20 Teams from Six Countries to Chase Challenge Cup Glory

The draw for the composition of the five Pools of four teams each for the European Challenge Cup tournament will be announced on Monday, 23 June following completion of the play-offs for Top 14 promotion in France.

The 13th European Challenge Cup will feature seven French Top 14 clubs including the newly promoted Toulon and 1997 Heineken Cup winners Brive. While from England, Northampton Saints will make a welcome return to European competition and will be one of six Guinness Premiership clubs which will also include Heineken Cup semi-finalists London Irish and Saracens.

Italy will be represented by four clubs among them Rugby Rovigo who return to Europe after a three season gap while Connacht will compete in their 13th European Challenge Cup flying the flag for Ireland.

Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador and Bucuresti from Romania will complete the Pools.

France:
Brive
Bourgoin
Bayonne
Dax
Toulon
Montpellier
Racing Metro or Mont de Marsan

England:
London Irish
Saracens
Bristol Rugby
Worcester Warriors
Newcastle Falcons
Northampton Saints

Italy:
Viadana
Petrarca
Femi CZ Rovigo
Overmach Parma

Ireland:
Connacht Rugby

Spain:
El Salvador

Romania:
Bucuresti