The Format consists of five pools of four clubs. Each team will play home and away matches against the other teams in the pool. League points follow the normal rules, 4 for a win, 2 for a draw, 0 for a loss, and Bonus Points for 4 tries or more and/or losing by 7 or less match points; Post the pool stage: \- On completion of the pools, each Club will be ranked within each pool on the following basis: \- The Club with the greatest League Points will be placed above a Club with lesser League Points; or \- If League Points are equal it will be the Club with the most wins; or \- If the number of wins is also equal it will be the Club with the greatest points difference; or \- If the points difference is also equal it will be the Club with the greatest points for; or \- If the points for is also equal it will be the Club who has scored the higher number of tries; or \- If the number of tries is also equal it will be the Club who has the least number of red cards; or \- If the number of red cards is equal it will be the Club who scored the greater number of points scored in the match between the two Clubs; or \- If the number of points scored in the match between the two Club is equal, the Tournament Director shall conduct a draw of the relevant Clubs, being that the first Club drawn shall be deemed the higher-ranked Club. \- The knock-out stage shall be divided into four quarter-finals, two semi-final matches and the final. \- Winner from each pool will progress to the quarter-finals together with the three best runners-up. The top 5 seeds are the group winners based on the above criteria, with seeds 6, 7 and 8 being the best 2nd placed teams based on the same criteria. \- Quarter-final 1: 1st ranked Club v 8th ranked Club \- Quarter-final 2: 2nd ranked Club v 7th ranked Club \- Quarter-final 3: 3rd ranked Club v 6th ranked Club \- Quarter-final 4: 4th ranked Club v 5th ranked Club \- The four winning clubs will progress to the semi-finals. \- Semi-final 1: Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF4 (at highest seeds’ ground) \- Semi-final 2: Winner of QF2 v Winner of QF3 (at highest seeds’ ground) \- The quarter-final and semi-final matches will be knock-out, each played over one match. \- The first club listed in each of the quarter-final matches shall be the Home club. \- The first club listed in each of the semi-final matches shall be the Home club. \- The winners of the two semi-final matches will proceed to the Cup final. \- The Cup final will be played at a venue of the highest ranked finalist club based upon the rankings determined in accordance with the principles above.