2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup Explained

2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup
Teams:20
Matches:60
Countries:
France
Italy


Tournament Format:Round-robin and Knockout
Date:15 November 2019 - 16 October 2020
Highest Attendance:17,553 - Bordeaux Bègles v Edinburgh
(11 January 2020)
Lowest Attendance:100 - Enisey-STM v Castres
(6 December 2019)
Top Point Scorer: Jamie Shillcock (Worcester Warriors)
67 points
Top Try Scorer: Jamie Shillcock (Worcester Warriors)
5 tries
Venue:Stade Maurice David
Champions: Bristol Bears
Count:1
Runner-Up: Toulon
Website:EPCR Website
Previous Year:2018–19
Previous Tournament:2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup
Next Year:2020–21
Next Tournament:2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup

The 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup was the sixth edition of the European Rugby Challenge Cup, an annual second-tier rugby union competition for professional clubs. Including the predecessor competition, the original European Challenge Cup, this was the 24th edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition. Clubs from six European nations competed, including Russian and Italian clubs who qualified via the Continental Shield.

The tournament began in November 2019. The knock-out stages, originally planned to take place between March and May 2020, were delayed until later in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. The final took place on 16 October at the Stade Maurice David in Aix-en-Provence.[1]

Teams

20 teams will qualify for the 2019–20 European Challenge Cup; 18 will qualify from Premiership Rugby, the Pro14 and the Top 14, as a direct result of their domestic league performance, with two qualifying through the 2018–19 Continental Shield. The distribution of teams is:

No team from Ireland will participate in the competition as all four clubs have qualified for the 2019-20 European Champions Cup.

The following clubs have qualified for the Challenge Cup.

PremiershipTop 14Pro14Qualifying Competition
width=15% Englandwidth=15% Francewidth=14% Italywidth=14% Scotlandwidth=14% Waleswidth=14% Italywidth=14% Russia

Qualifying competition

Six teams were split into two pools of three to compete in the pool stage of the European Rugby Continental Shield. Each team played the other two teams in its pool twice on a home-and-away basis. The winner of each pool faced each other in a two-legged play-off for a place in the Challenge Cup.

A further place was awarded to the winner of a two-legged playoff between the two sides competing in the 2018–19 Challenge Cup.

Qualifying play-offs

----

Team details

Below is the list of coaches, captain and stadiums with their method of qualification for each team.

Note: Placing shown in brackets, denotes standing at the end of the regular season for their respective leagues, with their end of season positioning shown through CH for Champions, RU for Runner-up, SF for losing Semi-finalist and QF for losing Quarter-finalist.

TeamCoach /
Director of Rugby
CaptainStadiumCapacityMethod of Qualification
Agen Christophe LaussucqStade Armandie14,000Top 14 7th-12th (12th)
Bayonne Yannick Bru Antoine BattutStade Jean Dauger16,934
Bordeaux Bègles Jefferson PoirotStade Chaban-Delmas34,694Top 14 7th-12th (10th)
Bristol Bears Pat Lam Steven LuatuaAshton Gate27,000Premiership 8th-11th (9th)
Brive Jeremy Davidson Saïd HirecheStade Amédée-Domenech16,000
Calvisano Massimo Brunello Alberto ChiesaStadio San Michele 5,000European Rugby Continental Shield play-off winner
Cardiff Blues John Mulvihill Ellis JenkinsCardiff Arms Park12,125Pro14 Conference A (5th)
Castres Mauricio Reggiardo Mathieu BabillotStade Pierre-Fabre12,500Top 14 7th-12th (7th)
Dragons Dean Ryan Cory HillRodney Parade8,700Pro14 Conference B (6th)
Edinburgh Richard Cockerill Stuart McInally67,144Pro14 Conference B (5th)
Enisei-STM Alexander Pervukhin Uldis SauliteKuban Stadium35,200European Rugby Continental Shield play-off winner
Leicester Tigers Geordan Murphy Tom YoungsWelford Road Stadium25,849Premiership 8th-11th (11th)
London Irish Declan Kidney Blair CowanMadejski Stadium24,161
Pau Nicolas Godignon
Frédéric Manca
Quentin LespiaucqStade du Hameau18,324Top 14 7th-12th (11th)
Scarlets Brad Mooar Ken OwensParc y Scarlets14,870Pro14 Conference B (4th)
Stade Français Heyneke Meyer
(for Laurent Sempéré and Julien Arias)
Yoann MaestriStade Jean-Bouin20,000Top 14 7th-12th
Toulon Patrice Collazo Raphaël LakafiaStade Mayol18,200Top 14 7th-12th (9th)
Wasps Lee BlackettRicoh Arena32,609Premiership 8th-11th (8th)
Worcester Warriors Alan Solomons GJ van VelzeSixways Stadium11,499Premiership 8th-11th (10th)
Zebre Michael Bradley Tommaso CastelloStadio Sergio Lanfranchi5,000Pro14 Conference A (7th)

Seeding

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

width=5%Rankwidth=19%Top 14width=19%Premiershipwidth=19%Pro 14width=19%Continental Shield
1 Enisey-STM
2 Calvisano
3
4
5
6
7
8

Based on these seedings, teams are placed into one of the four tiers, with the top-seeded clubs being put in Tier 1. The nature of the tier system means that a draw is needed to allocate two of the three second-seed clubs to Tier 1. The fourth-seed team from the same domestic league as the second-seed team which was put in Tier 2 will also be placed in Tier 2. Brackets show each team's seeding and their league. e.g. 1 Top 14 indicates the team was the top seed from the Top 14.

Given the nature of the Continental Shield, a competition including developing rugby nations and Italian clubs not competing in the Pro14, the qualifying teams from this competition are automatically included in Tier 4.

width=5%Tier 1width=19% Wasps (1 Prem)width=19% Scarlets (1 Pro14)width=19% Castres (1 Top 14)width=19% Stade Français (2 Top 14)width=19% Cardiff Blues (2 Pro14)
width=5%Tier 2width=19% Bristol Bears (2 Prem)width=19% Worcester Warriors (3 Prem)width=19% Edinburgh (3 Pro14)width=19% Toulon (3 Top 14)width=19% Leicester Tigers (4 Prem)
width=5%Tier 3width=19% Bordeaux Bègles (4 Top 14)width=19% Dragons (4 Pro14)width=19% London Irish (5 Prem)width=19% Zebre (5 Pro14)width=19% Pau (5 Top 14)
width=5%Tier 4width=19% Agen (6 Top 14)width=19% Bayonne (7 Top 14)width=19% Brive (8 Top 14)width=19% Enisey-STM (CS 1)width=19% Calvisano (CS 2)

Pool stage

See main article: 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage.

The draw took place in June 2019.

Teams in the same pool will play each other twice, both at home and away in the group stage, that will begin in November 2019, and continue through to January 2020, 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.

Ranking of pool leaders and runners-up

RankPool LeadersPtsDiffTF
1 28 +90 25
2 26 +151 27
3 26 +149 28
4 23 +86 23
5 23 +56 22
RankPool Runners–upPtsDiffTF
6 21 +55 16
7 20 +58 24
8 19 +59 17
9 19 +38 29
1014 –54 14

Knock-out stage

Final

FB 15 Gervais Cordin
RW 14
OC 13 Isaia Toeava
IC 12 Duncan Paia'aua
LW 11 Gabin Villière
FH 10 Louis Carbonel
SH 9
N8 8 Sergio Parisse
OF 7
BF 6 Charles Ollivon
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2 Anthony Étrillard (c)
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FH 22 Sonatane Takulua
WG 23
Coach:
Patrice Collazo
FB 15 Max Malins
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12 Siale Piutau (c)
LW 11 Alapati Leiua
FH 10Callum Sheedy
SH 9
N8 8 Ben Earl
OF 7 Dan Thomas
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Dave Attwood
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FH 22
CE 23
Coach:
Pat Lam

Attendances

Does not include the attendance at the final as it takes place at a neutral venue, or the attendances of matches played in empty stadiums due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Agen 3 7,580 2,527 3,570 1,997 18%
Bayonne 3 21,566 7,189 9,053 5,057 42%
Bordeaux Bègles 3 43,694 14,565 17,553 12,233 42%
Bristol Bears 3 32,505 10,835 11,120 10,511 40%
Brive 3 9,335 3,112 4,533 1,800 19%
Calvisano 3 5,450 1,817 2,500 950 36%
Cardiff Blues 3 17,612 5,871 7,122 4,668 48%
Castres 3 24,507 8,169 8,277 7,957 65%
Dragons 3 12,088 4,029 4,038 4,013 46%
Edinburgh 3 17,529 5,843 6,387 5,432 9%
Enisei-STM 3 700 233 400 100 1%
Leicester Tigers 3 46,861 15,620 16,538 15,073 60%
London Irish 3 9,083 3,028 3,444 2,632 13%
Pau 3 14,115 4,705 6,124 3,724 26%
Scarlets 3 20,575 6,858 7,565 6,257 46%
Stade Français 3 6,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 10%
Toulon 3 38,575 12,858 15,336 10,212 71%
Wasps 3 20,847 6,949 7,594 6,107 21%
Worcester Warriors 3 20,124 6,708 6,938 6,287 58%
Zebre 3 6,100 2,033 2,200 1,900 41%
[4]

Player scoring

Most points

Rank Player Team Points
1 5 67
2 5 62
3 5 60
4 4 46
5 5 42
6 4 40
4 40
7 5 37
8 6 35
9 6 33
10 3 31
5 31
5 31
11 5 26
4 25
[5]

Most tries

Rank Player Team Tries
1 5 5
2 1 4
2 4
3 4
3 4
4 4
4 4
5 4
5 4
5 4
6 4
3 2 3
3 3
3 3
4 3
4 3
4 3
4 3
5 3
5 3
5 3
5 3
5 3
5 3
5 3
6 3
6 3
6 3
6 3
[5]

Season records

Team

Largest home win – 56 points66–10 Worcester Warriors at home to Enisei-STM on 11 January 2020
  • Largest away win – 70 points73–3 Bordeaux Bègles away to Agen on 6 December 2019
  • Most points scored – 73 points73–3 Bordeaux Bègles away to Agen on 6 December 2019
  • Most tries in a match – 11Bordeaux Bègles away to Agen on 6 December 2019
  • Most conversions in a match – 9Bordeaux Bègles away to Agen on 6 December 2019
  • Most penalties in a match – 6Dragons at home to Worcester Warriors on 13 December 2019
  • Most drop goals in a match – 2Leicester Tigers at home to Cardiff Blues on 12 January 2020
  • [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

    Player

    Most points in a match – 27 Jamie Shillcock for Worcester Warriors away to Enisey-STM on 15 November 2019
  • Most tries in a match – 4 (2) Jonah Holmes for Leicester Tigers at home to Pau on 16 November 2019
    Darcy Graham for Edinburgh at home to Agen on 18 January 2020
  • Most conversions in a match – 8 (2) Clovis Lebail for Pau at home to Calvisano on 22 November 2019
    Jamie Shillcock for Worcester Warriors at home to Enisei-STM on 11 January 2020
  • Most penalties in a match – 6 Sam Davies for Dragons at home to Worcester Warriors on 13 December 2019
  • Most drop goals in a match – 2 George Ford for Leicester Tigers at home to Cardiff Blues on 12 January 2020
  • [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

    Attendances

    Highest – 17,553 Bordeaux Bègles at home to Edinburgh on 11 January 2020
  • Lowest – 100Enisei-STM at home to Castres on 6 December 2019
  • Highest average attendance — 15,620Leicester Tigers
  • Lowest average attendance — 233Enisei-STM
  • [4]

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: 2020-07-09. Marseille finals moved to 2021 with new venues for this season to be decided. 2020-07-10. European Professional Club Rugby. en-GB.
    2. Web site: Watch the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Pool Draws live : News ERC Official Website . . 7 June 2014 . ERCRugby.com . 8 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141031111243/http://archive.ercrugby.com/news/28791.php . 31 October 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
    3. Web site: Champions Cup Rules. epcrugby.com. 2019-04-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20150420202015/http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/rules.php. 2015-04-20. dead.
    4. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Home attendance. Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    5. Web site: Player Statistics. EPCR. 18 January 2020. 11 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190610115401/https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/statistics/player-statistics/. 10 June 2019. dead.
    6. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most points in a match (Team). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    7. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most tries in a match (Team). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    8. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most conversions in a match (Team). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    9. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most penalties in a match (Team). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    10. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most drop goals in a match (Team). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    11. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most points in a match (Player). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    12. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most tries in a match (Player). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    13. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most conversions in a match (Player). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    14. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most penalties in a match (Player). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.
    15. Web site: European Rugby Challenge Cup 19/20 Most drop goals in a match (Player). Rugby Statbunker. 18 January 2020.