1996–97 European Challenge Cup
Teams
The qualifying teams were drawn from seven countries. Generally, these were teams from the top division of domestic rugby that did not qualify to play in the Heineken Cup: England: 6 teams from the English Premiership France: 7 teams from the French Championship Ireland: one team representing one of the four Provinces of Ireland Italy: one team from the National Championship of Excellence Romania: one team from the National League Scotland: one team representing one of the four geographical districts Wales: 7 teams from the Welsh Premier Division

1996–97 European Challenge Cup

Section Title: Teams
Table Section Text: The qualifying teams were drawn from seven countries. Generally, these were teams from the top division of domestic rugby that did not qualify to play in the Heineken Cup: England: 6 teams from the English Premiership France: 7 teams from the French Championship Ireland: one team representing one of the four Provinces of Ireland Italy: one team from the National Championship of Excellence Romania: one team from the National League Scotland: one team representing one of the four geographical districts Wales: 7 teams from the Welsh Premier Division

England	France	Ireland	Italy	Romania	Scotland	Wales

Bristol Gloucester London Irish Northampton Saints Orrell Sale Sharks	Agen Bordeaux-Bègles Bourgoin Castres Olympique Montferrand Narbonne Toulon	Connacht	Petrarca	Dinamo-Bucureşti	Glasgow	Bridgend Dunvant Ebbw Vale Newbridge Newport Swansea Treorchy

Sentence(s)

Twenty-four teams took part from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Scotland and Wales.

final_sentence: Twenty-four teams took part from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Scotland and Wales.