2013–14 European Challenge Cup pool stage explained

See main article: 2013–14 European Challenge Cup. The 2013–14 Amlin Challenge Cup pool stage will be the opening stage of the 18th season of the European Challenge Cup, the second-tier competition for European rugby union clubs. The opening round of matches will be on 10–13 October 2013 and the closing round on 16–19 January 2014.^[1]

Twenty teams will participate in this phase of the competition; they are divided into five pools of four teams each, with each team playing the others home and away. Competition points are earned using the standard bonus point system. The pool winners advance to the knockout stage, where they will be joined by three entrants from the Heineken Cup pool stage. The quarter-finalists will then participate in a knockout tournament that ultimately ends with the final at the Arms Park in Cardiff on Friday 23 May 2014.^[2]

Results

The draw for the pool stage took place on 5 June 2013 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.^[3] The dates and times of the first 4 rounds were announced on 27 July 2013.^[4] Lusitanos XV replaced Olympus Madrid on 2 September 2013, as the latter withdrew due to financial issues.^[5]

All times are local to the game location.^[6]

Key to colours

Winner of each pool advances to quarterfinals. Seed # in parentheses.

Pool 1

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Sale Sharks (4)	6	5	0	1	155	65	+90	18	7	2	1	23
Biarritz Olympique	6	3	0	3	119	116	+3	16	12	2	2	16
Oyonnax	6	2	1	3	86	142	−56	9	17	1	1	12
Worcester Warriors	6	1	1	4	87	124	−37	9	16	0	1	7
	Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

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Pool 2

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Bath (1)	6	6	0	0	243	50	+193	34	4	4	0	28
Newport Gwent Dragons	6	3	0	3	150	132	+18	17	13	2	0	14
Bordeaux-Bègles	6	3	0	3	171	149	+22	21	17	2	0	14
Mogliano	6	0	0	6	55	288	−233	5	43	0	0	0
	Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

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Pool 3

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Brive (8)	6	5	1	0	121	74	+47	11	6	1	0	23
Newcastle Falcons	6	4	0	2	126	69	+57	15	5	1	2	19
București Wolves	6	2	0	4	94	105	−11	6	7	0	2	10
Calvisano	6	0	1	5	80	173	−93	6	20	0	0	2
	Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

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Pool 4

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
London Wasps (2)	6	6	0	0	285	76	+209	38	10	3	0	27
Bayonne	6	3	0	3	219	118	+101	28	14	3	0	15
Grenoble	6	2	1	3	118	158	−40	17	18	2	0	12
Viadana	6	0	1	5	86	356	−270	13	54	0	0	2
	Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

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Pool 5

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Stade Français (3)	6	5	0	1	202	75	+127	27	6	4	0	24
London Irish	6	5	0	1	293	65	+228	41	6	4	0	24
Cavalieri Prato	6	2	0	4	100	198	−98	12	28	2	1	11
Lusitanos XV	6	0	0	6	68	325	−257	8	48	0	0	0
	Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

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See also

• European Challenge Cup
• 2013–14 Heineken Cup

External links

• Official ERC website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Demanding draw for English clubs . . 5 June 2013 . 5 June 2013 . 11 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130611163041/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/21267.php . dead .
2. Web site: ERC 2014 finals set to return to Cardiff . . 15 July 2013 . 17 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130724073704/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/21715.php . 24 July 2013 . dead .
3. Web site: Pool draws for 2013/14 ERC tournaments . . 31 May 2013 . 3 June 2013 . 8 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130608100724/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/21242.php . dead .
4. Web site: Former champions to kick off new European season . . 27 July 2013 . 29 July 2013 . 5 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130805155216/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/21726.php . dead .
5. Web site: Portuguese club to compete in Amlin Challenge Cup . . 2 September 2013 . 2 September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130905092645/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/22029.php . 5 September 2013 .
6. Web site: Amlin Challenge Cup Fixtures . . 29 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130802090643/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/amlin_challenge_cup_fixtures.php . 2 August 2013 . dead .