2005–06 European Challenge Cup

The 2005–06 European Challenge Cup was the tenth year of the European Challenge Cup, the second tier rugby union cup competition below the Heineken Cup. The tournament was held between October 2005 and May 2006.

2005–06 European Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Italy
 Romania
 Scotland
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and Knockout
Date22 October 2005 – 21 May 2006
Tournament statistics
Top point scorer(s)Shane Drahm (Worcester)
(101 points)
Top try scorer(s)James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
(9 tries)
Final
ChampionsEngland Gloucester (1st title)
Runners-upEngland London Irish
← 2004–05 (Previous)
(Next) 2006–07 →

Group stage

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Pool 1

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
  Northampton Saints 6 5 0 1 32 12 20 194 96 98 5 0 25
  Narbonne 6 4 0 2 16 11 5 125 113 12 2 0 18
  Bristol 6 3 0 3 26 21 5 203 150 53 3 1 16
  Viadana 6 0 0 6 9 39 −30 81 244 −163 0 1 1

Pool 2

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
  London Irish 6 6 0 0 32 11 21 239 81 158 3 0 27
  Agen 6 3 0 3 23 15 8 163 143 20 3 0 14
  Pau 6 2 0 4 12 19 −7 107 153 −46 2 1 11
  Overmach Parma 6 1 0 5 8 30 −22 74 206 −132 0 0 4

Pool 3

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
  Gloucester 6 6 0 0 49 6 43 331 53 278 5 0 29
  Bayonne 6 4 0 2 31 11 20 202 93 109 4 0 20
  București 6 1 0 5 7 40 −33 71 253 −182 0 1 5
  Toulon 6 1 0 5 9 39 −30 64 269 −205 0 1 5

Pool 4

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
  Newcastle Falcons 6 6 0 0 44 10 34 324 81 243 4 0 28
  Brive 6 3 0 3 30 19 11 203 169 34 4 2 18
  Borders 6 3 0 3 19 23 −4 155 177 −22 2 1 15
  L'Aquila 6 0 0 6 14 55 −41 103 358 −255 0 1 1

Pool 5

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
  Worcester Warriors 6 5 0 1 24 12 12 181 103 78 3 1 25
  Connacht 6 4 0 2 25 14 11 190 119 71 3 1 20
  Catania 6 2 0 4 15 41 −26 116 257 −141 1 1 8
  Montpellier 6 1 0 5 26 23 3 170 178 −8 2 2 7

Seeding and runners-up

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Seed Pool Winners Pts TF +/-
1   Gloucester 29 49 +278
2   Newcastle Falcons 28 44 +243
3   London Irish 27 32 +158
4   Northampton Saints 25 32 +98
5   Worcester Warriors 25 24 +78
Seed Pool Runners-up Pts TF +/-
6   Bayonne 20 31 +109
7   Connacht 20 25 +71
8   Brive 18 30 +34
  Narbonne 18 16 +12
  Agen 14 16 +20

Knockout stage

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Quarter-finals

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31 March 2006
19:30
Newcastle Falcons  23–3  Connacht
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,486
1 April 2006
15:00
Gloucester  46–13  Brive
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,898
1 April 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints  25–34  Worcester Warriors
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 9,531
2 April 2006
15:00
London Irish  48–5  Bayonne
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,100

Semi-finals

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22 April 2006
12:35
Gloucester  31–23  Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,609
23 April 2006
12:35
Newcastle Falcons  22–27  London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,243

Final

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21 May 2006
12:15
Gloucester  36–34  London Irish
The Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,053

See also

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