European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition

Updated on Nov 25, 2023

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Sport Rugby union Organisers EPCR Rugby Europe FIR		Inaugural season 2014–15
Number of teams 8 (6 (pools) + 2 (play-off)) Country Italy Georgia Romania Russia Spain Portugal Germany Belgium Website European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition Website Rugby Europe Website

The European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition is a rugby union competition, organised by European Professional Club Rugby, Rugby Europe and the Federazione Italiana Rugby, for entry into the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

The tournament was first announced in April 2014, at the same time as the announcement of the creation of the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions. The tournament features teams from tier 2 countries, such as Spain, Germany, Belgium, Romania, Georgia, Russia and Portugal, as well as select Italian Eccellenza clubs.

Format

Under the Heads of Agreement announced on 10 April 2014, there are two places available in the European Rugby Challenge Cup through the Qualifying Competition.

For the 2014-15 season, given the time constraints in filling the competition, this was a reduced competition the form of 2 two-legged play-off matches, with the aggregate winner of each taking one of the two Rugby Europe spots in the draw, and it involved the 2 best teams from Italy's National Championship of Excellence, plus a Romanian and Georgian selection.

An expanded format was announced on 22 December 2014, the expanded format includes clubs from Rugby Europe member Unions, Russia, Spain and Portugal alongside representatives from the Italian Eccellenza.

The 6 teams in the Qualifying Competition are split into 2 pools of 3 teams each. Each team will play the other teams in their pool once, before the two pool winners compete in a two-legged play-off against the teams currently competing in the Challenge Cup from the previous Qualifying Competition.

The winners, on aggregate, of these two play-offs will take up the Qualifying Competition places in the Challenge Cup.

2014

The reduced format for the inaugural Qualifying Competition included two Italian Clubs, a Romanian and a Georgian side. Sides were paired up and competed in two matches, home and away. The winner, on aggregate, of these two games received one of the two places in the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Rugby Europe 1 Play-off

Rovigo Delta won the play-off 46 - 39 on aggregate, and qualifies as Rugby Europe 1 for the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Rugby Europe 2 Play-off

București Wolves won the play-off 28 - 26 on aggregate, and qualified as Rugby Europe 2 for the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

2015

The expanded competition for entry into the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup features six teams, in two pools of three. Russia is represented in European competition for the first time. Matches are scheduled for the same weekends as the 2014–15 Challenge Cup, beginning with the 5th Round of the Challenge Cup.

Pool 1

Qualifying Play-off

Calvisano won the play-off 52-24 on aggregate, and will play in the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Pool 2

Qualifying Play-off

Enisey-STM won the play-off 63-32 on aggregate, and will play in the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

2015–16

The Qualifying Competition was once again expanded, this time featuring 8 teams in two pools of four. Each team will play the teams in the other pool once. Belgium and Germany are represented in pan-European Rugby competition for the first time, through Royal Kituro and Heidelberger RK respectively

On aggregate, Enisey-STM (Aggregate score: 70-5) and Timișoara Saracens (Aggregate score: 64-40) qualify for the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

2016–17

The format of the Qualifying Competition remains the same as the previous season. As before, two places in the next year's Challenge Cup will be available for teams in the Qualifying Competition.

This season's competition features clubs which have qualified from the domestic leagues of Rugby Europe member unions, Russia, Spain, Germany and Belgium, as well as four representatives from the Italian Eccellenza.

The eight participating clubs will compete in two pools with each club in Pool A playing once against each club in Pool B.

The two pool winners will then play off against Timisoara Saracens of Romania and Russia's Enisei-STM on a home and away basis to decide which two clubs will qualify for the 2017/18 Challenge Cup.

In addition, the two qualifiers will play a final match as part of EPCR's 2017 Edinburgh Finals weekend.

The Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition is organised by EPCR in conjunction with Rugby Europe and the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).

Qualifying Play-offs

EPCR will determine about one open question: If it was like the past years, according to the rating, Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk would meet with the Romanian Timisoara. But Krasny Yar received a letter that EPCR will hold a meeting on the final round of qualifying Challenge Cup, which will be determined the opponents. In February 14, at the office of RK "Yenisei-STM" received a letter signed by the coordinator of the qualifying competitions EPKR Vincent Prebande. Mr. Prebande reports that, like last year, the second stage of Qualifying teams will play in accordance with the principle of sport. The two-legged confrontation "Yenisei-STM" will meet the Italian club "Mogliano" and "Krasny Yar" - with the Romanian club "Timisoara Saratsins".

Qualifiers final