SA teams get confirmation of their opening assignments in Europe
NEWS: The South African teams have been given confirmation of their opening assignments in Europe next season.
European Professional Club Rugby confirmed the fixtures for the 2022/23 season on Thursday.
Stade Rochelais, who won a first Champions Cup in such dramatic fashion in May, will launch the defence of their title at Stade Marcel Deflandre against another former tournament winner, Northampton Saints, when the season kicks off on the weekend of December 9/10/11.
The Anglo-French clash in Pool B will be one of a host of mouthwatering match-ups, which include the landmark participation of South African teams.
United Rugby Championship winners, the Stormers, will have a first competitive outing on French soil when they take on ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Stade Marcel-Michelin cauldron, while the Pretoria-based Bulls and the Sharks from Durban will be at home against Lyon and Harlequins respectively in Round One.
* For all the 2022/23 Champions Cup pool stage fixtures, CLICK HERE!
Reigning Premiership champions, Leicester Tigers, will open their campaign against the Ospreys in Swansea and last season's Top 14 winners, Montpellier Hérault, will also be on the road when they face London Irish, who are making a return to the top flight for the first time since 2012, at Brentford Community Stadium.
Two of the tournament's heavyweights, Munster Rugby and Stade Toulousain, who met in a memorable quarter-final last season, will renew rivalries in Round One in early December at what is certain to be a packed-out Thomond Park.
The 2020 winners, Bristol Bears, will be hoping for a repeat performance when they start their EPCR Challenge Cup Pool A campaign against USAP at Stade Aimé Giral on the weekend of December 9/10/11, while last season's defeated finalists, RC Toulon, travel to Zebre Parma in Round One.
* For the 2022/23 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage fixtures, CLICK HERE!
The Lions from Johannesburg will make their debut in the tournament against Worcester Warriors at Sixways, while the Cheetahs, who will play their two ‘home' matches in Pool B at Stadio Lanfranchi in Parma, go head-to-head with Section Paloise at Stade du Hameau in the south-west of France in Round One.
CHAMPIONS CUP
* Twenty-four elite teams (nine tournament winners with 36 EPCR titles between them)
* Two pools of 12
* Four pool stage rounds
* Eight highest-ranked teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stage
* Knockout stage: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final
* Ninth and 10th ranked teams from each pool qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup
For the Champions Cup pools, CLICK HERE!
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
* Twenty teams (seven tournament winners with 14 EPCR titles between them)
* Two pools of 10
* Four pool stage rounds
* Six highest-ranked teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stage
* Knockout stage: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final
For the EPCR Challenge Cup pools, CLICK HERE!
Key dates for 2022/23 season
Round One – December 9/10/11 2022
Round Two – 16/17/18 December 2022
Round Three – 13/14/15 January 2023
Round Four – 20/21/22 January 2023
Round of 16 – 31 March - 1/2 April 2023
Quarterfinals – 7/8/9 April 2023
Semifinals – 28/29/30 April 2023
EPCR Challenge Cup final – Friday 19 May 2023; Dublin
Champions Cup Final – Saturday 20 May 2023; Dublin