2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup

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.

2021–22 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[lower-alpha 1]
Tries scored271 (6.61 per match)
Top point scorer(s)France Léo Berdeu (Lyon)
71 points
Top try scorer(s)Argentina Santiago Socino (Gloucester)
5 tries
Final
VenueStade Vélodrome, Marseille
ChampionsFrance Lyon (1st title)
Runners-upFranceToulon

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.[1]

The tournament commenced in December 2021, and concluded with the final on 27 May 2022 at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.[2][3]

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.[4]

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 England France France Italy Italy Scotland Scotland Wales Wales
Preliminary stage
Transferred from Champions Cup

Team details
Team Coach /
Director of Rugby		 Captain Stadium Capacity Method of qualification
Entering at Pool stage
Italy Benetton Italy Marco Bortolami South Africa Dewaldt Duvenage
Italy Michele Lamaro		 Stadio Comunale di Monigo 6,700 Pro14 Conference B (6th)
France Biarritz France Nicolas Nadau England Steffon Armitage Parc des Sports Aguiléra 15,000 Pro D2 Runner Up
France Brive Ireland Jeremy Davidson Algeria Saïd Hireche Stade Amédée-Domenech 13,979 Top 14 bottom 6 (11th)
Wales Dragons England Dean Ryan Wales Rhodri Williams Rodney Parade 8,700 Pro14 Conference A (5th)
Scotland Edinburgh Scotland Mike Blair Scotland Grant Gilchrist
Scotland Stuart McInally		 Edinburgh Rugby Stadium 7,800 Pro14 Conference B (5th)
England Gloucester England George Skivington England Lewis Ludlow Kingsholm Stadium 16,115 Premiership 9th–12th (11th)
England London Irish Ireland Declan Kidney England Matt Rogerson Brentford Community Stadium 17,250 Premiership 9th–12th (9th)
France Lyon France Pierre Mignoni France Jean-Marc Doussain Stade de Gerland 35,000 Top 14 bottom 6 (9th)
England Newcastle Falcons England Dean Richards England Micky Young
England George McGuigan		 Kingston Park 10,200 Premiership 9th–12th (10th)
France Pau France Thomas Domingo France Quentin Lespiaucq-Brettes Stade du Hameau 18,324 Top 14 bottom 6 (12th)
France Perpignan France Patrick Arlettaz France Mathieu Acebes Stade Aimé Giral 14,593 Pro D2 Champions
England Saracens Ireland Mark McCall England Owen Farrell StoneX Stadium 10,500 RFU Championship champions
France Toulon France Franck Azéma France Raphaël Lakafia Stade Mayol 18,200 Top 14 bottom 6 (8th)
England Worcester Warriors South Africa Alan Solomons England Ted Hill Sixways Stadium 11,499 Premiership 9th–12th (12th)
Italy Zebre Argentina Emiliano Bergamaschi
(Replaces Ireland Michael Bradley)		 Italy Giulio Bisegni Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 5,000 Pro14 Conference A (6th)
Entering at Knockout Stage (transferred from Champions Cup)
England Bath England Stuart Hooper England Charlie Ewels The Recreation Ground 14,509 Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (11th)
Wales Cardiff Rugby Wales Dai Young Wales Josh Turnbull Cardiff Arms Park 12,125 Champions Cup Pool b 9th–11th (9th)
France Castres Argentina Mauricio Reggiardo France Mathieu Babillot Stade Pierre-Fabre 12,500 Champions Cup Pool B 9th–11th (11th)
Scotland Glasgow Warriors England Danny Wilson Scotland Fraser Brown
Scotland Ryan Wilson		 Scotstoun Stadium 7,351 Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (9th)
England Northampton Saints New Zealand Chris Boyd England Lewis Ludlam Franklin's Gardens 15,200 Champions Cup Pool A 9th–11th (10th)
England Wasps England Lee Blackett England 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
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
France Toulon 430110757+501373116
England Newcastle Falcons 43017389–1610102014
France Biarritz 42115947+12841112
England Worcester Warriors 41128591–61112219
Italy Zebre Parma 400475115–40817112

Pool B
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
France Lyon 440012257+651452018
England Gloucester 430116184+7723103116
Italy Benetton 42027595–20912008
France Perpignan 410354138–84718004
Wales Dragons 400474112–38715022

Pool C
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
Scotland Edinburgh 430116147+1142262115
England London Irish 42117882-412112012
England Saracens 420211878+4017112111
France Brive 411241146-105421006
France Pau 410375120-451016105

Knock Out Stage

Seeding for knockout stage
Seed Pool Leaders Pts Diff TF
1France Lyon 18+6514
2France Toulon 16+5013
3Scotland Edinburgh 15+11422
Seed Pool Runners–up Pts Diff TF
4England Gloucester Rugby 16+7723
5England Newcastle Falcons 14–1610
6England London Irish 12–412
Seed Pool Third placed Pts Diff TF
7France Biarritz Olympique 12+128
8England Saracens 11+4017
9Italy Benetton 8–209
Seed Best fourth placed Pts Diff TF
10England Worcester Warriors 9–611
–France Brive 6–1054
–France Perpignan 4–847
Seed Heineken Champions Cup (17–22)[5] Pts Diff TF
11 – HCC 1Wales Cardiff 7–3313
12 – HCC 2England Wasps 6–516
13 – HCC 3France Castres Olympique 5–149
14 – HCC 4Scotland Glasgow Warriors 5–357
15 – HCC 5England Northampton Saints 2–686
16 – HCC 6England Bath 2–1006

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

Round of 16
15 April 2022
17:30 BST
London Irish England64–27France 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 France29–39England 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 France31–17England 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 England17–27Scotland 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 Scotland41–19England 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 England31–21England 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 France36–17Italy 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 England40–33Wales 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 England15–44England 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 Scotland30–34England 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 France35–27Scotland 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 France19–18England 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 France20–18England 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 France25–16England 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 France30–12France 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.
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