The 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage was the first stage of the 10th season of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Structure edit
The pool stage draw took place on 21 June 2023.[1] The complete fixture list was then announced on 13 July 2023.[2] Teams in the same pool played other teams in the same pool, either at home or away, in the group stage. The top four teams in each pool progressed to the round of 16 as well as the fifth-ranked team from each Champions Cup pool.
Teams were awarded group points based on match performances; four points for a win, two points for a draw, one attacking bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one defensive bonus point for losing a match by seven points or fewer.[3]
In the event of a tie between two or more teams, the following tie-breakers were used, as directed by European Professional Club Rugby:
- Where teams have played each other
- The club with the greater number of competition points from only matches involving tied teams.
- If equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches.
- If equal, the club that scored the most tries in those matches.
- Where teams remain tied and/or have not played each other in the competition (i.e. are from different pools)
- The club with the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage.
- If equal, the club that scored the most tries in the pool stage.
- If equal, the club with the fewest players suspended in the pool stage.
- If equal, the drawing of lots will determine a club's ranking.
Pools edit
| Top 4 in each pool, advance to round of 16. |
Pool 1 edit
| EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
 Sharks (1)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 141 | 53 | +88 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
 Pau (6)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 113 | –23 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Cheetahs (13)
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 105 | +7 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
 Zebre Parma (16)
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 92 | –9 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
 Dragons
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 80 | –9 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Oyonnax
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 110 | –54 | 8 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Green background indicates qualification places for a home Challenge Cup round of 16. Blue background indicates top two third-placed teams who also qualify for a home Challenge Cup round of 16. Yellow background indicated other teams qualified for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Plain background (rows 5 to 6) indicates teams eliminated from 2023–24 European competition. Starting table — source: EPCR | ||||||||||||
Round 1 edit
| 9 December 2023 14:00 |
| Zebre Parma | 15–33 | Cheetahs |
| Try: Fusco 77' m Gesi 80+1' c Con: Prisciantelli (1/2) 80+1' Pen: Eden (1/1) 29' | Report | Try: Jasper 35' c Fortuin 43' c Van der Westhuizen 61' c Con: Pienaar (3/3) 36', 44', 62' Pen: Pienaar (4/4) 3', 34', 40', 54' |
| Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Attendance: 1,600 Referee: Jack Makepeace (England) |
| 9 December 2023 17:15 |
| (1 BP) Sharks | 45–5 | Pau |
| Try: Am (2) 8' c, 24' c Etzebeth (2) 40' c, 46' c Potgieter 41' c Mapimpi 49' c Con: Bosch (6/6) 9', 25', 40+1', 42', 47', 51' Pen: Bosch (1/2) 31' | Report | Try: Arfeuil 14' m |
| Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 11,724 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) |
| 9 December 2023 20:00 |
| (1 BP) Dragons | 24–7 | Oyonnax |
| Try: Hewitt 43' c J. Davies 73' m Dyer (2) 76' m, 80' c Con: Reed (2/4) 44', 80+1' | Report | Try: Treilles 21' c Con: Soulan (1/1) 22' |
| Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 3,057 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) |
Round 2 edit
| 16 December 2023 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Oyonnax | 14–21 | Zebre Parma |
| Try: Durand-Pradere 39' c Sweetnam 52' c Con: Bouraux (2/2) 40', 53' | Report | Try: Canali 54' m García 57' c Con: Prisciantelli (1/2) 58' Pen: Prisciantelli (3/3) 4', 64', 79' |
| Stade Charles-Mathon, Oyonnax Attendance: 5,100 Referee: Hamish Smales (England) |
| 16 December 2023 18:30 |
| Pau | 24–21 | Dragons (1 BP) |
| Try: Ruffenach 27' c Hamonou 40' c Attissogbe 80' c Con: Desperes (3/3) 28', 40+1', 80+1' Pen: Desperes (1/2) 55' | Report | Try: Benjamin 28' m Young 69' c Con: Evans (1/2) 71' Pen: Evans (3/3) 21', 25', 49' |
| Stade du Hameau, Pau Attendance: 5,348 Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy) |
| 17 December 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Cheetahs | 32–29 | Sharks (2 BP) |
| Try: M. van der Merwe 16' c G. van der Merwe 28' m Maartens 62' c Jasper 74' c Con: Pienaar (3/4) 18', 62', 75' Pen: Pienaar (2/2) 40', 44' | Report | Try: Etzebeth 21' c F. Venter 41' m Williams 54' c Mapimpi 64' c Con: Bosch (3/4) 23', 55', 65' Pen: Bosch (1/2) 58' |
| Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 7,190 Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy) |
Round 3 edit
| 13 January 2024 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Sharks | 38–7 | Oyonnax |
| Try: Nché (2) 8' c, 20' m Mapimpi (2) 33' c, 58' c Am 48' m Labuschagné 52' c Con: Bosch (4/6) 10', 35', 53', 59' | Report | Try: Berthaud 44' c Con: Bouraux (1/1) 45' |
| Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 13,624 Referee: Adam Leal (England) |
| 13 January 2024 16:15 |
| Zebre Parma | 20–17 | Dragons (1 BP) |
| Try: Gesi (2) 25' m, 51' m Bianchi 43' c Con: Montemauri (1/3) 44' Pen: Montemauri (1/1) 34' | Report | Try: J. Rosser 57' m Pen: Evans (4/5) 5', 12', 16', 21' |
| Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Attendance: 1,900 Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France) |
| 14 January 2024 14:00 |
| Cheetahs | 20–33 | Pau |
| Try: Hartzenberg 30' m Pienaar 38' c L. Van der Westhuizen 57' m Con: Pienaar (1/3) 31', 38', 57' Pen: Pienaar 71' | Report | Try: Maddocks 10' c Gailleton 13' c Robson 74' c Con: Desperes (3/3) 10', 14', 75' Pen: Desperes (4/5) 35', 44', 63', 68' |
| NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) |
Round 4 edit
| 20 January 2024 14:00 |
| Pau | 28–27 | Zebre Parma (2 BP) |
| Try: Tuimaba (2) 32' c, 36' m Simmonds 55' c Con: Simmonds (2/3) 33', 56' Pen: Simmonds (3/4) 1', 15', 68' | Report | Try: Zambonin 8' c Gesi (2) 42' c, 77' m García 49' m Con: Montemauri (2/4) 8', 44' Pen: Prisciantelli (1/1) 73' |
| Stade du Hameau, Pau Attendance: 5,612 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) |
| 20 January 2024 16:15 |
| (1 BP) Oyonnax | 28–27 | Cheetahs (2 BP) |
| Try: Godener 31' c Taofifenua 39' c Odiase 62' c Bordenave 80+7' Con: Miotti (2/2) 32', 40' Soulan (2/2) 63', 80+9' | Report | Try: Hartzenberg 8' m M. van der Merwe (2) 16' c, 42' m Pienaar 22' c Con: Pienaar (2/4) 17', 23' Pen: Pienaar (1/1) 35' |
| Stade Charles-Mathon, Oyonnax Attendance: 6,801 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England) |
| 21 January 2024 17:30 |
| Dragons | 9–29 | Sharks (1 BP) |
| Pen: Evans (3/3) 7', 21', 59' | Report | Try: Hendrikse 35' c Nché 40' m Grobler 70' m Roets 76' c Kok 79' m Con: Bosch (2/4) 35', 77' |
| Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 3,835 Referee: Adrien Marbot (France) |
Pool 2 edit
| EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
| Benetton Rugby (3)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 87 | +60 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Montpellier (5)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 94 | 54 | +40 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Ospreys (7)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 111 | 103 | +8 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Lions (14)
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 76 | +18 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
 Newcastle Falcons
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 82 | 139 | –57 | 8 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Perpignan
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 114 | –69 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Green background indicates qualification places for a home Challenge Cup round of 16. Blue background indicates top two third-placed teams who also qualify for a home Challenge Cup round of 16. Yellow background indicated other teams qualified for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Plain background (rows 5 to 6) indicates teams eliminated from 2023–24 European competition. Starting table — source: EPCR | ||||||||||||
Round 1 edit
| 9 December 2023 17:30 |
| (1 BP) Ospreys | 43–34 | Benetton (1 BP) |
| Try: Lake (4) 7' c, 26' c, 46' c, 56' m G. Thomas 17' c M. Morris 76' c Con: O. Williams (4/5) 8', 19', 27', 48' Walsh (1/1) 77' Pen: Walsh (1/1) 80+1' | Report | Try: Ratave (2) 14' c, 21' c Negri 34' c Odogwu 51' c Con: Umaga (4/4) 15', 23', 35', 52' Pen: Umaga (2/3) 40', 79' |
| Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea Attendance: 3,335 Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France) |
| 10 December 2023 14:00 |
| Perpignan | 12–28 | Lions |
| Pen: Barraque (4/5) 6', 18', 30', 35' | Report | Try: Maxwane 9' c Con: Hendrikse (1/1) 10' Pen: Hendrikse (7/8) 2', 33', 43', 46', 60', 64', 68' |
| Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan Attendance: 5,532 Referee: Adam Leal (England) |
| 10 December 2023 17:30 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 19–24 | Montpellier (1 BP) |
| Try: Chick 50' m Stephens 54' c Blamire 74' c Con: Jennings (1/2) 55' Johnson (1/1) 75' | Report | Try: Becognee 13' c Lam 25' m Bouthier 41' m Simmonds 63' c Con: Carbonel (2/4) 14', 64' |
| Kingston Park, Newcastle Attendance: 3,802 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) |
Round 2 edit
| 16 December 2023 16:15 |
| (1 BP) Benetton | 29–7 | Perpignan |
| Try: Smith (2) 15' c, 80' m Bernasconi 36' c Izekor 48' c Con: Umaga (3/3) 17', 37', 50' Pen: Umaga (1/1) 32' | Report | Try: Montgaillard 75' c Con: Rodor (1/1) 76' |
| Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Attendance: 3,854 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) |
| 16 December 2023 17:15 |
| (1 BP) Lions | 35–13 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Botha 18' c J-P. Smith 28' c Tshituka (2) 50' c, 76' c Louw 69' c Con: Nohamba (5/5) 19', 29', 51', 70', 78' | Report | Try: Lockwood 58' c Con: Connon (1/1) 59' Pen: Connon (2/2) 8', 32' |
| Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 2,515 Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France) |
| 17 December 2023 17:15 |
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 38–5 | Ospreys |
| Try: Bridge (2) 10' c, 21' m Coly 31' c Karkadze 57' c Cadot (2) 65' c, 76' m Con: Garbisi (3/4) 11', 32', 59' Foursans-Bourdette (1/2) 66' | Report | Try: Morgan-Williams 49' m |
| GGL Stadium, Montpellier Attendance: 6,500 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England) |
Round 3 edit
| 12 January 2024 20:30 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 18–57 | Benetton (1 BP) |
| Try: Bello 12' c McCallum 62' m Con: Connon (1/2) 13' Pen: Connon (2/3) 4', 24' | Report | Try: Albornoz 16' m Ratave (2) 19' c, 43' c Menoncello (2) 27' c, 56' c Mendy 49' c Izekor 73' c Umaga 80' c Con: Albornoz (4/5) 20', 28', 44', 50' Umaga (3/3) 56', 74', 80+1' Pen: Albornoz (1/1) 34' |
| Kingston Park, Newcastle Attendance: 3,602 Referee: Tual Trainini (France) |
| 12 January 2024 20:00 |
| Ospreys | 25–3 | Perpignan |
| Try: Hopkins (2) 40' m, 50' c Giles 62' c Con: D. Edwards (2/3) 51', 63' Pen: D. Edwards (2/2) 34', 43' | Report | Pen: McIntyre (1/2) 45' |
| Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea Attendance: 4,571 Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa) |
| 13 January 2024 21:00 |
| Montpellier | 13–3 | Lions |
| Try: Doumayrou 43' m Willemse 72' m Pen: Garbisi (1/3) 49' | Report | Pen: Hendrikse (1/1) 31' |
| GGL Stadium, Montpellier Attendance: 7,500 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) |
Round 4 edit
| 20 January 2024 16:15 |
| Benetton | 27–19 | Montpellier |
| Try: Albornoz (2) 20' c, 72' c Ratave 29' c Con: Albornoz (2/2) 22', 29' Umaga (1/1) 74' Pen: Albornoz (2/2) 14', 60' | Report | Try: Cadot 35' m Erdocio 47' c Karkadze 67' c Con: Garbisi (1/2) 48' Foursans-Bourdette (1/1) 69' |
| Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Attendance: 4,792 Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa) |
| 21 January 2024 14:00 |
| Perpignan | 23–32 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Granell 25' m Dubois 34' m Dupichot 75' c Con: Barraque (1/1) 75' Pen: Rodor (2/4) 1', 52' | Report | Try: O'Sullivan 53' c Redshaw 66' c Con: Johnson (2/2) 53', 66' Pen: Johnson (6/6) 4', 14', 18', 65', 70', 74' |
| Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan Attendance: 6,821 Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy) |
| 21 January 2024 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Lions | 28–38 | Ospreys (1 BP) |
| Try: Louw (2) 16' m, 39' m Pretorius 35' m van den Berg 55' c Con: Nohamba (1/4) 56' Pen: Nohamba (2/2) 9', 49' | Report | Try: Watkin 14' c North 24' c Giles 72' c C.D. Jones 74' c Morse 78' c Con: D. Edwards (2/2) 15', 25' Walsh (3/3) 73', 76', 79' Pen: D. Edwards (1/1) 53' |
| Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 3,321 Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France) |
Pool 3 edit
| EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 3 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
| Gloucester (2)
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 52 | +47 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| Clermont (4)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 122 | 66 | +56 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
 Edinburgh (8)
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 103 | 92 | +11 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Castres (15)
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 91 | –3 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
 Black Lion
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 86 | –44 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Scarlets
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 59 | 126 | –67 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Green background indicates qualification places for a home Challenge Cup round of 16. Blue background indicates top two third-placed teams who also qualify for a home Challenge Cup round of 16. Yellow background indicated other teams qualified for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Plain background (rows 5 to 6) indicates teams eliminated from 2023–24 European competition. Starting table — source: EPCR | ||||||||||||
Round 1 edit
| 8 December 2023 21:00 |
| (1 BP) Clermont | 31–18 | Edinburgh |
| Try: Moala 24' c Newsome (2) 30' c, 61' c Biziwu 68' c Con: Belleau (4/4) 26', 31', 63', 69' Pen: Belleau (1/1) 37' | Report | Try: Sebastian 42' c Goosen 75' m Con: Swiel (1/1) 43' Pen: Swiel (1/1) 40+1' Scott (1/1) 60' |
| Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand Attendance: 13,385 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) |
| 9 December 2023 16:00 |
| (1 BP) Black Lion | 10–15 | Gloucester |
| Try: Matkava 20' c Con: Matkava (1/1) 21' Pen: Matkava (1/1) 68' | Report | Pen: Barton (5/5) 11', 17', 28', 48', 71' |
| Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 6,332 Referee: Adam Jones (Wales) |
| 9 December 2023 16:15 |
| (1 BP) Castres | 34–16 | Scarlets |
| Try: Raisuqe 4' c Fernandez 31' m Papali'i 37' m Dumora 42' c Le Brun 65' c Con: Le Brun (3/5) 6', 43', 66' Pen: Le Brun (1/1) 57' | Report | Try: Lloyd 50' c Con: Lloyd (1/1) 51' Pen: Lloyd (3/3) 12', 16', 35' |
| Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres Attendance: 8,311 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) |
Round 2 edit
| 15 December 2023 20:00 |
| Scarlets | 7–23 | Black Lion |
| Try: Fifita 3' c Con: Lloyd (1/1) 4' | Report | Try: Modebadze 33' c Mamrikashvili 58' c Con: Matkava (2/2) 34', 59' Pen: Matkava (3/4) 26', 44', 73' |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 5,830 Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France) |
| 15 December 2023 20:00 |
| Gloucester | 28–17 | Clermont |
| Try: May 16' m Socino (2) 31' c, 36' c Con: Carreras (2/3) 32', 37' Pen: Carreras (3/4) 40+2', 56', 68' | Report | Try: Jauneau 18' c Sowakula 58' c Con: Plisson (2/2) 19', 59' Pen: Plisson (1/1) 13' |
| Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Attendance: 9,481 Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) |
| 16 December 2023 13:00 |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh | 34–21 | Castres |
| Try: Goosen 5' m Van der Merwe (2) 17' m, 58' c Price 35' c Currie 37' c Con: Healy (3/5) 36', 38', 59' Pen: Healy (1/1) 22' | Report | Try: Bouzerand 1' c De Benedittis 66' c Nakarawa 70' c Con: Popelin (1/1) 2' Palis (1/1) 67' Fernandez (1/1) 71' |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 6,206 Referee: Adam Jones (Wales) |
Round 3 edit
| 13 January 2024 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Clermont | 38–17 | Scarlets |
| Try: Raka (2) 27' c, 38' c Belleau (2) 33' m, 80+1' c Beria 42' c Jurand 46' m Con: Belleau (4/6) 29', 40', 44', 80+2' | Report | Try: ST. Evans 69' c Hardy 79' c Con: Lloyd (2/2) 70', 79' Pen: Costelow (1/1) 32' |
| Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand Attendance: 15,552 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) |
| 13 January 2024 16:15 |
| (1 BP) Castres | 28–6 | Black Lion |
| Try: Raisuqe 16' c Zarantonello 43' c Arata 62' c Colonna 77' c Con: Le Bruin (4/4) 18', 44', 63', 79' | Report | Pen: Matkava (2/2) 12', 47' |
| Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres Attendance: 8,965 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England) |
| 13 January 2024 17:30 |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh | 20–21 | Gloucester |
| Try: Young 22' m Ashman 61' m Vellacott 68' c Con: Healy (1/3) 69' Pen: Healy (1/2) 51' | Report | Try: Rees-Zammit 45' m Mercer 73' c Con: Hastings (1/2) 74' Pen: Hastings (3/3) 37', 53', 56' |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 7,774 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) |
Round 4 edit
| 19 January 2024 20:00 |
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 35–5 | Castres |
| Try: Atkinson 8' c Clarke 49' c Hastings 65' c Tuisue 71' m Con: Hastings (2/2) 9', 50' Carreras (1/2) 67' Pen: Hastings (2/2) 24', 60' Carreras (1/1) 80' | Report | Try: Raisuqe 37' m |
| Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Attendance: 10,176 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) |
| 19 January 2024 20:00 |
| Scarlets | 19–31 | Edinburgh (1 BP) |
| Try: Roberts 14' m Conbeer 79' c Penalty Try 80' Con: Lloyd (1/2) 79' | Report | Try: Vellacott 2' c Nel 6' c van der Merwe 20' m Watson 33' c Schoeman 43' m Con: Healy (3/5) 2', 7', 33' |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 5,993 Referee: Sara Cox (England) |
| 20 January 2024 16:00 |
| Black Lion | 3–36 | Clermont (1 BP) |
| Pen: Matkava (1/2) 35' | Report | Try: Delguy (2) 24' c, 43' c Newsome 36' c Darricarrère 54' c Moala 60' m Con: Belleau (4/5) 24', 37', 45', 55' Pen: Belleau (1/1) 3' |
| Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 17,233 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) |
References edit
- ^ "Heavyweight clashes to savour for 2023/24 season as EPCR pool draws completed". European Professional Club Rugby. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "2023/24 EPCR pool stage fixture dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage announced". European Professional Club Rugby. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ "European Professional Club Rugby – Champions Cup – Rules". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 13 July 2023.