country would claim a Heineken Cup place (assuming another team was available). Accordingly, since Heineken Cup winners Toulon were already qualified through the Top 14, the extra French berth went to Perpignan. Also, since Amlin Cup winners Leinster were already qualified through the Pro12, the extra Irish berth went to Connacht. Teams are listed in the order they were presented to Heineken Cup organiser European Rugby Cup by their respective leagues. ==Seeding==

The seeding system was the same as in the 2012–13 tournament. The 24 competing teams were ranked based on past Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup performance, with each pool receiving one team from each quartile, or Tier. The requirement to have only one team per country in each pool, however, still applied (with the exception of the inclusion of the seventh French team, Racing Métro 92). The brackets show each team's European Rugby Club Ranking at the end of the 2012–13 season. ==Pool stage==

The draw for the pool stage took place on 5 June 2013 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The dates and times of the first 4 rounds were announced on 20 July 2013. Under the rules of the competition organiser, European Rugby Cup, tie–breakers within each pool were as follows. • Competition points earned in head-to-head matches • Total tries scored in head-to-head matches • Point differential in head-to-head matches ERC had four additional tie-breakers, used if tied teams are in different pools, or if the above steps cannot break a tie between teams in the same pool: • Tries scored in all pool matches • Point differential in all pool matches • Best disciplinary record (fewest players receiving red or yellow cards in all pool matches) • Coin toss Pool 1 Pool 2 Pool 3 Pool 4 Pool 5 Pool 6 Seeding and runners-up • Bare numbers indicate Heineken Cup quarter–final seeding. • Numbers with "C" indicate Challenge Cup quarter–final seeding. ==Knock-out stages==

All kickoff times are local to the match location. Quarter-finals ---- ---- ---- Semi-finals ---- Final ==See also==