2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage

Not to be confused with 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage.

Main article: 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup

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 European Professional Club Rugby:

1. Where teams have played each other
   1. The club with the greater number of competition points from only matches involving tied teams.
   2. If equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches.
   3. If equal, the club that scored the most tries in those matches.
2. Where teams remain tied and/or have not played each other in the competition (i.e. are from different pools)
   1. The club with the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage.
   2. If equal, the club that scored the most tries in the pool stage.
   3. If equal, the club with the fewest players suspended in the pool stage.
   4. If equal, the drawing of lots will determine a club's ranking.

Pools

Key to colours

Top 4 in each pool, advance to round of 16.

Pool 1

2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Sharks (1)	4	3	0	1	141	53	+88	21	6	4	1	17	Qualifies for a home Round of 16
2	Pau (6)	4	3	0	1	90	113	−23	10	15	0	0	12
3	Cheetahs (13)	4	2	0	2	112	105	+7	14	13	2	1	11	Qualifies for Round of 16
4	Zebre Parma (16)	4	2	0	2	83	92	−9	11	9	1	1	10
5	Dragons	4	1	0	3	71	80	−9	7	12	1	2	7
6	Oyonnax	4	1	0	3	56	110	−54	8	16	1	1	6

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 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

2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Benetton Rugby (3)	4	3	0	1	147	87	+60	19	12	3	0	15	Qualifies for a home Round of 16
2	Montpellier (5)	4	3	0	1	94	54	+40	15	7	2	0	14
3	Ospreys (7)	4	3	0	1	111	103	+8	15	14	2	0	14	Qualifies for a home Round of 16 as 3rd best
4	Lions (14)	4	2	0	2	94	76	+18	10	8	2	0	10	Qualifies for Round of 16
5	Newcastle Falcons	4	1	0	3	82	139	−57	8	20	0	1	5
6	Perpignan	4	0	0	4	45	114	−69	4	10	0	0	0

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	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

2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 3

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Gloucester (2)	4	4	0	0	99	52	+47	9	7	1	0	17	Qualifies for a home Round of 16
2	Clermont (4)	4	3	0	1	122	66	+56	17	7	3	0	15
3	Edinburgh (8)	4	2	0	2	103	92	+11	15	12	2	1	11	Qualifies for a home Round of 16 as second 3rd best
4	Castres (15)	4	2	0	2	88	91	−3	13	10	2	0	10	Qualifies for Round of 16
5	Black Lion	4	1	0	3	42	86	−44	3	10	0	1	5
6	Scarlets	4	0	0	4	59	126	−67	7	18	0	0	0

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

(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

1. "Heavyweight clashes to savour for 2023/24 season as EPCR pool draws completed". European Professional Club Rugby. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
2. "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.
3. "European Professional Club Rugby – Champions Cup – Rules". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 13 July 2023.