The 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage was the first stage of the 10th season of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Structure
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 EPCR:
- 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
| Top 4 in each pool, advance to round of 16. |
Pool 1
| Pool 1 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
 Sharks (q) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 44 | +68 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Cheetahs |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 77 | +8 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
 Zebre Parma |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 64 | –8 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
 Pau |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 86 | –24 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
 Dragons |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 51 | +11 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Oyonnax (E) |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 83 | –55 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Green background (rows 1 to 4) are qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. (q) indicates teams qualified for the next round of Challenge Cup rugby but not confirmed seeding. (E) indicated teams that are eliminated Starting table — source: EPCR | ||||||||||||
Round 1
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 20 January 2024 16:15 |
| Oyonnax | v | Cheetahs |
| Stade Charles-Mathon, Oyonnax Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England) |
Pool 2
| Pool 2 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
| Montpellier (q) |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 27 | +48 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Benetton Rugby (q) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 68 | +52 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Lions (q) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 38 | +28 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Ospreys (q) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 73 | 75 | –2 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
 Newcastle Falcons (E) |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 116 | –66 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Perpignan (E) |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 82 | –60 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Green background (rows 1 to 4) are qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. (q) indicates teams qualified for the next round of Challenge Cup rugby but not confirmed seeding. (E) indicated teams that are eliminated Starting table — source: EPCR | ||||||||||||
Round 1
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 20 January 2024 16:15 |
| Benetton | v | Montpellier |
| Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa) |
| 21 January 2024 14:00 |
| Perpignan | v | Newcastle Falcons |
| Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy) |
Pool 3
| Pool 3 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
| Gloucester (q) |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 47 | +17 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Castres (q) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 83 | 56 | +27 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Clermont |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 63 | +23 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
 Edinburgh |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 72 | 73 | –1 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
 Black Lion |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 50 | –11 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Scarlets (E) |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 95 | –55 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Green background (rows 1 to 4) are qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. (q) indicates teams qualified for the next round of Challenge Cup rugby but not confirmed seeding. (E) indicated teams that are eliminated Starting table — source: EPCR | ||||||||||||
Round 1
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 19 January 2024 20:00 |
| Gloucester | v | Castres |
| Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) |
| 20 January 2024 16:00 |
| Black Lion | v | Clermont |
| Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) |
References
- ↑ "Heavyweight clashes to savour for 2023/24 season as EPCR pool draws completed". EPCR. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ↑ "2023/24 EPCR pool stage fixture dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage announced". EPCR. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ↑ "European Professional Club Rugby – Champions Cup – Rules". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
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