European Challenge Cup Fixtures 2023-24
The 2023-24 EPCR Challenge Cup comprises 16 clubs drawn collectively from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and Top 14, plus two invitation teams: Black Lion and Toyota Cheetahs.
Black Lion, the first Georgian club to compete in the tournament, will open their campaign at home to Gloucester at the 27,000-capacity Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on 9 December.
The 18 clubs are split into three pools of six. The top four in each pool qualify for the knockout stage, where they will be joined by the four clubs that finished fifth in their pool in the Champions Cup. The final will be staged at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday 24 May.
Toulon are the reigning Challenge Cup holders after beating Glasgow 43-19 at Aviva Stadium.
In addition to the TV coverage outlined below, the competition will be broadcast on SuperSport in South Africa, on France Télévisions and beIN SPORTS in France, and on the USA-based FloRugby.
Below are all the fixtures for the 2023-24 season, plus results from previous campaigns. The kick-off times given are GB & Ireland.
European Challenge Cup Fixtures 2023-24
Round 1
Fri 8 Dec Clermont v Edinburgh (8pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 9 Dec Black Lion v Gloucester (noon) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 9 Dec Zebre Parma v Cheetahs (1pm)
Sat 9 Dec Castres v Scarlets (3.15pm)
Sat 9 Dec Sharks v Pau (3.15pm)
Sat 9 Dec Ospreys v Benetton (5.30pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 9 Dec Dragons v Oyonnax (8pm) Live on S4C
Sun 10 Dec Perpignan v Lions (1pm)
Sun 10 Dec Newcastle v Montpellier (3.15pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Round 2
Fri 15 Dec Gloucester v Clermont (8pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Fri 15 Dec Scarlets v Black Lion (8pm) Live on S4C
Sat 16 Dec Edinburgh v Castres (1pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 16 Dec Oyonnax v Zebre Parma (1pm) Live on Premier Sports
Sat 16 Dec Benetton v Perpignan (3.15pm)
Sat 16 Dec Lions v Newcastle (3.15pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 16 Dec Pau v Dragons (5.30pm)
Sun 17 Dec Cheetahs v Sharks (1pm)
Sun 17 Dec Montpellier v Ospreys (1pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Round 3
Fri 12 Jan Newcastle v Benetton (8pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Fri 12 Jan Ospreys v Perpignan (8pm) Live on S4C
Sat 13 Jan Clermont v Scarlets (1pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 13 Jan Sharks v Oyonnax (1pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 13 Jan Zebre Parma v Dragons (3.15pm)
Sat 13 Jan Castres v Black Lion (3.15pm)
Sat 13 Jan Edinburgh v Gloucester (5.30pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sat 13 Jan Montpellier v Lions (8pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sun 14 Jan Cheetahs v Pau (1pm, Amsterdam)
Round 4
Fri 19 Jan Gloucester v Castres (8pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Fri 19 Jan Scarlets v Edinburgh (8pm) Live on S4C
Sat 20 Jan Black Lion v Clermont (noon)
Sat 20 Jan Pau v Zebre Parma (1pm)
Sat 20 Jan Benetton v Montpellier (3.15pm)
Sat 20 Jan Oyonnax v Cheetahs (3.15pm)
Sun 21 Jan Lions v Ospreys (1pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sun 21 Jan Perpignan v Newcastle (1pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Sun 21 Jan Dragons v Sharks (5.30pm) Live on Viaplay & Premier Sports
Round of 16
Fri 5-Sun 7 April
Quarter-finals
Fri 12-Sun 14 April
Semi-finals
Fri 3-Sun 5 May
Final
Fri 24 May Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
European Challenge Cup Results 2022-23
Toulon brushed Glasgow Warriors aside 43-19 at Aviva Stadium to claim the 2022-23 European Challenge Cup. It was the French team’s first Challenge Cup title following defeats in the 2010, 2012, 2020 and 2022 finals.
Glasgow, hoping to become the first Scottish side to win a European trophy, were never in serious contention as they fell 21-0 behind at the break. Scrum-half Baptiste Serin (two) and 39-year-old Italy legend Sergio Parisse, in his final season before retiring, scored to leave Warriors a mountain to climb.
Franco Smith’s team fired a few shots in the second half, captain Kyle Steyn crossing twice. Springbok Cheslin Kolbe, playing at full-back, was named Man of the Match.
This season’s Challenge Cup featured two pools of ten teams. The six best-ranked clubs from each pool qualified for the knockout stage, where they were joined by four clubs dropping down from the Heineken Champions Cup – Sale, Clermont, Lyon and Racing.
Below are all the results from the 2022-23 campaign.
Round 1
Fri 9 Dec Perpignan 5-19 Bristol
Fri 9 Dec Stade Français 24-14 Benetton
Sat 10 Dec Bath 19-22 Glasgow
Sat 10 Dec Pau 16-21 Cheetahs
Sat 10 Dec Lions 31-31 Dragons
Sat 10 Dec Cardiff 41-0 Brive
Sat 10 Dec Connacht 22-8 Newcastle
Sat 10 Dec Zebre Parma 21-24 Toulon
Sun 11 Dec Scarlets 39-7 Bayonne
Round 2
Fri 16 Dec Lions 30-12 Stade Français
Fri 16 Dec Brive 24-31 Connacht
Fri 16 Dec Glasgow 26-18 Perpignan
Sat 17 Dec Toulon 29-7 Bath
Sat 17 Dec Cheetahs 26-45 Scarlets
Sat 17 Dec Bayonne 7-45 Benetton
Sat 17 Dec Dragons 21-27 Pau
Sat 17 Dec Newcastle 10-47 Cardiff
Sun 18 Dec Bristol 35-19 Zebre Parma
Round 3
Fri 13 Jan Pau 15-21 Dragons
Fri 13 Jan Scarlets 20-17 Cheetahs
Sat 14 Jan Benetton 26-7 Bayonne
Sat 14 Jan Stade Français 17-7 Lions
Sat 14 Jan Connacht 61-5 Brive
Sat 14 Jan Perpignan 26-40 Glasgow
Sat 14 Jan Zebre Parma 11-34 Bristol
Sun 15 Jan Cardiff 42-10 Newcastle
Sun 15 Jan Bath 23-35 Toulon
Round 4
Fri 20 Jan Bristol 33-19 Perpignan
Fri 20 Jan Glasgow 19-19 Bath
Fri 20 Jan Toulon 14-5 Zebre Parma
Sat 21 Jan Bayonne 7-20 Scarlets
Sat 21 Jan Benetton 35-32 Stade Français
Sat 21 Jan Brive 37-24 Cardiff
Sat 21 Jan Newcastle 35-21 Connacht
Sun 22 Jan Dragons 25-30 Lions
Sun 22 Jan Cheetahs 9-6 Pau
Round of 16
Fri 31 Mar Bristol 26-33 Clermont
Fri 31 Mar Scarlets 19-7 Brive
Sat 1 Apr Toulon 36-21 Cheetahs
Sat 1 Apr Benetton 41-19 Connacht
Sat 1 Apr Stade Français 24-41 Lyon
Sat 1 Apr Glasgow 73-33 Dragons
Sat 1 Apr Lions 51-28 Racing
Sat 1 Apr Cardiff 28-27 Sale
Quarter-finals
Fri 7 Apr Scarlets 32-30 Clermont
Sat 8 Apr Toulon 48-23 Lyon
Sat 8 Apr Benetton 27-23 Cardiff
Sat 8 Apr Glasgow 31-21 Lions
Semi-finals
Sat 29 Apr Scarlets 17-35 Glasgow Warriors
Sun 30 Apr Toulon 23-0 Benetton
Final
Fri 19 May Glasgow Warriors 19-43 Toulon (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
EPCR has announced the dates for its fixtures in the 2023-24 season. The Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will kick off in December with two consecutive weekends of pool stage action.
The knockout stages will start on 5-7 April with the finals taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May in London.
The venue for the 2024 finals is Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the largest football ground in the English capital with a capacity of 62,850.
2023-24 weekends
Round 1 – 8/9/10 December
Round 2 – 15/16/17 December
Round 3 – 12/13/14 January
Round 4 – 19/20/21 January
Round of 16 – 5/6/7 April
Quarter-finals – 12/13/14 April
Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May
EPCR Challenge Cup final – Friday 24 May 2024 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Heineken Champions Cup final – Saturday 25 May 2024 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
European Challenge Cup Results 2021-22
Round 1
Fri 10 Dec Newcastle 31-26 Worcester
Fri 10 Dec Lyon 19-13 Gloucester
Sat 11 Dec Zebre Parma 13-26 Biarritz
Sat 11 Dec Saracens 18-21 Edinburgh
Sat 11 Dec Perpignan 22-16 Dragons
Sat 11 Dec Pau 17-33 London Irish
Round 2
Fri 17 Dec Toulon 28-14 Zebre Parma
Fri 17 Dec Dragons 28-41 Lyon
Fri 17 Dec Gloucester 54-25 Benetton
Sat 18 Dec Worcester C-C Biarritz (deemed 0-0, 2 points to each club)
Sat 18 Dec Pau C-C Saracens (Pau awarded 28-0 win)
Sun 19 Dec London Irish C-C Brive (deemed 0-0, 2 points to each club)
Round 3
Fri 14 Jan Biarritz 13-17 Newcastle
Fri 14 Jan Brive 33-25 Pau
Sat 15 Jan Benetton 23-9 Dragons
Sat 15 Jan London Irish 21-20 Edinburgh
Sat 15 Jan Worcester 23-34 Toulon
Sat 15 Jan Perpignan 6-37 Lyon
Round 4
Fri 21 Jan Edinburgh 66-3 Brive
Fri 21 Jan Lyon 25-10 Benetton
Sat 22 Jan Zebre Parma 26-36 Worcester
Sat 22 Jan Gloucester 68-19 Perpignan
Sat 22 Jan Toulon C-C Newcastle (Toulon awarded 28-0 win)
Sun 23 Jan Saracens 45-24 London Irish
Round 5
Fri 8 Apr Edinburgh 54-5 Pau
Fri 8 Apr Brive 5-55 Saracens
Sat 9 Apr Benetton 17-7 Perpignan
Sat 9 Apr Dragons 21-26 Gloucester
Sat 9 Apr Newcastle 25-22 Zebre Parma
Sat 9 Apr Biarritz 20-17 Toulon
Round of 16
Fri 15 Apr Biarritz 29-39 Wasps
Fri 15 Apr London Irish 64-27 Castres
Fri 15 Apr Lyon 31-17 Worcester
Fri 15 Apr Newcastle 17-27 Glasgow
Sat 16 Apr Edinburgh 41-19 Bath
Sat 16 Apr Gloucester 31-21 Northampton
Sat 16 Apr Toulon 36-17 Benetton
Sun 17 Apr Saracens 40-33 Cardiff
Quarter-finals
Fri 6 May Gloucester 15-44 Saracens
Sat 7 May Edinburgh 30-34 Wasps
Sat 7 May Lyon 35-27 Glasgow Warriors
Sun 8 May Toulon 19-18 London Irish
Semi-finals
Sat 14 May Lyon 20-18 Wasps
Sat 14 May Toulon 25-16 Saracens
Final
Fri 27 May Lyon 30-12 Toulon
European Challenge Cup Results 2020-21
The 2020-21 Challenge Cup was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The preliminary stages involved 14 clubs, who were due to play four pool matches. However, the two rounds in January couldn’t be played as French clubs were not permitted to travel.
The competition resumed in April with a round of 16 featuring the top eight clubs after two rounds of Challenge Cup matches and the eight clubs who didn’t make the Champions Cup knockout stages. You’ll find the results below.
The final was played on Friday 21 May at Twickenham, instead of Marseille as first planned. A crowd of 10,000 saw Montpellier pip Leicester Tigers to the trophy.
Round 1
Fri 11 Dec Stade Français 20-44 Benetton
Fri 11 Dec Leicester 39-17 Brive
Fri 11 Dec Newcastle 20-33 Cardiff Blues
Sat 12 Dec Zebre 25-25 Bayonne
Sat 12 Dec Agen 8-34 London Irish
Sat 12 Dec Ospreys 39-15 Castres
Fri 18 Dec Castres 17-26 Newcastle
Fri 18 Dec Brive 16-18 Zebre
Sat 19 Dec Benetton 0-28 Agen
Sat 19 Dec Bayonne 20-28 Leicester
Sat 19 Dec Worcester 29-38 Ospreys
Sun 20 Dec London Irish 26-17 Pau
Sun 20 Dec Cardiff Blues 28-0 Stade Français
Round 3
Fri 15 Jan Pau v London Irish Cancelled
Fri 15 Jan Leicester v Bayonne Cancelled
Fri 15 Jan Agen v Benetton Cancelled
Fri 15 Jan Ospreys v Worcester Cancelled
Sat 16 Jan Zebre v Brive Cancelled
Sat 16 Jan Newcastle v Castres Cancelled
Sat 16 Jan Stade Français v Cardiff Blues Cancelled
Round 4
22-23 Jan Castres v Ospreys Cancelled
22-23 Jan Brive v Leicester Cancelled
Fri 22 Jan Bayonne v Zebre Cancelled
Sat 23 Jan Benetton v Stade Français Cancelled
Sat 23 Jan Worcester v Pau Cancelled
Sat 23 Jan London Irish v Agen Cancelled
Sat 23 Jan Cardiff Blues v Newcastle Cancelled
Round of 16
Fri 2 Apr Zebre 27-35 Bath
Fri 2 Apr London Irish 41-35 Cardiff Blues
Fri 2 Apr Montpellier 26-21 Glasgow Warriors
Sat 3 Apr Benetton 29-16 Agen
Sat 3 Apr Ospreys 24-28 Newcastle Falcons
Sat 3 Apr Dragons 39-43 Northampton Saints
Sat 3 Apr Leicester Tigers 48-32 Connacht
Sun 4 Apr Harlequins 21-57 Ulster
Quarter-finals
Fri 9 Apr Bath 26-13 London Irish
Sat 10 Apr Leicester 39-15 Newcastle
Sat 10 Apr Montpellier 31-25 Benetton
Sat 10 Apr Northampton 27-35 Ulster
Semi-finals
Fri 30 Apr Leicester 33-24 Ulster
Sat 1 May Bath 10-19 Montpellier
Final
Fri 21 May Leicester 17-18 Montpellier
———————————————————————————————————-
European Challenge Cup Results 2018-19
Round 1
Fri 12 Oct Perpignan 24-41 Sale
Sat 13 Oct Enisei-STM 21-82 La Rochelle
Sat 13 Oct Timisoara Saracens 17-54 Dragons
Sat 13 Oct Benetton 40-14 Grenoble
Sat 13 Oct Bristol 43-22 Zebre
Sat 13 Oct Connacht 22-10 Bordeaux-Begles
Sat 13 Oct Harlequins 54-22 Agen
Sat 13 Oct Northampton 20-41 Clermont Auvergne
Sat 13 Oct Ospreys 27-0 Pau
Sat 13 Oct Stade Français 27-38 Worcester
Round 2
Fri 19 Oct Agen 20-19 Benetton
Fri 19 Oct La Rochelle 64-26 Enisei-STM
Fri 19 Oct Dragons 21-35 Northampton
Sat 20 Oct Pau 21-15 Stade Français
Sat 20 Oct Clermont Auvergne 70-12 Timisoara Saracens
Sat 20 Oct Sale 34-13 Connacht
Sat 20 Oct Worcester 27-21 Ospreys
Sat 20 Oct Zebre 20-17 Bristol
Sat 20 Oct Bordeaux-Begles 25-25 Perpignan
Sat 20 Oct Grenoble 19-13 Harlequins
Round 3
Fri 7 Dec Pau 21-6 Worcester
Fri 7 Dec Grenoble 22-15 Agen
Sat 8 Dec Enisei-STM 14-31 Zebre
Sat 8 Dec Timisoara Saracens 14-47 Clermont Auvergne
Sat 8 Dec Benetton 26-21 Harlequins
Sat 8 Dec Bristol 22-35 La Rochelle
Sat 8 Dec Connacht 22-10 Perpignan
Sat 8 Dec Northampton 48-14 Dragons
Sat 8 Dec Ospreys 51-20 Stade Français
Sat 8 Dec Bordeaux-Begles 24-50 Sale
Round 4
Fri 14 Dec Agen 14-10 Grenoble
Fri 14 Dec Perpignan 21-36 Connacht
Fri 14 Dec Stade Français 12-3 Ospreys
Sat 15 Dec Timisoara Saracens P-P Northampton
Sat 15 Dec Clermont Auvergne 49-24 Dragons
Sat 15 Dec Zebre 58-14 Enisei-STM
Sat 15 Dec Harlequins 20-9 Benetton
Sat 15 Dec Sale 14-17 Bordeaux-Begles
Sat 15 Dec Worcester 23-7 Pau
Sat 15 Dec La Rochelle 3-13 Bristol
Round 5
Fri 11 Jan La Rochelle 32-12 Zebre
Fri 11 Jan Perpignan 27-34 Bordeaux-Begles
Fri 11 Jan Dragons 59-3 Timisoara Saracens
Fri 11 Jan Stade Français 35-14 Pau
Sat 12 Jan Benetton 38-24 Agen
Sat 12 Jan Enisei-STM 9-65 Bristol
Sat 12 Jan Connacht 20-18 Sale
Sat 12 Jan Harlequins 38-20 Grenoble
Sat 12 Jan Ospreys 18-20 Worcester
Sat 12 Jan Clermont Auvergne 48-40 Northampton
Round 6
Fri 18 Jan Agen 17-33 Harlequins
Fri 18 Jan Grenoble 7-39 Benetton
Fri 18 Jan Dragons 7-49 Clermont Auvergne
Fri 18 Jan Northampton 111-3 Timisoara Saracens
Sat 19 Jan Pau 26-21 Ospreys
Sat 19 Jan Worcester 36-31 Stade Français
Sat 19 Jan Bordeaux-Begles 27-33 Connacht
Sat 19 Jan Bristol 107-19 Enisei-STM
Sat 19 Jan Sale 39-10 Perpignan
Sat 19 Jan Zebre 10-22 La Rochelle
Quarter-finals
Fri 29 Mar Sale 20-10 Connacht
Sat 30 Mar Worcester 16-18 Harlequins
Sun 31 Mar La Rochelle 39-15 Bristol
Sun 31 Mar Clermont Auvergne 61-38 Northampton
Semi-finals
Sat 20 Apr La Rochelle 24-20 Sale
Sat 20 Apr Clermont Auvergne 32-27 Harlequins
Final
Friday 10 May Clermont Auvergne 36-16 La Rochelle (St James’ Park, Newcastle)
——————————————————–
European Challenge Cup Results 2017-18
Round 1
Thu 12 Oct Pau 27-21 Gloucester
Fri 13 Oct Enisei-STM 17-57 Bordeaux
Fri 13 Oct Agen 45-10 Zebre
Fri 13 Oct Cardiff Blues 29-19 Lyon
Fri 13 Oct Sale 20-20 Toulouse
Sat 14 Oct Krasny Yar 34-29 Stade Français
Sat 14 Oct Newcaslte 32-37 Dragons
Sat 14 Oct London Irish 14-37 Edinburgh
Sat 14 Oct Worcester 30-20 Brive
Sat 14 Oct Oyonnax 15-43 Connacht
Round 2
Thu 19 Oct Gloucester 61-16 Agen
Fri 20 Oct Brive 38-13 Oyonnax
Fri 20 Oct Lyon 27-24 Sale
Fri 20 Oct Toulouse 15-17 Cardiff Blues
Sat 21 Oct Zebre 33-38 Pau
Sat 21 Oct Connacht 15-8 Worcester
Sat 21 Oct Bordeaux 20-21 Newcastle
Sat 21 Oct Stade Français 7-44 London Irish
Sat 21 Oct Enisei-STM 21-28 Dragons
Sat 21 Oct Krasny Yar 14-73 Edinburgh
Round 3
Thu 7 Dec Toulouse 30-23 Lyon
Fri 8 Dec Agen 21-40 Pau
Fri 8 Dec Stade Français 39-24 Krasny Yar
Fri 8 Dec Dragons 15-0 Enisei-STM
Sat 9 Dec Zebre 26-33 Gloucester
Sat 9 Dec Sale 24-0 Cardiff Blues
Sat 9 Dec Worcester 35-14 Oyonnax
Sat 9 Dec Newcastle 52-24 Bordeaux
Sat 9 Dec Edinburgh 50-20 London Irish
Sat 9 Dec Brive 31-38 Connacht
Round 4
Thu 14 Dec Pau 26-12 Agen
Fri 15 Dec Oyonnax 27-20 Worcester
Fri 15 Dec Bordeaux 36-27 Enisei-STM
Fri 15 Dec Dragons 25-27 Newcastle
Fri 15 Dec Edinburgh 78-0 Krasny Yar
Sat 16 Dec Connacht 55-10 Brive
Sat 16 Dec Gloucester 69-12 Zebre
Sat 16 Dec London Irish 20-26 Stade Français
Sat 16 Dec Lyon 21-11 Toulouse
Sun 17 Dec Cardiff Blues 14-6 Sale
Round 5
Fri 12 Jan Agen 24-45 Gloucester
Fri 12 Jan Edinburgh 34-33 Stade Français
Sat 13 Jan Sale 15-13 Lyon
Sat 13 Jan London Irish 47-17 Krasny Yar
Sat 13 Jan Worcester 24-24 Connacht
Sat 13 Jan Pau 42-14 Zebre
Sat 13 Jan Oyonnax 19-29 Brive
Sat 13 Jan Bordeaux 36-28 Dragons
Sun 14 Jan Newcastle 64-7 Enisei-STM
Sun 14 Jan Cardiff Blues 18-13 Toulouse
Round 6
Fri 19 Jan Gloucester 24-34 Pau
Sat 20 Jan Enisei-STM 19-33 Newcastle
Sat 20 Jan Zebre 38-30 Agen
Sat 20 Jan Brive 33-7 Worcester
Sat 20 Jan Connacht 50-14 Oyonnax
Sat 20 Jan Dragons 33-17 Bordeaux
Sat 20 Jan Krasny Yar 17-24 London Irish
Sat 20 Jan Lyon 18-21 Cardiff Blues
Sat 20 Jan Toulouse 28-21 Sale
Sat 20 Jan Stade Français 17-10 Edinburgh
Quarter-finals
Fri 30 Mar Newcastle 25-10 Brive
Fri 30 Mar Pau 35-32 Stade Français
Sat 31 Mar Connacht 28-33 Gloucester
Sat 31 Mar Edinburgh 6-20 Cardiff Blues
Semi-finals
Fri 20 Apr Gloucester 33-12 Newcastle
Sat 21 Apr Cardiff Blues 16-10 Pau
Final
Fri 11 May Cardiff Blues 31-30 Gloucester
Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram