Challenge Cup, Round of 16 - Saturday & Sunday's Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: Fourteen teams will battle it out on Saturday and Sunday in the Challenge Cup Round of 16 to book their place in the EPCR quarterfinals.
For some teams, such as Newcastle Red Bulls, Dragons and Zebre, this is a familiar position to be in.
On the flipside, teams such as Munster, Exeter Chiefs, Stade Rochelais and Ulster, who are regular Champions Cup competitors, will see this as unfamiliar territory but an opportunity to redeem themselves after missing out on the play-offs of the top-tier level of the tournament.
Montpellier and Perpignan will kick off the action on Saturday at Septeo Stadium in an all-French affair.
Exeter Chiefs host Munster at Sandy Park.
Both teams have done reasonably well in their respective club competitions.
Exeter are currently fourth on the Prem table and Munster seventh in the URC.
For Exeter, this is a massive improvement after a poor 2024/25 season, but Munster endured a horrid Champions Cup campaign and did enough for Challenge Cup qualification.
Chiefs’ Director of Rugby Rob Baxter said: “Munster are a very proud European side. We’ve had some fierce contests with them in the past, and it’s certainly not going to be any different this weekend.
“Our challenge will be to get ourselves on the field and fire the first shots.
“It’ll be about who can set the intensity, throw their punches first and get their momentum in the game.”
Baxter added: “I’m expecting a real ferocious contest in most areas of the game this weekend.
“Having watched their most recent European games, where I feel you see the real Munster, they try to drag you into that real kind of European frenzy.
“You have to be careful that you don’t get pulled into an organised chaos type of game, where they’re so competitive in so many areas that you get rattled out of your game-plan and end up in a chaotic environment around the breakdown and the kicking game.”
Following those clashes, Benetton welcome Cardiff before Newcastle Red Bulls take on La Rochelle and Ulster host Ospreys to conclude Saturday’s action.
Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl made several changes to the team and explained the reasoning behind them.
“We’ve had to change the team up a bit due to injuries and the need to rotate a little bit.
“This time of year always tests and stretches your squad, but that just gives opportunities to others, and we have still been able to select a strong team to go out to Italy and compete.
“The boys are looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to do something in knockout rugby.
“It’s a great competition, where the club has a lot of history, and we will be giving it everything we’ve got.
“Our recent matches with Benetton have been very close, but we are acutely aware of how dangerous they can be at home.
“They have quality all over the pitch, so we will need to fight for everything and put as much of our game on the pitch as possible.”
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Boom 💥
Rhys Barratt on the charge against Benetton 👏#YmlaenCaerdydd pic.twitter.com/PxAZSCvOE5
— Cardiff Rugby (@Cardiff_Rugby) April 3, 2026
On Sunday, Stade Francais take on the Dragons, who showed great fight in recent weeks in the URC on their two-match tour of South Africa against the Stormers and Lions.
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said: “We know it’s going to be tough. Stade Francais are a good side, particularly at home, and when they faced Clermont at the weekend, they ran away with a good win.
“They’re well coached, and I like the way they play with big forwards in the middle.
“They’re very principled in the way they attack, but they have threats right across the back line. We’re looking forward to the challenge.
“We learnt some things during the South Africa tour, and there are areas we need to be better at and things we can action,” he added.
“It’s important we capitalise on opportunities and are better at our execution and taking points.”
The final clash of the weekend sees Zebre take on Pau in Parma.
The Italians are rooted at the bottom of the URC table, but showed fight throughout the season.
Pau is in a good position in the top 14 (second) and will want to keep their momentum in their bid to claim European silverware.
*See Saturday and Sunday’s teams and predictions below!
Saturday, April 4
Exeter Chiefs v Munster
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 12.30 BST; 12.30 IST; 11.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Munster by five points
Teams
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Olly Woodburn, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Steve Varney, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Ross Vintcent, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 3 Jimmy Roots, 2 Jack Yeandle, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19 Rus Tuima, 20 Finn Worley-Brady, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Campbell Ridl
Munster: 15 Ben O’Connor, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Edwin Edogbo, 3 John Ryan, 2 Lee Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 Seán O’Brien, 23 John Hodnett
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Assistant referees: Filippo Russo (Italy), Franco Rosella (Italy)
TMO: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylett (France)
Montpellier v USAP Perpignan
(Septeo Stadium, Montpellier – Kick-off: 13.30 CEST; 11.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Montpellier by 10 points
Teams
Montpellier: 15 Jon Echegaray, 14 Gabriel N’Gandebe, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Melvyn Rates, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Alexis Bernadet, 8 Alex Masibaka, 7 Lenni Nouchi (captain), 6 Yacouba Camara, 5 Bastien Chalureau, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 2 Lyam Akrab, 1 Enzo Forletta
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Valentin Welsch, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Tyler DuGuid, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Ali Price, 22 Thomas Vincent, 23 Auguste Cadot
USAP Perpignan: 15 Mayron Fahy, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Riko Buliruarua, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Theo Forner, 10 Antoine Aucagne, 9 James Hall, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Matteo le Corvec (captain), 6 Bastien Chinarro, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 4 Adrien Warion, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Giorgi Beria
Replacements: 16 Mathys Lotrian, 17 Giorgi Tetrashvili, 18 Akato Fakatika, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Max Hicks, 21 Lucas Velarte, 22 Maxim Granell, 23 Tommaso Allan
Referee: Adam Leal (England)
Assistant referees: Sara Cox (England), Jonathan Healy (England)
TMO: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Benetton v Cardiff
(Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 18.30 CEST; 17.30 BST; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Cardiff by seven points
Teams
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Onisi Ratave, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Manuel Zuliani, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Giosue Zilocchi, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Destiny Aminu, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21 Alessandro Izekor, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Paolo Odogwu
Cardiff: 15 Ioan Lloyd, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Elijah Evans, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Jacob Beetham, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Evan Rees, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Ed Byrne
Replacements: 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Rhys Barratt, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Lucas de la Rua, 20 Evan Lloyd, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Cam Winnett
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referee: Pierre Bru (France), Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (France)
Ulster v Ospreys
(Affidea Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 20.00 IST; 19.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Ulster by 12 points
Teams
Ulster: 15 Ethan Mcilroy, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jake Flannery, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Charlie Irvine, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jack Murphy, 23 Zac Ward
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 Huw Sutton, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Tom Botha, 19 James Fender, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Iestyn Hopkins
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant referees: Daniel Jones (England), Calum Howard (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)
Newcastle Red Bulls v Stade Rochelais
(Kingston Park, Newcastle – Kick-off: 20.00 BST; 21.00 CEST; 19.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stade Rochelais by 15 points
Teams
Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Rhys Beeckmans, 11 Oli Spencer, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Tom Gordon, 5 Freddie Clarke, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 3 Richard Palframan, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 Samson Adejimi, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Fergus Lee-Warner, 20 Reuben Parsons, 21 James Elliott, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Tim Cardall
Stade Rochelais: 15 Ihaia West, 14 Jules Favre, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Adrien Seguret, 11 Hoani Bosmorin, 10 Diego Jurd, 9 Thomas Berjon (captain), 8 Watisoni Waqanisaravi, 7 Lucas Andjisseramatchi, 6 Edouard Richer, 5 Simon Huchet, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Karl Sorin, 2 Gabin Garault, 1 Louis Penverne
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Christian Luaki, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 20 Judicael Cancoriet, 21 Alexandre Kaddouri, 22 Sacha Elissalde, 23 Nolhann Couillaud
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland), Tomas O’Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Sunday, April 5
Stade Français v Dragons
(Stade Jean Bouin, Paris – Kick-off: 13.30 CEST; 12.30 BST; 11.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Dragons by one point
Teams
Stade Français Paris: 15 Mathis Ibo, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Samuel Ezeala, 11 Lester Etien, 10 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 9 Paul Abadie, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Ryan Chapuis (captain), 6 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 5 Setareki Turagacoke, 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 3 Yanis Lux, 2 Lucas Peyresblanques, 1 Jack Iscaro
Replacements: 16 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 17 Thierry Paiva, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Pierre Huguet, 20 Romain Briatte, 21 Thibaut Motassi, 22 Tani Vili, 23 Zack Henry
Dragons RFC: 15 Angus O’Brien (captain), 14 Dai Richards, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Christian Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Owain James, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Harrison Keddie, 21 Morgan Lloyd, 22 Fetuli Paea, 23 Huw Anderson
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Zebre v Section Paloise
(Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 18.30 CEST; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Section Paloise by five points
Teams
Zebre Parma: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Mirko Belloni, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Jacopo Trulla, 10 Giacomo da Re, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Davide Odiase, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Alessandro Ortombina, 5 Leonardo Krumov (captain), 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Ion Neculai, 2 Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Juan-Manuel Pitinari, 19 Giacomo Ferrari, 20 Giovanni Licata, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Martin Roger Farias, 23 Damiano Mazza
Section Paloise: 15 Aymeric Luc, 14 Clement Laporte, 13 Emilien Gailleton, 12 Nathan Decron, 11 Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, 10 Clément Mondinat, 9 Thibault Daubagna, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 7 Loic Credoz, 6 Luke Whitelock (captain), 5 Mickael Capelli, 4 Thomas Jolmes, 3 Jon Zabala Arrieta, 2 Youri Delhommel, 1 Daniel Bibi Biziwu
Replacements: 16 Lucas Rey, 17 Lekso Kaulashvili, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Remi Picquette, 20 Beka Gorgadze, 21 Thomas Souverbie, 22 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 23 Jack Maddocks
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Ben Connor (Wales)
TMO: Adam Jones (Wales)
