Challenge Cup draw confirmed
NEC Harlequins face an early Bath
The draw for the 2006/07 European Challenge Cup has been made. pitting together twenty teams from seven nations.
Each side from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Scotland and Wales is guaranteed six group stage matches with the five pool winners and three best runners-up advancing to the knock-out stages.
The Dragons – newcomers to the European Challenge Cup – will face with Bayonne, Bristol Rugby and Bucuresti; Albi (Sporting Club Albigeois) – fellow tournament first-timers – will meet ASM Clermont Auvergne, Worcester Warriors and Viadana in their first European campaign.
Newcastle Falcons, who reached last season's all-English semi-finals, will have French tests against 1997 Heineken Cup winners Brive and Montauban along with home and away contests against Petrarca Padova.
The Glasgow Warriors will come up against England, French and Italian opposition in the shape of Narbonne, Saracens and GRAN Parma.
Meanwhile, NEC Harlequins will launch their bid for a third European Challenge Cup title with pool matches against Connacht, Montpellier and Bath, the 1998 Heineken Cup winners.
The first round of pool matches takes place on the weekend of October 20/21/22 with fixtures to be confirmed.
2006/7 EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP – POOLS
POOL 1: Dragons (Wales), Bayonne (France), Bristol (England), Bucuresti (Romania)
POOL 2: Glasgow Warriors (Scotland), Narbonne (France), Saracens (England), GRAN Parma (Italy)
POOL 3: Newcastle Falcons (England), Brive (France), Petrarca Padova (Italy), Montauban (France)
POOL 4: Connacht (Ireland), Montpellier (France), Bath (England), NEC Harlequins (England)
POOL 5: Clermont Auvergne (France), Worcester Warriors (England), Viadana (Italy), Albi (France)
