2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup

2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup
The EPCR Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Italy
 Scotland
 Wales
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and knockout
Date10 December 2021 — 27 May 2022
Tournament statistics
Teams15
Matches played41
Attendance309,980 (7,560 per match)
Highest attendance51,431 - Lyon v Toulon
27 May 2022
Lowest attendance200 - Zebre v Biarritz
11 December 2021
Tries scored271 (6.61 per match)
Top point scorer(s) Léo Berdeu (Lyon)
71 points
Top try scorer(s) Santiago Socino (Gloucester)
5 tries
Final
VenueStade Vélodrome, Marseille
Champions Lyon (1st title)
Runners-upToulon
← 2020–21 (Previous)
(Next) 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.

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

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.

The distribution of teams are:

  • England: five teams
    • Any teams finishing between 9th and 12th position in the Premiership that do not qualify for the 2020–21 European Champions Cup
    • The champion of the Championship (Saracens)
  • France: six teams
    • Any teams finishing between 9th and 12th position in the Top 14 that do not qualify for the 2020–21 European Champions Cup
    • As defending champions Montpellier did not finish in the top 8, the 8th ranked team will also compete in the Challenge Cup
    • The champion of the Pro D2 (Perpignan)
    • The winner of the relegation playoff between the 13th placed team in the Top 14 and the runner-up of the Pro D2 (Biarritz)
  • Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales: four teams
    • The bottom two sides in each conference from the Pro14
Round Premiership Top 14 United Rugby Championship
England France Italy Scotland Wales
Preliminary stage
Transferred from Champions Cup

Team details

Team Coach /
Director of Rugby 		Captain Stadium Capacity Method of qualification
Entering at Pool stage
Benetton Marco Bortolami Dewaldt Duvenage
Michele Lamaro 		Stadio Comunale di Monigo 6,700 Pro14 Conference B (6th)
Biarritz Nicolas Nadau Steffon Armitage Parc des Sports Aguiléra 15,000 Pro D2 Runner Up
Brive Jeremy Davidson Saïd Hireche Stade Amédée-Domenech 13,979 Top 14 bottom 6 (11th)
Dragons Dean Ryan Rhodri Williams Rodney Parade 8,700 Pro14 Conference A (5th)
Edinburgh Mike Blair Grant Gilchrist
Stuart McInally 		Edinburgh Rugby Stadium 7,800 Pro14 Conference B (5th)
Gloucester George Skivington Lewis Ludlow Kingsholm Stadium 16,115 Premiership 9th–12th (11th)
London Irish Declan Kidney Matt Rogerson Brentford Community Stadium 17,250 Premiership 9th–12th (9th)
Lyon Pierre Mignoni Jean-Marc Doussain Stade de Gerland 35,000 Top 14 bottom 6 (9th)
Newcastle Falcons Dean Richards Micky Young
George McGuigan 		Kingston Park 10,200 Premiership 9th–12th (10th)
Pau Thomas Domingo Quentin Lespiaucq-Brettes Stade du Hameau 18,324 Top 14 bottom 6 (12th)
Perpignan Patrick Arlettaz Mathieu Acebes Stade Aimé Giral 14,593 Pro D2 Champions
Saracens Mark McCall Owen Farrell StoneX Stadium 10,500 RFU Championship champions
Toulon Franck Azéma Raphaël Lakafia Stade Mayol 18,200 Top 14 bottom 6 (8th)
Worcester Warriors Alan Solomons Ted Hill Sixways Stadium 11,499 Premiership 9th–12th (12th)
Zebre Emiliano Bergamaschi
(Replaces Michael Bradley) 		Giulio Bisegni Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 5,000 Pro14 Conference A (6th)
Entering at Knockout Stage (transferred from Champions Cup)
Bath Stuart Hooper Charlie Ewels The Recreation Ground 14,509 Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (11th)
Cardiff Rugby Dai Young Josh Turnbull Cardiff Arms Park 12,125 Champions Cup Pool b 9th–11th (9th)
Castres Mauricio Reggiardo Mathieu Babillot Stade Pierre-Fabre 12,500 Champions Cup Pool B 9th–11th (11th)
Glasgow Warriors Danny Wilson Fraser Brown
Ryan Wilson 		Scotstoun Stadium 7,351 Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (9th)
Northampton Saints Chris Boyd Lewis Ludlam Franklin's Gardens 15,200 Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (10th)
Wasps Lee Blackett Joe Launchbury Ricoh Arena 32,609 Champions Cup Pool b 9th–11th (10th)

Pool stage

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 A

Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Toulon 4 3 0 1 107 57 +50 13 7 3 1 16
2 Newcastle Falcons 4 3 0 1 73 89 −16 10 10 2 0 14
3 Biarritz 4 2 1 1 59 47 +12 8 4 1 1 12
4 Worcester Warriors 4 1 1 2 85 91 −6 11 12 2 1 9
5 Zebre Parma 4 0 0 4 75 115 −40 8 17 1 1 2
Source: [citation needed]

Pool B

Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Lyon 4 4 0 0 122 57 +65 14 5 2 0 18
2 Gloucester 4 3 0 1 161 84 +77 23 10 3 1 16
3 Benetton 4 2 0 2 75 95 −20 9 12 0 0 8
4 Perpignan 4 1 0 3 54 138 −84 7 18 0 0 4
5 Dragons 4 0 0 4 74 112 −38 7 15 0 2 2
Source: [citation needed]

Pool C

Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Edinburgh 4 3 0 1 161 47 +114 22 6 2 1 15
2 London Irish 4 2 1 1 78 82 −4 12 11 2 0 12
3 Saracens 4 2 0 2 118 78 +40 17 11 2 1 11
4 Brive 4 1 1 2 41 146 −105 4 21 0 0 6
5 Pau 4 1 0 3 75 120 −45 10 16 1 0 5
Source: [citation needed]

Knock Out Stage

Seeding for knockout stage

Seed Pool Leaders Pts Diff TF
1 Lyon 18 +65 14
2 Toulon 16 +50 13
3 Edinburgh 15 +114 22
Seed Pool Runners–up Pts Diff TF
4 Gloucester Rugby 16 +77 23
5 Newcastle Falcons 14 –16 10
6 London Irish 12 –4 12
Seed Pool Third placed Pts Diff TF
7 Biarritz Olympique 12 +12 8
8 Saracens 11 +40 17
9 Benetton 8 –20 9
Seed Best fourth placed Pts Diff TF
10 Worcester Warriors 9 –6 11
– Brive 6 –105 4
– Perpignan 4 –84 7
Seed Heineken Champions Cup (17–22) Pts Diff TF
11 – HCC 1 Cardiff 7 –33 13
12 – HCC 2 Wasps 6 –51 6
13 – HCC 3 Castres Olympique 5 –14 9
14 – HCC 4 Glasgow Warriors 5 –35 7
15 – HCC 5 Northampton Saints 2 –68 6
16 – HCC 6 Bath 2 –100 6

Bracket

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
1 Lyon 31
10 Worcester Warriors 17
1 Lyon 35
14 Glasgow Warriors 27
5 Newcastle Falcons 17
14 Glasgow Warriors 27
1 Lyon 20
12 Wasps 18
3 Edinburgh 41
16 Bath 19
3 Edinburgh 30
12 Wasps 34
7 Biarritz Olympique 29
12 Wasps 39
1 Lyon 30
2 Toulon 12
2 Toulon 36
9 Benetton 17
2 Toulon 19
6 London Irish 18
6 London Irish 64
13 Castres 17
2 Toulon 25
8 Saracens 16
4 Gloucester 31
15 Northampton Saints 21
4 Gloucester 15
8 Saracens 44
8 Saracens 40
11 Cardiff 33

Round of 16

15 April 2022
17:30 BST
London Irish 64–27 Castres
Try: Creevy (2) 6' c, 24' c
Rona 17' m
Pearson 34' c
González 37' c
Rowe 39' c
Rogerson 71' m
Joseph 75' c
Cornish 78' c
Janse van Rensburg 79' m
Con: Jackson (7/10) 7', 25', 35', 38', 40', 77', 79'		ReportTry: Kockott 45' c
Chabouni 54' c
Arata 58' c
Con: Botica (3/3) 46', 55', 59'
Pen: Botica (2/2) 21', 67'
Brentford Community Stadium
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
15 April 2022
19:00 CEST
Biarritz Olympique 29–39 Wasps
Try: Peyresblanques 28' m
Hirigoyen 42' c
Armitage 57' c
Soury 68' c
Con: Bosch (3/4) 43', 58', 68'
Pen: Bosch (1/1) 14'		ReportTry: Umaga 11' m
Barbeary (3) 14' c, 22' c, 75' c
Robson 26' c
Con: Gopperth (4/5) 15', 23', 27', 76'
Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 9', 62'
Parc des Sports Aguiléra
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
15 April 2022
21:00 CEST
Lyon 31–17 Worcester Warriors
Try: Couilloud 4' c
R. Taofifénua 15' c
Devisme 47' c
Barassi 76' c
Con: Sopoaga (3/3) 5', 16', 48'
Berdeu (1/1) 78'
Pen: Berdeu (1/1) 57'		ReportTry: Howe 2' m
Hill 50' m
Searle 75' c
Con: Searle (1/3) 76'
Matmut Stadium de Gerland
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
15 April 2022
20:00 BST
Newcastle Falcons 17–27 Glasgow Warriors
Try: Montgomery 51' c
Hodgson 65' c
Con: Connon (1/1) 52'
Hodgson (1/1) 66'
Pen: Connon (1/1) 27'		ReportTry: Matthews 3' c
Steyn (2) 6' m, 57' m
McKay 31' c
Con: Thompson (2/4) 4', 32'
Pen: Thompson (1/2) 62'
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,121
Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
16 April 2022
20:00 BST
Edinburgh 41–19 Bath
Try: Boffelli (2) 10' m, 62' c
Kinghorn 31' c
Schoeman 52' c
Bennett 68' m
Boyle 78' c
Con: Boffelli (4/6) 31', 53', 64', 79'
Pen: Boffelli (1/1) 22'		ReportTry: Underhill (2) 1' c, 25' m
B. Spencer 34' c
Con: Bailey (1/2) 2'
B. Spencer (1/1) 35'
DAM Health Stadium
Attendance: 5,071
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
16 April 2022
20:00 BST
Gloucester 31–21 Northampton Saints
Try: Thorley 4' c
Rapava-Ruskin 7' c
Alemanno 21' c
Socino 46' c
Con: Hastings (4/4) 5', 8', 22', 47'
Pen: Hastings (1/1) 54'		ReportTry: Augustus 32' c
Hutchinson 38' c
Haywood 66' c
Con: Biggar (2/2) 33', 39'
Furbank (1/1) 67'
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
16 April 2022
21:00 CEST
Toulon 36–17 Benetton
Try: Villière 7' c
Ollivon 27' c
Coulon 78' c
Con: Carbonel (3/3) 8', 28', 80'
Pen: Carbonel (5/6) 37', 62', 67', 72', 76'		ReportTry: Menoncello 52' c
Ioane 60' c
Con: Smith (2/2) 53', 61'
Pen: Smith (1/1) 4'
Stade Mayol
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
17 April 2022
13:00 BST
Saracens 40–33 Cardiff
Try: Morris 36' c
Maitland (2) 51' c, 57' m
Davies 63' m
Malins 69' c
Con: Farrell (3/5) 37', 52', 70'
Pen: Farrell (3/3) 14', 24', 31'		ReportTry: T. Williams 40' c
Lane 48' c
Carré 74' c
Con: Priestland (2/2) 40+1', 49'
J. Evans (1/1) 75'
Pen: Priestland (4/5) 8', 32', 55', 60'
StoneX Stadium
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)

Quarter-finals

6 May 2022
20:00 BST
Gloucester 15–44 Saracens
Try: Singleton 30' m
Rees-Zammit 73' c
Con: Twelvetrees (1/1) 74'
Pen: Hastings (1/1) 44'		ReportTry: Davies 8' c
Itoje 47' c
Tompkins 51' c
George 61' c
Taylor 71' c
Con: Farrell (5/5) 9', 48', 52', 62', 72'
Pen: Farrell (3/3) 5', 18', 36'
Kingsholm Stadium
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
7 May 2022
12:30 BST
Edinburgh 30–34 Wasps
Try: Vellacott 12' c
McBurney 25' c
Bradbury 66' c
Con: Boffelli (3/3) 13', 26', 66'
Pen: Boffelli (3/3) 9', 42', 73'		ReportTry: Gopperth 15' c
Alo 43' c
West 57' c
Barbeary 75' c
Con: Gopperth (4/4) 16', 44', 58', 77'
Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 7', 49'
DAM Health Stadium
Attendance: 6,431
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
7 May 2022
21:00 CEST
Lyon 35–27 Glasgow Warriors
Try: Couilloud 35' c
R. Taofifénua 55' c
Niniashvili (2) 61' m, 75' c
Con: Berdeu (2/3) 36', 76'
Doussain (1/1) 57'
Pen: Berdeu (3/4) 1', 12', 70'		ReportTry: McKay 5' c
Forbes 39' c
Penalty try 49'
Con: Thompson (2/2) 6', 40'
Pen: Thompson (2/2) 23', 27'
Stade de Gerland
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
8 May 2022
13:30 CEST
Toulon 19–18 London Irish
Try: Ollivon 59' c
Con: Carbonel (1/1) 59'
Pen: Carbonel (4/5) 36', 40', 43', 66'		ReportTry: Tuisue 8' c
Arundell 73' m
Con: Jackson (1/2) 10'
Pen: Jackson (2/3) 4', 62'
Stade Mayol
Attendance: 11,300
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Semi-finals

14 May 2022
13:30 CEST
Lyon 20–18 Wasps
Try: Berdeu 46' c
Charcosset 53' c
Con: Berdeu (2/2) 48', 54'
Pen: Berdeu (2/4) 35', 64'		ReportTry: Robson 23' m
Gopperth 73' c
Con: Gopperth (1/2) 74'
Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 38', 51'
Stade de Gerland
Attendance: 10,525
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
14 May 2022
21:00 CEST
Toulon 25–16 Saracens
Try: Villière (2) 2' c, 39' m
Wainiqolo 60' c
Con: Carbonel (2/3) 4', 61'
Pen: Carbonel (1/2) 33'		ReportTry: Earl 15' c
Con: Farrell (1/1) 17'
Pen: Farrell (3/4) 12', 26', 58'
Stade Mayol
Attendance: 13,368
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Final

27 May 2022
21:00
Lyon 30–12 Toulon
Try: Couilloud 7' c
Penalty try 45'
Barassi 47' c
Con: Berdeu (2/2) 9', 49'
Pen: Berdeu (2/3) 20', 59'
Ngatai (1/1) 70'		ReportTry: Serin 16' c
Kolbe 73' m
Con: Carbonel (1/1) 17'
Kolbe (0/1)
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 51,431
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ When crowds were in attendance

References

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