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Name

European Rugby Challenge Cup

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Poster


Established
1996 (30 years old)

First Recorded Event
2021-12-10

Current Season
2026-2027

Current Round
1

Sport
Rugby

Location
Europe

Gender
Male

TV Rights
Austria - More Than Sports
Australia - beIN Sports
Canada - Flo Rugby
Denmark - Viaplay
Estonia - Viaplay
Finland - Viaplay
France - beIN Sports
France - France TV
Germany - More Than Sports
Iceland - Viaplay
Ireland - TNT Sports
Ireland - Premier Sports
LATAM - ESPN
Latvia - Viaplay
Lithuania - Viaplay
Malta - GO
Netherlands - Viaplay
New Zealand - Sky Sport
Norway - Viaplay
Poland - Polsat
Portugal - Sport TV
Romania - DIGI
SEA - Premier Sport
Spain - Telefonica
SSA - Super Sport
Sweden - Viaplay
Switzerland - More Than Sports
United Kingdom - TNT Sports
United Kingdom - S4C
United Kingdom - Viaplay
USA - Flo Rugby
Rest of World - epcrugby.tv

Logo

		Upcoming
12 Dec 26	OspreysOspreys	1:00pm	HarlequiHarlequins
12 Dec 26	UlsterUlster	1:00pm	Aviron BAviron Bayonnais
12 Dec 26	BenettonBenetton	5:30pm	Lyon OULyon OU
12 Dec 26	The SharThe Sharks	5:30pm	ScarletsScarlets
12 Dec 26	NewcastlNewcastle Red Bulls	8:00pm	Castres Castres Olympique
12 Dec 26	RC TouloRC Toulonnais	8:00pm	Black LiBlack Lion
13 Dec 26	CheetahsCheetahs	1:00pm	DragonsDragons
13 Dec 26	VannesVannes	1:00pm	EdinburgEdinburgh
13 Dec 26	USA PerpUSA Perpignan	3:15pm	ZebreZebre
08 Jan 27	DragonsDragons	8:00pm	Aviron BAviron Bayonnais
		Results
18 Oct 26	Castres OCastres Olympique	18 - 9	BenettonBenetton
18 Oct 26	HarlequinHarlequins	57 - 19	VannesVannes
18 Oct 26	Aviron BaAviron Bayonnais	29 - 27	CheetahsCheetahs
17 Oct 26	ScarletsScarlets	47 - 14	NewcastleNewcastle Red Bulls
17 Oct 26	ZebreZebre	21 - 40	UlsterUlster
17 Oct 26	Lyon OULyon OU	33 - 33	The SharkThe Sharks
17 Oct 26	Black LioBlack Lion	14 - 39	OspreysOspreys
16 Oct 26	EdinburghEdinburgh	17 - 27	RC ToulonRC Toulonnais
16 Oct 26	DragonsDragons	29 - 14	USA PerpiUSA Perpignan
22 May 26	MontpelliMontpellier Hérault Rugby	59 - 26	UlsterUlster

Description

The EPCR Challenge Cup is an annual rugby union competition organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the second-tier competition for clubs based in European leagues behind the European Rugby Champions Cup. From its inception in 1996 to 2014, it was known as the European Challenge Cup and governed by European Rugby Cup (ERC). Following disagreements in the structure of the tournament's format and division of revenue, the English and French leagues withdrew to form the EPCR, which organized the Challenge Cup and the Champions Cup since the 2014–15 season.

The Challenge Cup is currently contested between 18 teams; 16 of which qualify from the three main European domestic leagues (Premiership Rugby, Top 14, and United Rugby Championship). In 2023–23, the Cheetahs, a South African team who do not play in either of the three leagues, but has close historical connections to the URC, also take part in the Challenge Cup as an invited team. For the 2023-24 season, Georgia's Black Lion were also invited to take part in the tournament.

Toulon are the current Challenge Cup holders, having won the 2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup.


Seasons

Teams

Aviron Bayonnais		Benetton		Black Lion
Castres Olympique		Cheetahs		Dragons
Edinburgh		Harlequins		Lyon OU
Newcastle Red Bul		Ospreys		RC Toulonnais
Scarlets		The Sharks		Ulster
USA Perpignan		Vannes		Zebre

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Last 5 winners
Montpellier Hérault Rugby (2025-2026)
Bath Rugby (2024-2025)
The Sharks (2023-2024)
RC Toulonnais (2022-2023)
Lyon OU (2021-2022)

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