2005/06 European Challenge Cup fixtures
Dates for new season announced
The fixture list for the 2005/06 European Challenge Cup has been announced, with Agen set to play their 50th match in the competition when they travel to Parma on October 22.
The new pool format, which will provide each of the 20 participating clubs with a minimum of six games, has replaced the old knock-out structure and the European Shield tournament.
Seven French, six English, four Italian and one team from each of Ireland, Scotland and Romania went into the last month's European Challenge Cup Pool draw.
The top teams from France (Agen), England (Gloucester), Italy (Viadana), Ireland (Connacht) and Scotland (Border Reivers) were seeded and drawn in separate pools.
The ERC will confirm the fixtures for Round 6 at a later date.
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP 2005/06
POOLS
Pool 1: Viadana, Narbonne, Northampton Saints, Bristol Rugby
Pool 2: Agen, London Irish, Rugby Parma, Pau
Pool 3: Gloucester Rugby, Bayonne, Toulon, Bucuresti
Pool 4: Border Reivers, Brive, Newcastle Falcons, L'Aquila
Pool 5: Connacht, Montpellier, Worcester, Amatori Catania
FIXTURES
(All times are local)
ROUND 1
Saturday 22 October
Pool 1: Narbonne v Bristol Rugby - 18:30
Pool 1: Northampton Saints v Viadana - 15:00
Pool 2: Rugby Parma v Agen - 15:00
Pool 2: Pau v London Irish - 18:30
Pool 3: Bayonne v Gloucester Rugby - 19:00
Pool 3: Bucuresti v Toulon - 15:00
Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v Brive - 14:30
Pool 4: L'Aquila v Border Reivers - 15:00
Pool 5: Connacht v Amatori Catania - 14:30
Pool 5: Worcester v Montpellier - 14:00
ROUND 2
Friday 28 October
Pool 1: Viadana v Narbonne - 19:30
Pool 5: Montpellier v Connacht - 19:30
Saturday 29 October
Pool 2: Agen v Pau - 18:30
Pool 3: Gloucester Rugby v Bucuresti - 15:00
Pool 3: Toulon v Bayonne - 18:30
Pool 4: Brive v L'Aquila - 18:30
Sunday 30 October
Pool 1: Bristol Rugby v Northampton Saints - 15:00
Pool 2: London Irish v Rugby Parma - 15:00
Pool 4: Border Reivers v Newcastle Falcons - 16:00
Pool 5: Amatori Catania v Worcester - 16:00
ROUND 3
Friday 9 December
Pool 1: Viadana v Bristol Rugby - 19:30
Pool 5: Montpellier v Amatori Catania - 19:30
Saturday 10 December
Pool 1: Northampton Saints v Narbonne - 15:00
Pool 2: Pau v Rugby Parma - 18:30
Pool 3: Bucuresti v Bayonne - 14:00
Pool 3: Toulon v Gloucester - 18:30
Pool 4: L'Aquila v Newcastle Falcons - 15:00
Pool 5: Worcester v Connacht - 14:00
Sunday 11 December
Pool 2: London Irish v Agen - 15:00
Pool 4: Border Reivers v Brive - 16:00
ROUND 4
Friday 16 December
Pool 1: Narbonne v Northampton Saints - 19:30
Pool 3: Bayonne v Bucuresti - 19:00
Saturday 17 December
Pool 2: Rugby Parma v Pau - 14:30
Pool 2: Agen v London Irish - 18:30
Pool 3: Gloucester Rugby v Toulon - 15:00
Pool 4: Brive v Border Reivers - 18:30
Pool 5: Connacht v Worcester - 14:00
Sunday 18 December
Pool 1: Bristol Rugby v Viadana - 15:00
Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v L'Aquila - 14:30
Pool 5: Amatori Catania v Montpellier - 15:00
ROUND 5
Friday 13 January, 2006
Pool 3: Bayonne v Toulon - 19:00
Saturday 14 January
Pool 1: Narbonne v Viadana - 18:30
Pool 1: Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby - 15:00
Pool 2: Rugby Parma v London Irish - 14:30
Pool 2: Pau v Agen - 18:30
Pool 3: Bucuresti v Gloucester Rugby - 14:00
Pool 4: L'Aquila v Brive - 5:00
Pool 5: Connacht v Montpellier - 14:00
Pool 5: Worcester v Amatori Catania - 14:00
Sunday 15 January
Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v Border Reivers - 14:30
ROUND 6
Pool 1: Viadana v Northampton Saints - tbc
Pool 1: Bristol Rugby v Narbonne - tbc
Pool 2: London Irish v Pau - tbc
Pool 2: Agen v Rugby Parma - tbc
Pool 3: Toulon v Bucuresti - tbc
Pool 3: Gloucester Rugby v Bayonnne - tbc
Pool 4: The Borders v L'Aquila - tbc
Pool 4: Brive v Newcastle Falcons - tbc
Pool 5: Montpellier v Worcester - tbc
Pool 5: Amatori Catania v Connacht - tbc
QUARTER-FINALS: March 31 - April 2
SEMI-FINALS: April 22/23
FINAL: May 20 or 21