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The European Challenge Cup

The European Challenge Cup is the sister event to the Heineken Cup. It is competed for by rugby union teams from France, Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland, Italy, Portugal and Spain in a knockout tournament.

The 2006 European Challenge Cup competition will be held between October 2005 and May 2006.

The European Challenge Cup offers numerous betting opportunities because of the large number of matches that are played during the competition.

Qualifying for the European Challenge Cup

Each country has different criteria concerning qualification for both this event and the Heineken Cup. Generally, rugby union clubs that fail to qualify for the Heineken Cup enter the European Challenge Cup instead. Spain and Portugal do not play in the Heineken Cup, so their strongest teams are always entered into the European Challenge Cup competition. Due to problems concerning club mergers, Wales have not always entered a team.

Format for the European Challenge Cup

The format of this competition is constantly changing. For the 2006 European Challenge Cup, there will be 20 rugby union teams split into five pools, with the winners of each pool (plus the three best runners-up) qualifying for the quarter finals. The competition then works in a straight knockout process to reach the finals. The semi finals are to be held at home venues, with the final held on neutral ground.

The pools for the 2006 European Challenge Cup are as follows:

Pool 1: Arix Viadana, Narbonne, Northampton Saints, Bristol Shoguns.

Pool 2: London Irish, Pau, Overmach Rugby Parma, Agen.

Pool 3: Bayonne, Bucuresti, Toulon, Gloucester.

Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons, L’Aquila, Border Reivers, Brive.

Pool 5: Connacht, Montpellier, Worcester Warriors, Amatori Catania.

Fixtures for the European Challenge Cup

Round 1:

Saturday 22 October 2005

Pool 1: Narbonne v Bristol
Northampton Saints v Viadana

Pool 2: Rugby Parma v Agen

Pau v London Irish

Pool 3: Bayonne v Gloucester Rugby Bucuresti v Toulon

Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v Brive
L'Aquila v Border Reivers

Pool 5: Connacht v Amatori Catania Worcester v Montpellier

ROUND 2

Friday 28 October 2005

Pool 1: Viadana v Narbonne

Pool 5: Montpellier v Connacht

Saturday 29 October2005

Pool 2: Agen v Pau
Pool 3: Gloucester Rugby v Bucuresti
Toulon v Bayonne
Pool 4: Brive v L'Aquila

Sunday 30 October 2005

Pool 1: Bristol v Northampton Saints

Pool 2: London Irish v Rugby Parma

Pool 4: Border Reivers v Newcastle Falcons

Pool 5: Amatori Catania v Worcester

ROUND 3

Friday 9 December 2005

Pool 1: Viadana v Bristol

Pool 5: Montpellier v Amatori Catania

Saturday 10 December 2005

Pool 1: Northampton Saints v Narbonne

Pool 2: Pau v Rugby Parma
London Irish v Agen

Pool 3: Bucuresti v Bayonne
Toulon v Gloucester

Pool 4: L'Aquila v Newcastle Falcons

Pool 5: Worcester v Connacht

Sunday 11 December 2005

Pool 4: Border Reivers v Brive

ROUND 4

Friday 16 December 2005

Pool 1: Narbonne v Northampton Saints

Pool 3: Bayonne v Bucuresti

Saturday 17 December 2005

Pool 2: Rugby Parma v Pau
Agen v London Irish

Pool 3: Gloucester Rugby v Toulon

Pool 4: Brive v Border Reivers

Pool 5: Connacht v Worcester

Sunday 18 December 2005

Pool 1: Bristol v Viadana

Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v L'Aquila

Pool 5: Amatori Catania v Montpellier

ROUND 5

Friday 13 January, 2006

Pool 3: Bayonne v Toulon

Saturday 14 January 2006

Pool 1: Narbonne v Viadana
Northampton Saints v Bristol

Pool 2: Rugby Parma v London Irish
Pau v Agen

Pool 3: Bucuresti v Gloucester Rugby

Pool 4: L'Aquila v Brive

Pool 5: Connacht v Montpellier
Worcester v Amatori Catania

Sunday 15 January 2006

Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v Border Reivers

ROUND 6

Friday 20 January 2006

Pool 1: Viadana v Northampton Saints

Pool 5: Montpellier v Worcester Warriors

Amatori Catania v Connacht Rugby

Saturday 21 January 2006

Pool 2: London Irish v Pau

Agen v Rugby Parma

Pool 3: Toulon v Bucuresti

Gloucester Rugby v Bayonne

Pool 4: Border Reivers v L’Aquila

Brive v Newcastle Falcons

Sunday 22 January 2006

Pool 1: Bristol Rugby v Narbonne

European Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals: 31 March / 1 -2 April 2006

European Challenge Cup Semi-Finals: 22 / 23 April 2006

European Challenge Cup Final: 20 / 21 May 2006

Previous Winners of the European Challenge Cup

The European Challenge Cup has been dominated by British rugby union clubs in the last five years, with Sale Sharks taking two titles. The last European side to win was Pau back in 2000.

Here are the last five winners of the European Challenge Cup:

2006: Gloucester Rugby
2005: Sale Sharks
2004: NEC Harlequins.
2003: London Wasps
2002: Sale Sharks
2001: NEC Harlequins

Betting on the European Challenge Cup

There are many ways to bet on the European Challenge Cup, from the first try scorer to the overall winner. You can bet on which side wins their pool or who scores the most tries (team or player), giving you plenty of choice.

For the latest odds on the 2006 European Challenge Cup from a range of bookmakers and betting exchanges, visit our Latest Odds. section.

The European Challenge Cup is only one of many events in the rugby union calendar. Check out other rugby union events!

If you are new to betting and want to place a bet on the European Challenge Cup be sure to check out our Rugby Union - How To Bet section for some betting hints and tips.