2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage

2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage
Season 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup
Date 13 October 2018 – 18 January 2019
Qualifiers
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The 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage is the first stage of the competition in the fifth season of the European Rugby Challenge Cup. The competition involves twenty teams competing across five pools of four teams for eight quarter-final places – awarded to the five pool winners and the three top-ranked pool runners-up. The pool stage begins on 13 October 2018 and is due to be completed on 18 January 2019.

Seeding

The 20 competing teams were seeded and split into four tiers; seeding was based on performance in their respective domestic leagues. Where promotion and relegation is in effect in a league, the promoted team was seeded last, or (if multiple teams are promoted) by performance in the lower competition.[1] [2]

Rank Top 14 Premiership Pro 14 Continental Shield
1France La RochelleEngland Sale SharksItaly BenettonRussia Enisei-STM
2France PauEngland Northampton SaintsWales OspreysRomania Timișoara Saracens
3France ClermontEngland HarlequinsIreland Connacht
4France BordeauxEngland Worcester WarriorsItaly Zebre
5France AgenEngland Bristol BearsWales Dragons
6France Stade Français
7France Perpignan
8France Grenoble

Teams will be taken from a league in order of rank and put into a tier. A draw will be used to allocate two second seeds to Tier 1; the remaining team goes into Tier 2. This allocation indirectly determines which fourth-seeded team entered Tier 2, while the others enter Tier 3.

Given the nature of the Continental Shield - a competition including developing rugby nations and Italian clubs not competing in the Pro14 - the two qualifiers from that competition were automatically included in Tier 4 and are seeded equally, despite officially being ranked 1 and 2 from that competition.

The brackets show each team's seeding and their league (for example, 1 Top 14 indicates the team was seeded 1st from the Top 14).

Tier 1 England Sale Sharks (1 Prem) Italy Benetton (1 Pro14) France La Rochelle (1 Top 14) France Pau (2 Top 14) England Northampton Saints (2 Prem)
Tier 2 Wales Ospreys (2 Pro14) England Harlequins (3 Prem) Ireland Connacht (3 Pro14) France Clermont (3 Top 14) Italy Zebre (4 Pro14)
Tier 3 England Worcester Warriors (4 Prem) France Bordeaux (4 Top 14) England Bristol Bears (5 Prem) Wales Dragons (5 Pro14) France Agen (5 Top 14)
Tier 4 France Stade Français (6 Top 14) France Perpignan (7 Top 14) France Grenoble (8 Top 14) Russia Enisei-STM (CS 1) Romania Timișoara Saracens (CS 2)

Pool stage

The draw will take place on 20 June 2018 in the Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Teams in the same pool will play each other twice, both at home and away in the group stage, that will begin in October 2018, and continue through to January 2019, before the pool winners and three best runners-up progressed to the quarter finals.

Teams will be awarded competition points, based on match result. Teams receive 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 will be used, as directed by EPCR:

  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.
Key to colours
     Winner of each pool, advance to quarter-finals.
     Three highest-scoring second-place teams advance to quarter-finals.

Pool 1

Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
Wales Dragons 11005417+3782105
France Clermont 11004120+2162105
England Northampton Saints 10012041–2126000
Romania Timișoara Saracens 10011754–3728000

Round 1

13 October 2018
12:30
Timișoara Saracens Romania 17–54 Wales Dragons (1 BP)
Try: Popa 22' c
Simionescu 57' c
Con: Samoa (2/2) 24', 58'
Pen: Samoa (1/2) 2'
 Report[4] Try: Dee (2) 9' c, 38' m
Brown 32' c
Howells 39' c
Griffiths (2) 50' c, 71' c
Penalty try 68'
R. Davies 79' c
Con: Lewis (6/7) 10', 33', 40', 51', 72', 80'
Stadionul Dan Păltinișanu
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
13 October 2018
15:00
Northampton Saints England 20–41 France Clermont (1 BP)
Try: Collins 77' c
Ribbans 80' c
Con: Grayson (2/2) 77', 80'
Pen: Biggar (2/2) 13', 25'
 Report[5] Try: Betham (2) 21' m, 37' m
Yato (2) 34' c, 63' c
Slimani 51' c
Iturria 60' c
Con: Laidlaw (4/6) 35', 52', 60', 64'
Pen: Laidlaw (1/1) 14'
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 11,712
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Round 2

19 October 2018
19:45
Dragons Wales v England Northampton Saints
20 October 2018
15:00
Clermont France v Romania Timișoara Saracens

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

18 January 2019
19:45
Dragons Wales v France Clermont

Pool 2

Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
Wales Ospreys 1100270+2740105
England Worcester Warriors 11003827+1153105
France Stade Français 10012738–1135000
France Pau 1001027–2704000

Round 1

13 October 2018
15:00
(1 BP) Ospreys Wales 27–0 France Pau
Try: Hook 6' c
North 46' c
L. Morgan 56' m
H. Morgan 80' m
Con: S. Davies (1/1) 7'
Hook (1/3) 47'
Pen: Hook (1/1) 36'
 Report[6]
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,072
Referee: Tom Foley (IRFU)
13 October 2018
20:00
Stade Français France 27–38 England Worcester Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Hamdaoui 14' c
Panis 63' c
Van Zyl 73' c
Con: Plisson (1/1) 15'
Steyn (2/2) 63', 73'
Pen: Plisson (2/3) 1', 37'
 Report[7] Try: Cox 8' c
Howe (2) 25' c, 40' c
Hill 51' c
Shillcock 70' c
Con: Lance (5/5) 9', 26', 40'+1, 52', 71'
Pen: Lance (1/3) 23'
Stade Jean-Bouin
Attendance: 6,880
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

Round 2

20 October 2018
13:00
Pau France v France Stade Français
Stade du Hameau
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
20 October 2018
15:00
Worcester Warriors England v Wales Ospreys
Sixways Stadium
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

Round 3

7 December 2018
19:00
Pau France v England Worcester Warriors
8 December 2018
15:00
Ospreys Wales v France Stade Français

Round 4

14 December 2018
19:45
Stade Français France v Wales Ospreys
15 December 2018
15:00
Worcester Warriors England v France Pau

Round 5

11 January 2019
19:45
Stade Français France v France Pau
12 January 2019
15:00
Ospreys Wales v England Worcester Warriors

Round 6

January 2019
Pau France v Wales Ospreys

Pool 3

Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
England Sale Sharks 11004124+1762105
Ireland Connacht 11002210+1231004
France Bordeaux Bègles 10011022–1213000
France Perpignan 10012441–1726000

Round 1

12 October 2018
17:45
Perpignan France 24–41 England Sale Sharks (1 BP)
Try: Lucas 16' c
Lemala 80'+3 m
Con: Bousquet (1/1) 17'
Pen: Bousquet (4/4) 30', 37', 40', 45'
 Report[8] Try: McGuigan (3) 6' c, 68' c, 76' c
Webber 19' m
Rensburg 37' c
James 57' m
Con: De Klerk (3/5) 8', 39', 69'
Cliff (1/1) 77'
Pen: De Klerk (1/2) 62'
Stade Aimé Giral
Attendance: 8,038
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)
13 October 2018
15:00
Connacht Ireland 20–10 France Bordeaux Bègles
Try: Godwin (2) 13' c, 45' c
Bealham 66' m
Con: Carty (2/3) 14', 46'
Pen: Carty (1/1) 23'
 Report[9] Try: Amosa 52' c
Con: Meret (1/1) 53'
Pen: Meret (1/1) 40'
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 4,878
Referee: Mike Adamson (RFU)

Round 2

20 October 2018
15:00
Sale Sharks England v Ireland Connacht
20 October 2018
18:00
Bordeaux Bègles France v France Perpignan
Stade Chaban-Delmas
Referee: Tom Foley (IRFU)

Round 3

8 December 2018
15:00
Connacht Ireland v France Perpignan

Round 4

14 December 2018
19:00
Perpignan France v Ireland Connacht
15 December 2018
15:00
Sale Sharks England v France Bordeaux Bègles

Round 5

12 January 2019
15:00
Connacht Ireland v England Sale Sharks

Round 6

Pool 4

Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
France La Rochelle 11008221+61123105
England Bristol Bears 11004322+2173105
Italy Zebre 10012243–2137000
Russia Enisei-STM 10012182–61312000

Round 1

13 October 2018
9:00
Enisei-STM Russia 21–82 France La Rochelle (1 BP)
Try: Simplikevich (2) 9' c, 67' c
Gachechiladze 25' c
Con: Kushnarev (3/3) 11', 26', 68'
 Report[10] Try: Alldritt 1' c
Lafage 13' c
Forbes 19' c
Jordaan (2) 22' c, 58' c
Andreu 28' c
Goillot (2) 40' c, 70' c
Camou 41' c
Aguillon (2) 52' c, 75' m
West 80' c
Con: Lafage (10/11) 3', 14', 20', 23', 29', 40', 41', 53', 60', 71'
West (1/1) 80'
Krasny Yar Stadium
Attendance: 2,700
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
13 October 2018
15:00
(1 BP) Bristol Bears England 43–22 Italy Zebre
Try: Leiua 6' c
Edwards (2) 12' m, 31' c
Latta 17' c
Haining 20' m
Armstrong 39' m
Uren 62' c
Con: Sheedy (3/6) 7', 18', 33'
Bedlow (1/1) 62'
 Report[11] Try: Bello 37' c
Castello 42' c
Boni 73' m
Con: Brummer (2/2) 37', 43'
Pen: Brummer (1/1) 10'
Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 8,852
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Round 2

20 October 2018
14:00
Zebre Italy v England Bristol Bears
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (FFR)

Round 3

8 December 2018
12:00
Enisei-STM Russia v Italy Zebre
Yug Stadium, Sochi

Round 4

14 December 2018
15:00
Zebre Italy v Russia Enisei-STM

Round 5

11 January 2019
19:00
La Rochelle France v Italy Zebre
12 January 2019
12:00
Enisei-STM Russia v Russia Bristol Bears
Yug Stadium, Sochi

Round 6

19 January 2019
15:00
Zebre Italy v France La Rochelle

Pool 5

Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
England Harlequins 11005422+3283105
Italy Benetton 11004014+2662105
France Grenoble 10011440–2626000
France Agen 10012254–3238000

Round 1

13 October 2018
14:00
(1 BP) Benetton Italy 40–14 France Grenoble
Try: Hayward 15' c
Allan (2) 46' c, 50' c
Ruzza 23' c
Faiva 73'
Brex 76'
Con: Allan (4/4) 16', 24', 47', 51'
Rizzi (1/2) 77'
 Report[12] Try: Casey 38' c
Aulika 70’ c
Con: Nanette (2/2) 40', 71'
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Attendance: 2,480
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
13 October 2018
15:00
(1 BP) Harlequins England 54–22 France Agen
Try: Brown 13' c
Mulchrone 25' c
Kunatani (2) 29' c, 77' c
Earle 42' m
Merrick 50' c
Marchant 70' c
Con: Smith (4/5) 15', 26', 30', 52'
Catrakilis (2/2) 71', 78'
 Report[13] Try: Tolot 34' m
Yaha 53' c
Bosch 75' c
Con: Berdeu (2/3) 54', 76'
Pen: Berdeu (1/1) 24'
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,532
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

Round 2

19 October 2018
18:30
Agen France v Italy Benetton
20 October 2018
20:00
Grenoble France v England Harlequins
Stade des Alpes
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)

Round 3

7 December 2018
19:45
Grenoble France v France Agen

Round 4

14 December 2018
18:30
Agen France v France Grenoble
15 December 2018
14:00
Harlequins England v Italy Benetton

Round 5

12 January 2019
14:00
Benetton Italy v France Agen
12 January 2019
15:00
Harlequins England v France Grenoble

Round 6

18 January 2019
18:45
Agen France v England Harlequins
18 January 2019
18:45
Grenoble France v Italy Benetton

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Watch the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Pool Draws live : News | ERC | Official Website". ERCRugby.com. 7 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-31. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
    2. ↑ "2018/19 Challenge Cup Pool Draw" (PDF). epcrugby.com.
    3. ↑ "Champions Cup Rules". epcrugby.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
    4. ↑ "Dragons lay away-day European jinx in style". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    5. ↑ "Classy Clermont dent Northampton's hopes". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    6. ↑ "Hook inspires Ospreys to easy win". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    7. ↑ "Historic win for Worcester in Paris thrille". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    8. ↑ "Sale Sharks bag away success at Perpignan". EPCR. 12 October 2018.
    9. ↑ "Two-try Godwin leads Connacht to Bordeaux-Begles hat-trick". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    10. ↑ "La Rochelle open up with ruthless away display". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    11. ↑ "Bristol make dream return to Europe". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    12. ↑ "Benetton continue fine start to season". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
    13. ↑ "Harlequins off to a flyer". EPCR. 13 October 2018.
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