2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup
2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup | |
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![]() The EPCR Challenge Cup | |
Tournament details | |
Countries | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and knockout |
Date | 9 December 2022 – 19 May 2023 |
Tournament statistics | |
Teams | 18 |
Matches played | 51 |
Attendance | 314,320 (6,163 per match) |
Highest attendance | 31,514 - Glasgow Warriors v Toulon 19 May 2023 |
Lowest attendance | 200 - Cheetahs v Scarlets 17 December 2022 200 - Cheetahs v Pau 22 January 2023[a] |
Tries scored | 329 (6.45 per match) |
Top point scorer(s) | ![]() 62 points |
Top try scorer(s) | ![]() ![]() 7 tries |
Final | |
Venue | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
Champions | ![]() |
Runners-up | ![]() |
The 2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup was the 9th edition of the EPCR Challenge Cup, an annual second-tier rugby union competition for professional clubs. Including the predecessor competition, the original European Challenge Cup, this is the 27th edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition.
The tournament commenced in December 2022, and concluded with the final on 19 May 2023 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, which was contested between Glasgow Warriors (their first European final) and Toulon who made their fourth appearance in a European final.
This was the first year that teams from South Africa could qualify, following the inaugural United Rugby Championship season, with Johannesburg-based Lions making their inaugural appearance in European club rugby.[1] In addition, another South African team, the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs franchise, formerly of the URC predecessor competition the Pro14, had been invited to enter, having been excluded from European competition during their Pro14 tenure.[2]
Teams
Seventeen teams qualified for the 2022–23 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 Heineken Champions Cup. Plus one invited sides making 18 teams.
The distribution of teams were:
- England: three teams
- Remaining teams in the Premiership that do not qualify for the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup. Worcester Warriors and Wasps had previously qualified but were both suspended after entering administration.
- France: six teams
- Teams taking part in the 2022–23 Top 14 season that did not qualify for the Champions Cup
- Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, South Africa: nine teams
- The bottom seven teams in the United Rugby Championship and the Glasgow Warriors as the Welsh shield winners (the Ospreys) were not in the top 8 teams in the URC.[3]
- Cheetahs (invited to participate)[2]
Round | Premiership | Top 14 | United Rugby Championship | Invited | ||||
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![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Pool stage |
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Team details
Team | Coach / Director of Rugby | Captain | Stadium | Capacity | Method of qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Entering at Pool stage | |||||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Recreation Ground [b] | 14,509 | Premiership 9th–13th (13th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stade Jean-Dauger | 18,069 | Pro D2 Champions |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Stadio Comunale di Monigo | 6,700 | URC bottom 8 (13th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Ashton Gate Stadium | 27,000 | Premiership 9th–13th (10th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stade Amédée-Domenech | 13,979 | Top 14 bottom 6 (12th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Cardiff Arms Park | 12,125 | URC bottom 8 (14th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Free State Stadium | 46,000 | Invited team |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Galway Sportsgrounds | 8,129 | URC bottom 8 (11th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Rodney Parade [d] | 8,700 | URC bottom 8 (15th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Scotstoun Stadium [e] | 7,351 | URC bottom 8 (8th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Ellis Park Stadium | 62,567 | URC bottom 8 (12th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Kingston Park | 10,200 | Premiership 9th–13th (12th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stade du Hameau | 18,324 | Top 14 bottom 6 (10th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stade Aimé Giral | 14,593 | Top 14 bottom 6 (13th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Parc y Scarlets | 14,870 | URC bottom 8 (10th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stade Jean-Bouin | 20,000 | Top 14 bottom 6 (11th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stade Mayol | 18,200 | Top 14 bottom 6 (8th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi | 5,000 | URC bottom 8 (16th) |
Entering at Knockout Stage (transferred from Champions Cup) | |||||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Stade Marcel-Michelin | 19,022 | Champions Cup Pool B 9th–10th (9th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Matmut Stadium de Gerland | 35,029 | Champions Cup Pool A 9th–10th (9th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Paris La Défense Arena | 32,000 | Champions Cup Pool A 9th–10th (10th) |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | AJ Bell Stadium | 12,000 | Champions Cup Pool B 9th–10th (10th) |
Pool stage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Purple_pog.svg/8px-Purple_pog.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/White_pog.svg/8px-White_pog.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Purple_pog.svg/8px-Purple_pog.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/White_pog.svg/8px-White_pog.svg.png)
![2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup is located in South Africa](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/South_Africa_adm_location_map.svg/450px-South_Africa_adm_location_map.svg.png)
![Lions](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Purple_pog.svg/8px-Purple_pog.svg.png)
![Cheetahs](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Purple_pog.svg/8px-Purple_pog.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Purple_pog.svg/8px-Purple_pog.svg.png)
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.
Top 6 in each pool, advance to round of 16. |
Pool A
Pool A | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
![]() | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 56 | +46 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
![]() | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 107 | 82 | +25 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
![]() | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 154 | 57 | +97 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
![]() | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 121 | 54 | +67 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 14* |
![]() | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 135 | 72 | +63 | 19 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
![]() | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 157 | –91 | 9 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
![]() | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 132 | –69 | 8 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
![]() | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 68 | 105 | –37 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 68 | 118 | –50 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
![]() | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 107 | –51 | 8 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Green background (rows 1 to 6) are qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Starting table — source: EPCR * Bristol Bears were deducted 5 match points for selecting an ineligible player[4] |
Pool B
Pool B | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
![]() | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 57 | +67 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
![]() | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 70 | +50 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
![]() | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 98 | 85 | +13 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
![]() | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 85 | 86 | –1 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
![]() | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 98 | 103 | –5 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
![]() | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 73 | 87 | –14 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
![]() | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 64 | 72 | –8 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
![]() | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 130 | –102 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Green background (rows 1 to 6) are qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Starting table — source: EPCR |
Knockout stage
The knockout stage was played across 31 March/1/2 April with a single leg round of 16 matches consisting of the top six ranked teams from each pool and the teams ranked 9th and 10th in each pool of the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup (Clermont, Lyon, Racing 92 and Sale Sharks denoted by * in the bracket). The Round of 16 followed a pre-determined format, while the quarter-finals and semi-finals always guaranteed home advantage to the higher ranked team.
The last-16 were dominated by clubs from Top 14 (eight) and the United Rugby Championship (six), with only two English clubs reaching the knockout stages - both eliminated in the first play-off round along with the only Irish team, Connacht, while both South African clubs departed by the quarter-finals. Treviso became the first Italian side to reach a European semi-final, as three URC teams from three different countries(Italy, Scotland and Wales) reached the final four along with French giant Toulon.
Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
B1 | ![]() | 19 | |||||||||||||||||
A6 | ![]() | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
B1 | ![]() | 32 | |||||||||||||||||
B9 | ![]() | 30 | |||||||||||||||||
A4 | ![]() | 26 | |||||||||||||||||
B9* | ![]() | 33 | |||||||||||||||||
B1 | ![]() | 17 | |||||||||||||||||
A2 | ![]() | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
A2 | ![]() | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
B5 | ![]() | 33 | |||||||||||||||||
A2 | ![]() | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
B3 | ![]() | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
B3 | ![]() | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
A10* | ![]() | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
A2 | ![]() | 19 | |||||||||||||||||
A1 | ![]() | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
A1 | ![]() | 36 | |||||||||||||||||
B6 | ![]() | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
A1 | ![]() | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
A9 | ![]() | 23 | |||||||||||||||||
B4 | ![]() | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
A9* | ![]() | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
A1 | ![]() | 23 | |||||||||||||||||
B2 | ![]() | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
B2 | ![]() | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
A5 | ![]() | 19 | |||||||||||||||||
B2 | ![]() | 27 | |||||||||||||||||
A3 | ![]() | 23 | |||||||||||||||||
A3 | ![]() | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
B10* | ![]() | 27 |
Round of 16
31 March 2023 20:00 |
Bristol Bears ![]() | 26–33 | ![]() |
Try: Randall 33' c Radradra 37' c Con: MacGinty (2/2) 34', 38' Pen: MacGinty (4/5) 10', 17', 49', 77' | Report | Try: Lavanini 23' c Penaud (2) 27' c, 70' m Moala 39' m Con: Belleau (2/4) 24', 28' Pen: Belleau (3/3) 13', 42', 56' |
Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol Attendance: 11,207 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
31 March 2023 20:00 |
Scarlets ![]() | 19–7 | ![]() |
Try: Fifita 50' m Shingler 78' m Pen: Costelow (3/3) 3', 15', 28' | Report | Try: Olding 46' c Con: Olding (1/1) 48' |
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 7,784 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England) |
1 April 2023 13:30 |
Toulon ![]() | 36–21 | ![]() |
Try: Salles 12' c Baubigny 30' m Luc 40+1' c Isa 47' m Wainiqolo 53' c Con: Salles (3/5) 13', 40+5', 54' | Report | Try: Van Rensburg 42' c Jasper 58' c Bernardo 71' c Con: Pienaar (3/3) 43', 59', 72' |
Stade Mayol, Toulon Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy) |
1 April 2023 16:00 |
Stade Français ![]() | 24–41 | ![]() |
Try: Dachary 47' m Penalty try 19' Pen: Segonds (4/5) 6', 42', 44', 61' | Report | Try: Penalty try 50' Couilloud 56' c Marchand 77' m Dumortier 79' c Con: Sopoaga (2/3) 57', 80' Pen: Sopoaga (5/5) 8', 30', 36', 70', 73' |
Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris Attendance: 7,500 Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland) |
1 April 2023 16:00 |
Benetton ![]() | 41–19 | ![]() |
Try: Watson (2) 20' c, 52' c Smith 27' c Padovani (2) 36' c, 45' m Ruzza 61' m Con: Umaga (4/6) 21', 28', 37', 53' Pen: Umaga (1/2) 75' | Report | Try: Oliver 12' m Porch (2) 17' c, 56' c Con: Hawkshaw (1/2) 18' Forde (1/1) 57' |
Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Christophe Ridley (England) |
1 April 2023 17:30 |
Glasgow Warriors ![]() | 73–33 | ![]() |
Try: Horne 2' c Matthews (5) 14' c, 22' m, 26' c, 33' c, 42' c Turner 56' c Forbes 58' c Jones 60' c Steyn (2) 72' m, 80' c Con: Horne (8/10) 3', 15', 27', 34', 43', 57', 59', 61' c Miotti (1/1) 80' | Report | Try: J. Williams 18' c Dyer 29' c Rosser 38' c Dee (2) 45' c, 75' c Con: Reed (4/5) 19', 39', 46', 77' |
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Attendance: 5,140 Referee: Tual Trainini (France) |
1 April 2023 18:30 |
Lions ![]() | 51–28 | ![]() |
Try: Louw (2) 4' c, 51' c Van der Merwe 7' c Maxwane 22' c R. Venter 40' c Lombard 54' c Nohamba 66' c Con: Nohamba (5/6) 5', 40'+1, 52', 55', 67 Pen: Nohamba (1/1) 17' | Report | Try: Moukoro (2) 11' c, 28' c Volavola 48' c Taofifénua 58' c Con: Le Garrec (3/3) 12', 29', 48'c Spring (1/1) 59' |
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 2,894 Referee: Karl Dickson (England) |
1 April 2023 20:00 |
Cardiff ![]() | 28–27 | ![]() |
Try: Domachowski 19' c Adams (2) 33' m, 40'+2 c Con: Evans (2/3) 20', 40'+3 Pen: Evans (2/2) 9', 71' Priestland (1/1) 43' | Report | Try: Van der Merwe 15' c Roebuck 51' c Ashman 63' c Con: Ford (3/3) 16', 52', 63' Pen: Ford (2/2) 29', 58' |
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 7,512 Referee: Luc Ramos (France) |
Quarter-finals
7 April 2023 20:00 |
Scarlets ![]() | 32–30 | ![]() |
Try: Halfpenny 7' m Costelow 14' c J. Williams 36' c Conbeer 76' c Con: Halfpenny (1/2) 15' Costelow (2/2) 37', 76' Pen: Halfpenny (1/1) 6' Costelow (1/2) 68' | Report | Try: Simone 20' m Raka (2) 29' c, 44' m Beria 64' c Con: Belleau (1/3) 31' Plisson (1/1) 64' Pen: Belleau (2/2) 3', 35' |
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 7,634 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) |
8 April 2023 13:30 |
Toulon ![]() | 48–23 | ![]() |
Try: Wainiqolo (2) 29' m, 66' m Baubigny 38' c Priso 40+3' c Nayacalevu 49' c Ollivon 57' c Luc 77' c Con: West (4/5) 39', 40+5, 50', 58' Biggar (1/2) 78' Pen: West (1/1) 5' | Report | Try: Couilloud 61' c Arnold 71' c Con: Berdeu (2/2) 61', 72' Pen: Sopoaga (3/4) 2', 8', 46' |
Stade Mayol, Toulon Attendance: 12,095 Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland) |
8 April 2023 16:00 |
Benetton ![]() | 27–23 | ![]() |
Try: Smith 20' c Lamaro 56' c Watson 68' c Con: Umaga (2/2) 21', 57' Albornoz (1/1) 70' Pen: Umaga (2/2) 6', 12' | Report | Try: Young 30' c Grady 46' c Con: Priestland (2/2) 30', 47' Pen: Priestland (2/2) 43', 61' |
Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Luke Pearce (England) |
8 April 2023 20:00 |
Glasgow Warriors ![]() | 31–21 | ![]() |
Try: Dempsey 9' c Dobie 17' c Z. Fagerson 48' c Jordan 73' c Con: Horne (4/4) 10', 19', 49', 74' Pen: Horne (1/1) 68' | Report | Try: Nohamba 43' c F. Horn 64' c Brandon 76' c Con: Nohamba (1/1) 43' Lombard (2/2) 65', 76' |
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Attendance: 4,249 Referee: Matthew Carley (England) |
Semi-finals
The higher-ranked club gained home stadium advantage, however, in the event that a South African team had been the higher ranked side, the game would have been located in Europe.
29 April 2023 17:30 |
Scarlets ![]() | 17–35 | ![]() |
Try: Steff Evans 31' m Pen: Costelow (4/4) 24’, 28’, 40’, 46’ | Report | Try: McDowall (2) 2' c, 79' c Horne 43' c Matthews 50' c Darge 56' c Con: Horne (5/5) 4’, 43’, 51’, 57’, 80’ + 1 |
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 13,077 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) |
30 April 2023 13:30 |
Toulon ![]() | 23–0 | ![]() |
Try: Paia'aua 4' c Gigashvili 17' c Con: Biggar (2/2) 5', 17' Pen: Biggar (3/3) 13', 42', 46' | Report |
Stade Mayol, Toulon Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Karl Dickson (England) |
Final
19 May 2023 20:00 IST (UTC+01) |
Glasgow Warriors ![]() | 19–43 | ![]() |
Try: Steyn (2) 55' c, 73' c Cancelliere 68' m Con: Horne (2/3) 56', 74' | Report | Try: Serin (2) 4' c, 24' c Parisse 17' c Wainiqolo 57' m Nayacalevu 63' m West 77' c Con: Serin (3/3) 5', 18', 26' Paillaugue (2/3) 64', 79' Pen: Paillaugue (1/2) 50' |
Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 31,514 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) |
Leading scorers
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.
Most points
Source:[5]
| Most tries
Source:[5]
|
See also
Notes
- ^ Games when not effected by reduced crowd due to relocation.
- ^ Bath were also forced to play one home game at Kingsholm, Gloucester in round 3 due to waterlogged pitch at the Rec.
- ^ Flanagan took over coaching duties at the region, replacing Dean Ryan ahead of the Challenge Cup.
- ^ Dragons were also forced to play their round 4 game at the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence due to a frozen pitch at Rodney Parade.
- ^ Glasgow were also forced to play one home game at Murrayfield Stadium in round 2 due to an unplayable pitch at Scotstoun.
- ^ Jono Gibbes was sacked as head coach of Clermont in January 2023. His assistants took charge of their final pool stage match, with Christophe Urios appointed to take over as the new head coach as of the end of the pool stage.
References
- ^ "South African teams to play in Champions Cup for first time". Sky Sports. 2 June 2022.
- ^ a b "EPCR confirms inclusion of South African clubs from 2022/23 season". 2 June 2022.
- ^ Ospreys finished in the bottom 8 teams, but qualified for the European rugby Champions Cup as Welsh Shield champions.
- ^ "Disciplinary decision – EPCR Challenge Cup". Bristol Bears Rugby. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Tournament Statistics". EPCR. Retrieved 30 March 2023.