Champions Cup play-off still a possibility for Falcons
What we now know for certain is that the Falcons can’t qualify automatically for the Champions Cup. To qualify they need to do it through the play-offs, which means finishing seventh in the Premiership table and then hoping that Gloucester do not win the European Challenge Cup final.
[**CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AVIVA PREMIERSHIP TABLE**][1]
Aviva Premiership points are awarded as follows:
4 points for a win.
2 points for a draw.
1 point for losing by less than eight points.
1 point for scoring four or more tries in a game.
If teams are tied on points in the Premiership table the position is decided firstly by ‘games won’ and, if teams are still level, by points difference.
For Newcastle to stand any chance of finishing seventh they need to win at Bristol on Saturday, and hope that Northampton and Gloucester both lose. Northampton are at home to Harlequins, while Gloucester host Exeter, all games starting at the same time.
Bonus points (both for scoring four or more tries and for losing by less than eight) could still come into the equation to determine which side finishes seventh.
But if Newcastle do finish seventh and Gloucester do not win the Challenge Cup final, Newcastle would host a home semi-final against the ninth-ranked Guinness Pro 12 team on the weekend of May 19/20/21.
The winner of that would host the play-off final on the weekend of May 26/27/28 against either the seventh-ranked French Top 14 team or the eighth-ranked Pro 12 team, the winner of this final earning qualification into next season’s Champions Cup.
[1]: http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/Fixture/Table
