2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup explained

2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup
Date:10 December 2021 — 27 May 2022
Tournament Format:Round-robin and knockout
Countries:
France
Italy

Teams:15
Champions: Lyon
Count:1
Runner-Up:Toulon
Matches:41
Highest Attendance:51,431 - Lyon v Toulon
27 May 2022
Lowest Attendance:200 - Zebre v Biarritz
11 December 2021
Top Point Scorer: Léo Berdeu (Lyon)
71 points
Top Try Scorer: Santiago Socino (Gloucester)
5 tries
Venue:Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Website:EPCR Website
Previous Tournament:2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup
Previous Year:2020–21
Next Tournament:2022–23 European Rugby Challenge Cup
Next Year:2022–23

The 2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup was the eighth 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 was the 26th edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament format was changed for the previous season. A similar format remained for this season, however, the number of teams was increased from 14 to 15 and an additional six will join from the Champions Cup.[1]

The tournament commenced in December 2021, and concluded with the final on 27 May 2022 at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.[2] [3]

Lyon, who are in their first European final, won the Challenge Cup by defeating Toulon making it their first European title. It is also their first major title since their Champion de France title in 1933.

Teams

Fifteen teams qualified for the 2021–22 EPCR 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.[4]

The distribution of teams are:

RoundPremiershipTop 14United Rugby Championship
England France Italy Scotland Wales
align=center valign=centerPreliminary stagevalign=top valign=top valign=top valign=top valign=top
Transferred from Champions Cupvalign=top valign=top valign=topvalign=top valign=top

Team details

TeamCoach /
Director of Rugby		CaptainStadiumCapacityMethod of qualification
Entering at Pool stage
Benetton Marco Bortolami Dewaldt Duvenage
Michele Lamaro		Stadio Comunale di Monigo6,700Pro14 Conference B (6th)
Biarritz Nicolas Nadau Steffon ArmitageParc des Sports Aguiléra15,000Pro D2 Runner Up
Brive Jeremy Davidson Saïd HirecheStade Amédée-Domenech13,979Top 14 bottom 6 (11th)
Dragons Dean Ryan Rhodri WilliamsRodney Parade8,700Pro14 Conference A (5th)
Edinburgh Mike Blair Grant Gilchrist
Stuart McInally		Edinburgh Rugby Stadium7,800Pro14 Conference B (5th)
Gloucester George Skivington Lewis LudlowKingsholm Stadium16,115Premiership 9th–12th (11th)
London Irish Declan Kidney Matt RogersonBrentford Community Stadium17,250Premiership 9th–12th (9th)
Lyon Pierre Mignoni Jean-Marc DoussainStade de Gerland35,000Top 14 bottom 6 (9th)
Newcastle Falcons Dean Richards Micky Young
George McGuigan		Kingston Park10,200Premiership 9th–12th (10th)
Pau Thomas Domingo Quentin Lespiaucq-BrettesStade du Hameau18,324Top 14 bottom 6 (12th)
Perpignan Patrick Arlettaz Mathieu AcebesStade Aimé Giral14,593Pro D2 Champions
Saracens Mark McCall Owen FarrellStoneX Stadium10,500RFU Championship champions
Toulon Franck Azéma Raphaël LakafiaStade Mayol18,200Top 14 bottom 6 (8th)
Worcester Warriors Alan Solomons Ted HillSixways Stadium11,499Premiership 9th–12th (12th)
Zebre Emiliano Bergamaschi
(Replaces Michael Bradley)		 Giulio BisegniStadio Sergio Lanfranchi5,000Pro14 Conference A (6th)
Entering at Knockout Stage (transferred from Champions Cup)
Bath Stuart Hooper Charlie EwelsThe Recreation Ground14,509Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (11th)
Cardiff Rugby Dai Young Josh TurnbullCardiff Arms Park12,125Champions Cup Pool b 9th–11th (9th)
Castres Mauricio Reggiardo Mathieu BabillotStade Pierre-Fabre12,500Champions Cup Pool B 9th–11th (11th)
Glasgow Warriors Danny WilsonScotstoun Stadium7,351Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (9th)
Northampton Saints Lewis LudlamFranklin's Gardens15,200Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (10th)
Wasps Lee Blackett Joe LaunchburyRicoh Arena32,609Champions Cup Pool b 9th–11th (10th)

Pool stage

See main article: 2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage.

Key to colours
    Winner, runner-up and third of each pool, advance to round of 16.
    The highest-scoring fourth-place team also advance to round of 16.

Pool C

Knock Out Stage

Seeding for knockout stage

SeedPool LeadersPtsDiffTF
118 +65 14
2 Toulon16 +50 13
3 Edinburgh15 +114 22
SeedPool Runners–upPtsDiffTF
4 Gloucester Rugby16 +77 23
5 Newcastle Falcons14 –16 10
6 London Irish12 –4 12
SeedPool Third placedPtsDiffTF
7 12 +12 8
8 Saracens11 +40 17
9 8 –20 9
SeedBest fourth placedPtsDiffTF
109 –6 11
– 6 –105 4
– 4 –84 7
SeedHeineken Champions Cup (17–22)[5] PtsDiffTF
11 – HCC 17 –33 13
12 – HCC 2 6 –51 6
13 – HCC 3 5 –14 9
14 – HCC 4 5 –35 7
15 – HCC 5 2 –68 6
16 – HCC 6 2 –100 6

Final

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-04-30. Twickenham Stadium to host 2021 EPCR finals. 2021-04-30. European Professional Club Rugby. en-GB.
  2. Web site: 2021-03-31. EPCR statement – 2021 Marseille finals and semi-final matches. 2021-03-31. European Professional Club Rugby. en-GB.
  3. Web site: 2021-06-16. Key 2021/22 EPCR dates announced. 2021-06-16. European Professional Club Rugby. en-GB.
  4. Web site: 2 September 2020. New EPCR tournament formats agreed for 2020/21 season. 2 September 2020. European Professional Club Rugby.
  5. Web site: FalconsRugby.org.uk - Challenge Cup progress. m.rugbynetwork.net. 22 March 2023.

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