News
ECC: Fixtures announced for 2009/10
July 29 2009
The fixtures, dates and kick-off times for the new-look European Challenge Cup, which from this season will see three Heineken Cup teams competing in the knockout stages of the tournament have been announced.
Wasps - former winners of both the top tournament and second tier trophy - will open their challenge for more European glory with home advantage against newcomers Racing-Metro 92.
That contest indicates the quality of players who could be parading their talents in the tournament - the likes of current French captain Lionel Nallett and Sebastien Chabal for Metro and Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery and Danny Cipriani with Wasps.
Meanwhile Toulon, who have also been active in the summer transfer market and have signed quality internationals like Jonny Wilkinson, Felipe Contepomi and Jamie Robinson, go head-to-head with Top 14 rivals Castres Olympique before hosting Steve Borthwick's Saracens - who can also call on Justin Marshall and Michael Owen - in Round 2.
Worcester Warriors will have the honour of opening another season of top flight European club rugby when they face Montpellier under the Sixways floodlights on Thursday, 8 October.
Meanwhile Bourgoin, the first winners of the tournament in 1997, start their 2009/10 campaign at home, taking on Leeds Carnegie, before going to Romania in Round 2 to tackle Bucuresti Oaks.
Tournament regulars Connacht Rugby will be playing their 85th match in the competition when they host Spanish invitation team Olympus Rugby XV Madrid in Round 1, the Spaniards making their home debut at Campo Central in Madrid in Round 2 when Worcester Warriors will be the visitors.
And there will be new initiatives from this season's competition onwards with the knock-out stages now including three teams who will qualify through the Heineken Cup.
The introduction of a trio of teams who have finished as Pool runners-up in that seasons' Heineken Cup (the third, fourth and fifth ranked Heineken Cup Pool runners-up), to meet the five European Challenge Cup Pool winners, will enhance both the quality and profile of the European Challenge Cup knock-out matches.
The top four European Challenge Cup Pool winners will enjoy home advantage in the quarter-finals with the top Pool winner playing the 5th, while the other three Pool winners will welcome the Heineken Cup sides.
And the ERC European Ranking Points available for teams in European Challenge Cup knock-out stages have also been revised with the maximum points now available for the winner increased from five points to six.
Full broadcast schedules will be announced shortly.
For full European Challenge Cup fixtures for 2009/10 click here
(All kick-offs LOCAL time)
ROUND 1
THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER, 2009
POOL 2 Worcester Warriors v Montpellier 19.45
FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER, 2009
POOL 1 Bourgoin v Leeds Carnegie 19.30
POOL 2 Connacht v Olympus Rugby XV Madrid 19.00
POOL 3 Castres Olympique v Toulon 19.00
POOL 4 Bayonne v Roma 19.30
POOL 5 Albi v Montauban 20.00
SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER, 2009
POOL 1 Bucuresti Oaks v Rugby Parma 13.00
POOL 5 Petrarca Rugby v Newcastle Falcons 15.00
SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER, 2009
POOL 3 Saracens v Rugby Rovigo 15.00
POOL 4 London Wasps v Racing-Metro 92 15.00
With thanks to the ERC