2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup


2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup


The 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup is the 10th edition of the EPCR Challenge Cup, an annual second-tier rugby union competition for professional clubs. Including the predecessor competition, the original European Challenge Cup, this is the 28th edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition.

The tournament commenced in December 2023, and will conclude with the final on 24 May 2024 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England.

This is the second year that teams from South Africa can qualify, following the second United Rugby Championship season. Two teams have been invited from outside the three main European professional leagues; The Black Lion from Tbilisi, Georgia are current holders of the Rugby Europe Super Cup, the third-tier competition in European rugby administered by Rugby Europe, and Cheetahs the current holders of the Currie Cup, South Africa's second tier and most historic national competition. Originally not represented in the Challenge Cup, two Irish teams, Ulster and Connacht, joined in the play-off rounds, having dropped down from the Champions Cup.

Teams

Sixteen teams qualified for the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup from Premiership Rugby, the Top 14 and the United Rugby Championship as a direct result of their domestic league performance having not qualified for the Heineken Champions Cup. Plus two invited sides making 18 teams.

The distribution of teams are:

  • England: two teams
    • Remaining teams in the 2023–24 Premiership Season that do not qualify for the 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup. Bristol Bears had previously qualified but replaced London Irish in the 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup following London Irish's suspension from the Premiership
  • France: six teams
    • Teams taking part in the 2023–24 Top 14 season that did not qualify for the Champions Cup
  • Georgia, Italy, Scotland, Wales, South Africa: ten teams
    • Eight teams qualified from Italy, Scotland, Wales and South Africa through the United Rugby Championship. Ireland are not represented.
    • Two teams invited, one each from South Africa and Georgia.

Team details

Pool stage

Teams were awarded four points for a win, two for a draw, one for scoring four tries in a game, and one for losing by less than eight points.

Pool 1


Pool 2


Pool 3


Knockout stage

The knockout stage will be played with a single-leg round of 16 matches consisting of the top four teams from each pool and the teams ranked 5th in each pool of the 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup. The Round of 16 will follow a pre-determined format, while the quarter-finals and semi-finals will guarantee home advantage to the higher-ranked team.

Seeding

Bracket

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

See also

  • 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup
  • 2023 Rugby Europe Super Cup

Notes

References


Text submitted to CC-BY-SA license. Source: 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup by Wikipedia (Historical)



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