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2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup

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Not to be confused with 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup.

2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup
The EPCR Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Georgia
 Ireland
 Italy
 Scotland
 South Africa
 Wales
Date6 December 2024 — 23 May 2025
Tournament statistics
Teams22
Matches played48
Attendance319,423 (6,655 per match)
Highest attendance14,073 – Lyon v Cardiff
7 December 2024
Lowest attendance1,450 – Zebre v Lyon
14 December 2024
Tries scored348 (7.25 per match)
Top point scorer(s)France Axel Desperes (Pau)
61 points
Top try scorer(s)Wales Josh Adams (Cardiff)
New Zealand Wes Goosen (Edinburgh)
Wales Josh Macleod (Scarlets)
Wales Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
Ireland Chay Mullins (Connacht)
4 tries
Final
VenueMillennium Stadium, Cardiff
← 2023–24 (Previous)
(Next) 2025–26 →

The 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup, known colloquially as the 2024-25 European Challenge Cup[1] will be the eleventh edition of the EPCR Challenge Cup, an annual second-tier rugby union competition for professional clubs competing in elite European competition. Including the predecessor competition, the original European Challenge Cup, this is the 29th edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition.

The final will be played at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales.[2][3]

The South African Durban-based team, Sharks, are the reigning champions, and qualified for the 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup as a consequence. Following the pool stages of that competition, the Sharks dropped back into the knockout phase of the Challenge Cup, becoming at that point the defending champions. The Sharks were eliminated in the Round of 16 by French team, Lyon Olympique.

Teams

[edit]

Sixteen teams qualified for the 2024–25 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 Champions Cup. Two further sides received invitations, South Africa's Cheetahs and Georgia's Black Lion.[3]

The distribution of teams are:

At the knockout stage, a further four teams entered the competition from the Champions Cup:

Entry Point Premiership Top 14 United Rugby Championship Invited
— England England France France Ireland Ireland Italy Italy Scotland Scotland Wales Wales South Africa South Africa Georgia (country) Georgia
Pool stage
Knockout

stage

from 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage

Team details

[edit]
Team Coach /
Director of Rugby 		Captain Stadium Capacity Method of qualification
Entering at Pool stage
France Bayonne France Grégory Patat France Denis Marchois Stade Jean-Dauger 14,370 Top 14 bottom six (12th)
Georgia (country) Black Lion England Richard Cockerill Georgia (country) Luka Matkava Mikheil Meskhi Stadium 27,223 Invited
Wales Cardiff England Matt Sherratt Wales Liam Belcher Cardiff Arms Park 12,125 URC bottom eight (12th)
South Africa Cheetahs South Africa Izak van der Westhuizen South Africa Victor Sekekete NRCA Stadium, Netherlands 5,000 Invited
Ireland Connacht England Peter Wilkins Ireland Cian Prendergast Dexcom Stadium 8,129 URC bottom eight (11th)
Wales Dragons New Zealand Filo Tiatia Wales Ben Carter Rodney Parade 8,700 URC bottom eight (15th)
Scotland Edinburgh South Africa Sean Everitt Scotland Grant Gilchrist
Scotland Ben Vellacott 		Edinburgh Rugby Stadium 7,800 URC bottom eight (10th)
England Gloucester England George Skivington England Lewis Ludlow Kingsholm 16,115 Premiership bottom two (9th)
South Africa Lions South Africa Ivan van Rooyen South Africa Marius Louw Emirates Airline Park 62,567 URC bottom eight (9th)
France Lyon France Fabien Gengenbacher France Baptiste Couilloud
Samoa Jordan Taufua 		Stade de Gerland 25,000 Top 14 bottom six (11th)
France Montpellier France Joan Caudullo France Alexandre Bécognée
France Yacouba Camara
France Arthur Vincent 		GGL Stadium 15,697 Top 14 bottom six (13th)
England Newcastle Falcons England Steve Diamond England Callum Chick Kingston Park 11,200 Premiership bottom two (10th)
Wales Ospreys Wales Mark Jones [a] Wales Jac Morgan Swansea.com Stadium 20,827 URC bottom eight (8th)[b]
Wales Scarlets Wales Dwayne Peel Wales Josh Macleod Parc y Scarlets 14,870 URC bottom eight (13th)
France Pau France Sébastien Piqueronies New Zealand Luke Whitelock Stade du Hameau 18,324 Top 14 bottom six (9th)
France Perpignan France Franck Azéma France Mathieu Acebes Stade Aimé Giral 14,593 Top 14 bottom six (10th)
France Vannes France Jean-Noël Spitzer France Clément Payen Stade de la Rabine 11,303 Pro D2 Champions
Italy Zebre Parma Italy Massimo Brunello Italy Danilo Fischetti Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 5,000 URC bottom eight (16th)
Entering at Knockout Stage (transferred from Champions Cup)
England Bath South Africa Johann van Graan England Ben Spencer Recreation Ground 14,509 Champions Cup Pool 2 5th place
South Africa Bulls South Africa Jake White South Africa Marcell Coetzee Loftus Versfeld 51,762 Champions Cup Pool 3 5th place
France Racing 92 France Patrice Collazo [c] France Henry Chavancy París La Défense Arena 30,680 Champions Cup Pool 4 5th place
South Africa Sharks New Zealand John Plumtree South Africa Lukhanyo Am Hollywoodbets Kings Park 52,000 Champions Cup Pool 1 5th place

Pool stage

[edit]
Main article: 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage

Teams were drawn into pools on 2 July in Cardiff.[3] 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

[edit]
EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ireland Connacht (1) 4 4 0 0 154 73 +81 25 10 4 0 20 Home round of 16
2 France Lyon (5) 4 3 0 1 150 118 +32 21 19 2 0 14
3 France Perpignan (8) 4 2 1 1 100 92 +8 12 14 1 0 11
4 Wales Cardiff (16) 4 1 0 3 91 98 −7 13 13 2 1 7 Away round of 16
5 South Africa Cheetahs 4 1 1 2 73 132 −59 10 19 0 0 6
6 Italy Zebre Parma 4 0 0 4 70 125 −55 10 17 0 2 2
Source: EPCR[7]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool 2

[edit]
EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 France Montpellier (2) 4 4 0 0 131 41 +90 19 6 3 0 19 Home round of 16
2 Wales Ospreys (4) 4 3 0 1 111 116 −5 16 17 3 0 15
3 France Pau (7) 4 2 0 2 119 108 +11 10 10 3 1 12
4 South Africa Lions (14) 4 2 0 2 122 103 +19 18 13 2 0 10 Away round of 16
5 Wales Dragons 4 1 0 3 61 116 −55 8 15 0 1 5
6 England Newcastle Falcons 4 0 0 4 55 115 −60 8 16 0 0 0
Source: EPCR[8]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool 3

[edit]
EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 3
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Scotland Edinburgh (3) 4 3 0 1 127 67 +60 18 9 3 1 16 Home round of 16
2 France Bayonne (6) 4 3 0 1 125 101 +24 18 12 2 0 14
3 Wales Scarlets (13) 4 2 0 2 97 94 +3 13 13 2 1 11 Away round of 16
4 England Gloucester (15) 4 2 0 2 82 115 −33 12 16 1 0 9
5 France Vannes 4 1 0 3 115 108 +7 14 14 2 2 8
6 Georgia (country) Black Lion 4 1 0 3 71 132 −61 6 17 0 0 4
Source: EPCR[9]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Knockout stage

[edit]

The knockout stage begins with a single-leg round of 16 matches, consisting of the top 4 teams from each pool, and the teams ranked 5th in each pool of the 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup. The round of 16 follows a pre-determined format, while the quarter-finals and semi-finals guarantee home advantage to the higher-ranked team.

Seeding

[edit]
Rank Team Pts Diff TF
Pool leaders
1 Ireland Connacht 20 +81 25
2 France Montpellier 19 +90 19
3 Scotland Edinburgh 16 +60 18
Pool runners-up
4 Wales Ospreys 15 –5 16
5 France Lyon 14 +32 21
6 France Bayonne 14 +24 18
Top two third placed teams
7 France Pau 12 +11 10
8 France Perpignan 11 +8 12
Champions Cup teams
9 France Racing 92 9 −12 12
10 England Bath Rugby 7 −12 14
11 South Africa Bulls 5 −29 12
12 South Africa Sharks 5 −87 10
Third best third placed team
13 Wales Scarlets 11 +3 13
Fourth placed teams
14 South Africa Lions 10 +19 13
15 England Gloucester 9 −33 12
16 Wales Cardiff 7 −7 13

Bracket

[edit]
Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
4 Wales Ospreys 36
13 Wales Scarlets 14
4 Wales Ospreys 18
5 France Lyon 20
5 France Lyon 34
12 South Africa Sharks 21
5 France Lyon
9 France Racing 92
1 Ireland Connacht 35
16 Wales Cardiff 20
1 Ireland Connacht 40
9 France Racing 92 43
8 France Perpignan 18
9 France Racing 92 24
France
 
3 Scotland Edinburgh 24
14 South Africa Lions 12
3 Scotland Edinburgh 34
11 South Africa Bulls 28
6 France Bayonne 22
11 South Africa Bulls 32
3 Scotland Edinburgh
10 England Bath Rugby
7 France Pau 24
10 England Bath Rugby 49
10 England Bath Rugby 61
15 England Gloucester 26
2 France Montpellier 17
15 England Gloucester 24

Round of 16

[edit]
4 April 2025
20:00
Edinburgh Scotland (3)24–12(14) South Africa Lions
Try: Goosen 1' m
Vellacott 9' m
Ritchie 28' c
Price 71' c
Con: Thompson (2/4) 29', 72'		ReportTry: Horn 46' m
Visagie 75' c
Con: Steyn (1/1) 76'
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 5,407
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
4 April 2025
21:00
Pau France (7)24–49(10) England Bath Rugby
Try: C. Tuipulotu 26' c
Brau-Boirie (2) 61' c, 68' c
Con: Desperes (3/3) 27', 62', 69'
Pen: Desperes (1/1) 19'		ReportTry: Muir 1' c
Cokansiga 21' c
Obano 29' c
Bayliss 34' c
Dunn 42' c
McConnochie 56' c
Reid 71' c
Con: Donoghue (7/7) 2', 22', 30' 35', 43', 57', 72'
Stade du Hameau, Pau
Attendance: 6,816
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
5 April 2025
13:30
Bayonne France (6)22–32(11) South Africa Bulls
Try: Mori 32' m
Bourdeau 48' c
Spring 75' c
Con: Spring (1/1) 49'
Tiberghien (1/1) 76'
Pen: Germain (1/1) 5'		ReportTry: Petersen 15' m
Ludwig 38' c
Kriel 44' c
van Staden 67' c
Con: Johannes (2/3) 39', 45'
Goosen (1/1)
Pen: Johannes (1/1) 14'
Goosen (1/1) 80'
Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne
Attendance: 10,675
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
5 April 2025
18:30
Montpellier France (2)17–24(15) England Gloucester
Try: Bouthier 4' c
Reus 9' c
Con: Reus (2/2) 5', 10'
Pen: Reus (1/1) 40'		ReportTry: F. Thomas 25' c
Jordan 33' c
Ackermann 57' c
Con: Carreras (3/3) 26', 34', 57'
Pen: Carreras (1/1) 80'
GGL Stadium, Montpellier
Attendance: 5,579
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
5 April 2025
20:00
Connacht Ireland (1)35–20(16) Wales Cardiff
Try: Divine 2' c
Jansen 40+4' c
Treacy 44' c
Bolton 66' c
Boyle, 76' c
Con: Hanrahan (3/3) 4', 45', 42'
Ioane (2/2) 66', 77'		ReportTry: Lee-Lo 37' m
B. Thomas 53' c
Adams 60' m
Con: B. Thomas (1/3) 54'
Pen: Sheedy (1/2) 12'
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Attendance: 4,217
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
5 April 2025
21:00
Perpignan France (8)18–24(9) France Racing 92
Try: Allan 35' m
Veredamu 53' c
Con: Allan (1/1) 54'
Pen: Allan (2/2) 13', 17'		ReportTry: Bamba 23' c
Joseph 41' c
Naituvi 65'
Con: Farrell (1/1) 24'
Gibert (1/1) 42'
Le Garrec (1/1) 66'
Pen: Farrell (1/1) 8'
Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan
Attendance: 9,816
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
6 April 2025
17:30
Ospreys Wales (4)36–14(13) Wales Scarlets
Try: Beard 1' c
J. Morgan 4' m
R. Davies 28' c
Lake 38' c
Walsh 52' m
Kasende 61' m
Con: D. Edwards (3/6) 2', 29', 39'		ReportTry: Murray 10' c
James 71' c
Con: Lloyd (2/2) 11', 71'
Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 9,057
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
6 April 2025
18:30
Lyon France (5)34–21(12) South Africa Sharks
Try: Tchaptchet 16' m
William 20' c
Charcosset 27' c
Maraku 37' m
Rattez 67' c
Con: Berdeu (2/4) 21', 28'
Méliande (1/1) 67'
Pen: Berdeu (1/1) 7'		ReportTry: Mbatha 4' c
Rahl 69' c
Mavesere 79' c
Con: Masuku (1/1) 5'
Smith (2/2) 70', 80'
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Attendance: 10,475
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Quarter-finals

[edit]
12 April 2025
12:30
Edinburgh Scotland (3)34–28(11) South Africa Bulls
Try: Lang (2) 3' c, 24' c
Bradbury 13' c
Gilchrist 42' c
Con: Thompson (4/4) 4', 14', 25', 43'
Pen: Thompson (2/2) 37', 59'		ReportTry: Kriel (2) 16' c, 76' c
Penalty try 46'
Hanekom 49' c
Con: Johannes (1/1) 17'
Goosen (2/2) 50', 76'
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 4,737
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
12 April 2025
17:30
Ospreys Wales (4)18–20(5) France Lyon
Try: J. Morgan 25' c
McGuigan 70' m
Con: Edwards (1/2) 26'
Pen: Edwards (2/2) 19', 54'		ReportTry: Rattez 6' c
Guillard 50' c
Con: Berdeu (2/2) 7', 51'
Pen: Berdeu (2/2) 21', 34'
Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 3,723
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
12 April 2025
20:00
Connacht Ireland (1)40–43(9) France Racing 92
Try: Aki 2' c
C. Prendergast (2) 8' c, 29' c
Penalty try 12'
Murphy 72' m
Forde 78' c
Con: Hanrahan (4/5) 3', 9', 30', 79'		ReportTry: Naituvi 5' m
Escobar 18' m
Le Garrec (2) 24' c, 48' c
Tuisova 33' c
Con: Lancaster (2/4) 25', 33'
Le Garrec (1/1) 49'
Pen: Lancaster (1/2) 42'
Le Garrec (2/3) 56', 64'
Drop: Farrell (1/1) 53'
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Attendance: 6,217
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
13 April 2025
17:30
Bath England (10)61–26(15) England Gloucester
Try: de Glanville 3' c
Dunn 10' m
Griffin 14' c
Spencer 29' c
Barbeary (2) 38' c, 50' c
Coetzee 65' c
Hill 70' c
Carr-Smith 78' c
Con: Russell (8/9) 4', 15', 29', 39', 51', 66', 71', 79'		ReportTry: Carreras 6' c
Singleton 22' c
Morris 36' m
Ludlow 73' c
Con: Carreras (3/4) 7', 22', 73'
The Rec, Bath
Attendance: 9,445
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Semi-finals

[edit]
3 May 2025
15:00
Edinburgh Scotland (3)v(10) England Bath
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh
4 May 2025
13:30
Lyon France (5)v(9) France Racing 92
Stade de Gerland, Lyon

Final

[edit]
23 May 2025
20:00
vFrance
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Leading scorers

[edit]

Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

Discipline

[edit]

Citings/bans

[edit]
Player Match[N 1] Citing date Law breached Result Refs
Italy Alessandro Fusco Italy Zebre Parma vs. France Lyon
(Round 2 – 14 December 2024) 		18 December 2024 9.18 – Tip Tackle
(Red card) 		3-match ban [12]
[13]
Georgia (country) Lado Chachanidze Georgia (country) Black Lion vs. Wales Scarlets
(Round 2 – 15 December 2024) 		18 December 2024 9.18 – Tip Tackle
(Red card) 		Red card rescinded [12]
[14]
Georgia (country) Giorgi Tsutskiridze Georgia (country) Black Lion vs. Wales Scarlets
(Round 2 – 15 December 2024) 		18 December 2024 9.28 – Match Official Abuse
(Citing) 		2-match ban [12]
[15]
Georgia (country) Giorgi Sinauridze Georgia (country) Black Lion vs. France Bayonne
(Round 3 – 11 January 2025) 		14 January 2025 9.20(d) – Dangerous Play in a Ruck
(Citing) 		1-match ban [16]
Scotland Magnus Bradbury Scotland Edinburgh vs. Georgia (country) Black Lion
(Round 4 – 19 January 2025) 		22 January 2025 9.13 – Dangerous Tackling
(Red card) 		3-match ban[N 2] [18]
England Sam Underhill France Pau vs. England Bath
(Round of 16 – 4 April 20255) 		7 April 2025 9.13 – Dangerous Tackling
(Red card) 		3-match ban[N 3] [19]

Notes:

  1. ^ The cited player's club is listed in bold italics.[11]
  2. ^ The ban is reduced by one match, subject to the player's completion of the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.[17]
  3. ^ The ban is reduced by one match, subject to the player's completion of the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.[17]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Mark Jones replaced Toby Booth as Ospreys head coach on 17 December 2024.[5]
  2. ^ Although Ospreys finished in the URC top eight – which would have qualified them for the 2024–25 Champions Cup – they were displaced by the Sharks, who were the winners of the 2023–24 Challenge Cup.
  3. ^ Patrice Collazo replaced Stuart Lancaster as Racing 92 head coach on 1 February 2025.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "European Challenge Cup Table - Rugby Union". BBC Sport. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Champions Cup: Cardiff to host 2025 final before 2026 return to Bilbao". BBC Sport. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "2024/25 EPCR season and Pool Draws dates". European Professional Club Rugby. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Black Lion and Toyota Cheetahs to continue EPCR Challenge Cup participation for next two seasons". European Professional Club Rugby. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Coach Booth leaves Ospreys as Jones takes charge". BBC Sport. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Ex-England head coach Lancaster departs Racing 92". BBC Sport. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b "EPCR Challenge Cup - Season Statistics". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Disciplinary hearing decisions: 2024/25 Season". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Disciplinary Hearings – Round 2". European Professional Club Rugby. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Alessandro Fusco: 3 weeks suspension" (PDF). European Professional Club Rugby. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Lado Chachanidze: Free to play" (PDF). European Professional Club Rugby. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Giorgi Tsutskiridze: 2 weeks suspension" (PDF). European Professional Club Rugby. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  16. ^ "Giorgi Sinauridze: 1 week suspension" (PDF). European Professional Club Rugby. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  17. ^ a b "World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme changing tackle behaviour". World Rugby. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Magnus Bradbury: 3 weeks suspension" (PDF). European Professional Club Rugby. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Underhill given three-week ban following red card". BBC. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
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