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Challenge
Cup

Get ready for the EPCR Challenge Cup right here. Below you’ll find breaking news stories, upcoming fixtures and the latest results.

Challenge Cup News

Challenge Cup

Exeter's England stars shine as Chiefs demolish Cardiff

3
Challenge Cup

'What a nudge': Henry Slade punishes Cardiff with 'extraordinary' touchfinder

1
Challenge Cup

Shock scoreline as Connacht put French opposition to sword in Galway

1
Challenge Cup

Forgotten Ireland star shines as Ulster survive French Challenge Cup fightback

Challenge Cup

Exeter Chiefs: 'It’s something we’ve got to talk about now'

1
17 days ago
 
Challenge Cup

Stuart Hogg plays Challenge Cup villain in win over Connacht

1
22 days ago
 
Challenge Cup

Former England star shines as Benetton humiliate Dragons

23 days ago
 
Challenge Cup

Second half blitz against Racing 92 sees Cardiff edge towards play-offs

23 days ago
 
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Challenge Cup Standings

Pool 1

1
2
3
4
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
4
4
0
0
119
77
42
4
0
4
4
3
1
0
99
81
18
2
0
2
4
2
2
0
179
71
108
3
2
5
4
2
2
0
102
97
5
3
2
5
Pts
20
14
13
13

Pool 2

1
2
3
4
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
4
4
0
0
182
89
93
3
0
3
4
3
1
0
75
78
-3
1
0
1
4
2
2
0
96
148
-52
1
0
1
4
1
2
1
111
107
4
1
1
2
Pts
19
13
9
8

Pool 3

1
2
3
4
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
4
3
1
0
141
55
86
4
1
5
4
3
1
0
129
90
39
3
1
4
4
2
1
1
129
70
59
3
1
4
4
2
2
0
78
108
-30
2
0
2
Pts
17
16
14
10
View Table
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Challenge Cup Stats

Teams
Players
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Challenge Cup Teams

Ulster Ulster Racing 92 Racing 92 Lions Lions Benetton Benetton Stade Francais Stade Francais Cardiff Rugby Cardiff Rugby Black Lion Black Lion Montpellier Montpellier Lyon Lyon Newcastle Newcastle Zebre Zebre US Montauban US Montauban Perpignan Perpignan Dragons RFC Dragons RFC Ospreys Ospreys Connacht Connacht Exeter Chiefs Exeter Chiefs Cheetahs Cheetahs Sharks Sharks Munster Munster Stade Rochelais Stade Rochelais Pau Pau

Challenge Cup Latest News

Exeter Chiefs squander 22-point lead in Challenge Cup nightmare

Lions to unleash South Africa U20 superstar Batho Hlekani against Lyon

Newcastle Red Bulls to face returning might of Posolo Tuilagi

Exeter Chiefs' Challenge Cup visit to France ends on sour note

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Follow the 2025-26 EPCR Challenge Cup with RugbyPass 

Watch 18 of Europe’s elite rugby teams battle for supremacy in the Challenge Cup. Although it's second-tier competition behind the Investec Champions Cup, the European Rugby Challenge Cup features an incredibly high standard of rugby and delivers classic matches year after year.

Eager to learn more about the EPCR Challenge Cup? Here at RugbyPass, we cover every story, team and player. Take a look below for all of this season’s latest news, results and upcoming matches.

EPCR Challenge Cup History

The European Rugby Challenge Cup dates back to 1996, one year after the formation of the Champions Cup. Initially, it was known as the European Conference and 24 teams from England, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy and Romania competed during its inaugural year. Over the next two decades, the tournament underwent numerous name changes, including stints as the European Shield and Parker Pen Shield. Finally, in 2014, the English and French teams withdrew and decided to form the Challenge Cup.

Today, 18 teams compete for the EPCR Challenge Cup. Of these, 17 teams automatically qualify from Europe’s top three professional leagues: the English Premiership, the French Top 14 and the United Rugby Championship. Additionally, two teams are invited to take part in the tournament: Cheetahs (South Africa) and Black Lion (Georgia).

EPCR Challenge Cup Format

In the EPCR Challenge Cup, the 18 participating teams are split into three pools that each contain six teams. Each team plays four matches in the pool phase (two at home and two away), meaning they do not play against one of the sides in their pool. 

A draw to determine the pools takes place annually, and the competition rules state that clubs from the same nation cannot be in the same pool. However, the exception to this is French teams. This is because six French teams start the competition, so two are placed in each pool. However, they do not play against each other in the pool phase. Additionally, there cannot be more than three teams from the United Rugby Championship in the same pool.

At the end of the pool phase, the top four teams in each pool progress to the round of 16, alongside the fifth-ranked team from each Champions Cup pool. 

Following this, the knockout phase of the tournament takes place. This consists of a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. The winner of the final is crowned as EPCR Challenge Cup champions.

FAQs

When was the first edition of the EPCR Challenge Cup?

The first edition of the EPCR Challenge Cup was held in 1996, when it was known as the European Conference. The inaugural tournament was contested by twenty four teams from England, France, Italy, Romania, Scotland and Wales. Bourgoin beat Castres 18-9 in the all-French final and claimed the first title.

Which side holds the record for the most EPCR Challenge Cup titles?

18 teams compete in the EPCR Challenge Cup. This includes 17 teams that qualify based on their standings in the Premiership, Top 14 and United Rugby Championship, as well as one team that is invited to take part. Each of the teams comes from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa or Wales.

Which country’s sides have been the most successful in the EPCR Challenge Cup?

Teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales compete in the EPCR Challenge Cup. The domestic teams competing in the 2022-23 EPCR Challenge Cup are:

- England: Bath, Bristol Bears, Newcastle Falcons
- France: Bayonne, Brive, Pau, Perpignan, Stade Français, Toulon
- Ireland: Connacht
- Italy: Benetton, Zebre Parma
- Scotland: Glasgow Warriors
- Wales: Cardiff, Dragons, Scarlets
- South Africa: Lions, Cheetahs

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