European rugby’s second tier club competition gets underway this week with Stade Francais travelling to London to take on Harlequins. English and French clubs have traditionally dominated the tournament, but will this season see a new winner?
No Champions Cup sides will drop down into the Challenge Cup knockout round this season and the winner will receive a spot in next year’s premier competition.
Pool 1
Gloucester
Last Season: Challenge Cup Quarter Finals
Previous Best: Winners (2005/06, 2014/15)
Method of Qualification: 8th in Aviva Premiership
Captain: Greig Laidlaw
Coach: David Humphreys
One to watch: Matt Kvesic
Gloucester haven’t got going yet so far this season, but European competition and a change of focus could be the medicine for what has been a stuttering campaign so far. They’re sat 10th in the Premiership, but can take heart in the fact that their defeats have been by a narrow margin. They’ve also drawn twice. They have history in this competition, having won it twice before and Kingsholm is still a formidable place for opposition teams to visit.
Tournament Odds: 16/5
Other teams in the pool: Bayonne, Benetton Treviso, La Rochelle
Key Fixtures
– Bayonne vs. Gloucester (15th October)
– Gloucester vs. Benetton Treviso (22nd October)
– Gloucester vs. La Rochelle (8th December)
– La Rochelle vs. Gloucester (17th December)
– Benetton Treviso vs. Gloucester (12/13/14/15 January)
– Gloucester vs. Bayonne (19/20/21/22 January)
Pool 2
Newcastle Falcons
Last Season: Pool Stages
Previous Best: Semi Finals
Method of Qualification: 11th in Aviva Premiership
Captain: Will Welch
Coach: Dean Richards
One to watch: Sinoti Sinoti
Newcastle are flying high in the Premiership and are sat in sixth place with three wins already this season. They’re in a tough pool though and the fixtures haven’t gone their way, with four games in a row against French opposition. The Ospreys are also formidable opponents, sat in third in the Pro12 and Newcastle could find it tough to get out of this pool.
Tournament Odds: 33/1
Other teams in the pool: Grenoble, Lyon, Ospreys
Key Fixtures:
– Ospreys vs. Newcastle Falcons (14th October)
– Newcastle Falcons vs. Grenoble (23rd October)
– Lyon vs. Newcastle Falcons (9th December)
– Newcastle Falcons vs. Lyon (18th December)
– Grenoble vs. Newcastle Falcons (12/13/14/15 January)
– Newcastle Falcons vs. Ospreys (19/20/21/22 January)
Pool 3
Worcester Warriors
Last Season: Pool Stages
Previous Best: Runners up (2004/05)
Method of Qualification: 10th in Aviva Premiership
Captain: GJ Van Velze
Coach: Carl Hogg
One to watch: Francois Hougaard
Worcester prioritised the league over Europe last season and finished bottom of their pool with just one win. They’re sat 11th in the Premiership, but hold a seven point advantage over bottom placed Bristol and their league form will dictate the seriousness in which they take this competition. They have a reasonably straight-forward pool and have a strong first team, but there might be an issue if there’s an injury crisis, with a difference in quality between the starters and the replacements.
Tournament Odds: 80/1
Other teams in the pool: Brive, Enisei-STM, Newport Gwent Dragons
Key Fixtures:
– Enisei-STM vs. Worcester Warriors (15th October)
– Worcester Warriors vs. Brive (22nd October)
– Worcester Warriors vs. Newport Gwent Dragons (10th December)
– Newport Gwent Dragons vs. Worcester Warriors (16th December)
– Brive vs. Worcester Warriors (12/13/14/15 January)
– Worcester Warriors vs. Enisei-STM (19/20/21/22 January)
Pool 4
Bath
Last Season: Champions Cup Quarter Finals
Previous Best: Winners (2007/08)
Method of Qualification: 9th in Aviva Premiership
Captain: Guy Mercer
Coach: Todd Blackadder
One to watch: Semesa Rokoduguni
Bath have put last season’s disappointing campaign behind them and are sat third in the Premiership. They’re favourites to win the Challenge Cup and it’s hardly surprising when looking at the squad. There’s quality across the park with George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Semesa Rokoduguni in the backline, but they’ll be without Anthony Watson for the first round of games due to injury. Francois Louw’s matchup with Pau’s Steffon Armitage will be gripping viewing.
Tournament Odds: 16/5
Other teams in the pool: Bristol, Cardiff Blues, Pau
Key Fixtures:
– Pau vs. Bath (15th October)
– Bath vs. Bristol (20th October)
– Cardiff Blues vs. Bath (10th December)
– Bath vs. Cardiff Blues (15th December)
– Bristol vs. Bath (12/13/14/15 January)
– Bath vs. Pau (19/20/21/22 January)
Bristol
Last Season: Didn’t qualify
Previous Best: Quarter Finals
Method of Qualification: 2015/16 RFU Championship Champion
Captain: Jack Lam
Coach: Andy Robinson
One to watch: Tusi Pisi
Newly promoted Bristol have found life back in the Premiership tough and are rooted to the foot of the table with six defeats from six games. They’re not short of European experience, with Tom Varndell and Gavin Henson in their ranks, but they’ll struggle to get out of the pool.
Tournament Odds: 110/1
Other teams in the pool: Bath, Cardiff Blues, Pau
Key Fixtures:
– Bristol vs. Cardiff Blues (14th October)
– Bath vs. Bristol (20th October)
– Bristol vs. Pau (11th December)
– Pau vs. Bristol (16th December)
– Bristol vs. Bath (12/13/14/15 January)
– Cardiff vs. Bristol (19/20/21/22 January)
Pool 5
Harlequins
Last Season: Challenge Cup Runners Up
Previous Best: Winners (2000/01, 2003/04, 2010/11)
Method of Qualification: 7th in Aviva Premiership
Captain: Danny Care
Coach: John Kingston
One to watch: Joe Marchant
Last year’s runners up will have a point to prove this year after they were ruthlessly beaten by Montpellier in the final. Quins have great pedigree in this competition, having won it three times and they’ll take it seriously, considering that there’s no guarantee that they’ll finish in the Champions Cup qualification places in the league. Nick Evans has tormented Stade Francais in the past, but is now ageing and the back-to-back fixtures against Timisoara Saracens in December should result in bonus point victories.
Tournament Odds: 5/1
Other teams in the pool: Edinburgh, Stade Francais, Timisoara Saracens
Key Fixtures:
Harlequins vs. Stade Francais (13th October)
Edinburgh vs. Harlequins (22nd October)
Timisoara Saracens vs. Harlequins (10th December)
Harlequins vs. Timisoara Saracens (17th December)
Harlequins vs. Edinburgh (12/13/14/15 January)
Stade Francais vs. Harlequins (19/20/21/22 January)