2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup

The 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup will be the eleventh 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 29th edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition.

The final will be played at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales.^[1][2]

Teams

Sixteen teams qualified for the 2024–25 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 Champions Cup. Plus two invited sides totalling 18 teams.^[2]

The distribution of teams are:

• England: two teams
  • Teams in the 2023–24 Premiership Season that did not qualify for the 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup.
• France: six teams
  • Teams taking part in the 2024–25 Top 14 season that did not qualify for the 2024–25 Champions Cup
• Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa & Wales: ten teams
  • Teams in the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship season that did not qualify for the 2024–25 Champions Cup.
  • Two teams invited, one each from South Africa and Georgia.^[3]

Entry Point	Premiership	Top 14	United Rugby Championship					Invited
—	England	France	Ireland	Italy	Scotland	Wales	South Africa		Georgia
Pool stage	Gloucester Newcastle Falcons	Pau Perpignan Lyon Bayonne Vannes Montpellier	Connacht	Zebre Parma	Edinburgh	Ospreys Cardiff Scarlets Dragons	Lions	Cheetahs	Black Lion

Pool stage

Teams will be drawn into pools on 2 July in Cardiff.^[2]

References