# 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage

The 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage was the first stage of the 11th season of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

## Structure

The pool stage draw took place on 2 July 2024 in Cardiff. The complete fixture list was then announced on 12 July 2024.
Teams in the same pool played four of the other five teams in their pool, either at home or away, in the pool stage. The top four teams in each pool progressed to the round of 16 as well as the fifth-ranked team from each Champions Cup pool.
Teams was awarded table points based on match performances; four points for a win, two points for a draw, one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing a match by seven points or fewer.
In the event of a tie between two or more teams, the following tie-breakers were used, as directed by European Professional Club Rugby:
* Where teams have played each other
** The club with the greater number of competition points from only matches involving tied teams.
** If equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches.
** If equal, the club that scored the most tries in those matches.
* Where teams remain tied and/or have not played each other in the competition (i.e. are from different pools)
** The club with the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage.
** If equal, the club that scored the most tries in the pool stage.
** If equal, the club with the fewest players suspended in the pool stage.
** If equal, the drawing of lots will determine a club's ranking.

## Pools
### Pool 1

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1 :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Connacht (1) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 154 | 73 | +81 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 20 | Home round of 16 |
| 2 | Lyon (5) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 150 | 118 | +32 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 14 | Home round of 16 |
| 3 | Perpignan (8) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 92 | +8 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 11 | Home as third best / Away round of 16 |
| 4 | Cardiff (16) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 91 | 98 | −7 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Away round of 16 |
| 5 | Cheetahs | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 73 | 132 | −59 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 6 | Zebre Parma | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70 | 125 | −55 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |

#### Round 1

* 7 December 2024 16:15
| (1 BP) Lyon | 37–26 | Cardiff (1 BP) |
| Try: Dumortier (2) 6' m, 37' m Parisien 24' c Charcosset 47' c González 62' c Con: Meliande (3/4) 25', 48', 63' Pen: Meliande (1/1) 69' González (1/1) 74' | Report | Try: Adams 3' c Southworth 15' c Bevan 53' c Hamer-Webb 61' m Con: Sheedy (3/4) 4', 16', 54' |
* Stade de Gerland, Lyon Attendance: 14,073 Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
* 7 December 2024 20:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 43–12 | Zebre Parma |
| Try: Mullins (3) 22' m, 28' c, 62' m Tierney-Martin 34' m Boyle (2) 42' c, 80' c Cordero 70' c Con: Carty (2/4) 29', 43' Naughton (2/3) 71', 80' | Report | Try: Stavile 6' m Fusco 75' c Con: Da Re (1/2) 76' |
* Dexcom Stadium, Galway Attendance: 2,672 Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
* 8 December 2024 14:00
| Cheetahs | 20–20 | Perpignan |
| Try: Rudolph 9' m van der Westhuizen 16' m Maartens 64' m Con: Wentzel (1/3) 65' Pen: Wentzel (1/1) 78' | Report | Try: Aucagne 2' m Toganiyadrava 30' c Poulet 39' m Con: Aucagne (1/3) 32' Pen: Aucagne (1/1) 79' |
* NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam Attendance: 2,300 Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

#### Round 2

* 14 December 2024 14:00
| (1 BP) Zebre Parma | 19–21 | Lyon |
| Try: Di Bartolomeo 24' m Prisciantelli 45' c Nasove 68' c Con: Prisciantelli (2/3) 46', 69' | Report | Try: González 19' c Ioane 64' c Saghinadze 71' c Con: Meliande (3/3) 20', 65', 72' |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Attendance: 1,450 Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
* 14 December 2024 20:00
| (1 BP) Cardiff | 26–10 | Cheetahs |
| Try: Adams (2) 17' m, 56' c Bowen 46' c Penalty try 67' Con: Sheedy (2/3) 47', 57' | Report | Try: de Haas 31' c Con: Wentzel (1/1) 33' Pen: Wentzel (1/1) 36' |
* Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 5,410 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
* 15 December 2024 14:00
| Perpignan | 18–31 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Boyer-Gallardo 17' m Joseph 50' c Con: Aucagne (1/2) 51' Pen: Aucagne (2/3) 27', 44' | Report | Try: Ralston 6' c de Buitléar 10' c Mullins 36' m Boyle 57' c McBurney 78' m Con: Carty (3/5) 7', 11', 57' |
* Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan Attendance: 8,092 Referee: Sara Cox (England)

#### Round 3

* 11 January 2025 14:00
| Perpignan | 23–20 | Cardiff (1 BP) |
| Try: Allan 39' c Veredamu 49' m Velarte 61' m Con: Allan (1/2) 40+1' Pen: Allan (2/2) 3', 48' | Report | Try: Lee-Lo 42' c Mulder 69' c Con: de Beer (2/2) 43', 69' Pen: de Beer (2/2) 35', 53' |
* Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan Attendance: 8,016 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
* 11 January 2025 20:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 52–24 | Lyon |
| Try: B. Murphy (3) 1' c, 38' m, 45' m Jansen 14' m Bealham 17' c J. Murphy 41' m Aungier 53' m Tierney-Martin 72' m Hurley-Langton 80+3' m Con: Ioane (2/6) 2', 18' Pen: Ioane (1/1) 34' | Report | Try: Matavesi 23' c Regard 48' c Marchand 68' c Con: Page-Relo (1/1) 24' Meliande (2/2) 49', 69' Pen: Page-Relo (1/1) 11' |
* Dexcom Stadium, Galway Attendance: 4,024 Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
* 12 January 2025 14:00
| Cheetahs | 22–18 | Zebre Parma (1 BP) |
| Try: Annies 2' c Rudolph 35' c Jasper 80' m Con: Wentzel (2/3) 3', 36' Pen: Wentzel (1/3) 27' | Report | Try: Gesi 22' m Di Bartolomeo 44' c Con: Dominguez (1/2) 45' Pen: Dominguez (2/4) 1', 31' |
* NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)

#### Round 4

* 17 January 2025 20:00
| Cardiff | 19–28 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Lloyd 17' c Young (2) 42' c, 58' m Con: Ben Thomas (2/3) 18', 43' | Report | Try: J. Murphy 13' c Joyce 36' c Ralston 53' c Devine 65' c Con: Ioane (3/3) 13', 37', 54' Hanranhan (1/1) 66' |
* Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 6,321 Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
* 18 January 2025 18:30
| (1 BP) Lyon | 68–21 | Cheetahs |
| Try: Niniashvili 9' c Cretin 20' c Maraku (2) 25' c, 31' m Page-Relo 40' c Ioane 47' c Berdeu (2) 51' c, 61' c Roussel 70' c Chat 77' c Con: Berdeu (9/10) 10', 21', 26', 40', 48', 52', 62', 71', 78' | Report | Try: Maartens 7' c Nkabinde 65' c Volschenk 74' c Con: Jasper (3/3) 8', 66', 75' |
* Stade de Gerland, Lyon Attendance: 15,620 Referee: Sara Cox (England)
* 19 January 2025 16:15
| Zebre Parma | 21–39 | Perpignan (1 BP) |
| Try: Gregory 35' c Licata 52' c Nasove 66' c Con: Dominguez (2/2) 36', 53' Montemauri (1/1) 66' | Report | Try: Buliruarua 19' m Naqalevu (2) 56' c, 71' c Toganiyadrava 74' m Con: Aucagne (2/4) 57', 72' Pen: Aucagne (5/5) 8', 15', 28', 51', 80' |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Attendance: 1,817 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

### Pool 2

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2 :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Montpellier (2) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 41 | +90 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 19 | Home round of 16 |
| 2 | Ospreys (4) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 111 | 116 | −5 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 15 | Home round of 16 |
| 3 | Pau (7) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 119 | 108 | +11 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 12 | Home as third best / Away round of 16 |
| 4 | Lions (14) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 122 | 103 | +19 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 10 | Away round of 16 |
| 5 | Dragons | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 61 | 116 | −55 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 6 | Newcastle Falcons | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 55 | 115 | −60 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |

#### Round 1

* 6 December 2024 20:00
| (1 BP) Dragons | 14–18 | Montpellier |
| Try: Basham 26' c O'Brien 39' c Con: O'Brien (2/2) 27', 40+1' | Report | Try: Tambwe 12' m Tauleigne 19' c Con: Barreau (1/2) 20' Pen: Barreau (2/2) 3', 8' |
* Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 4,012 Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
* 8 December 2024 14:00
| (1 BP) Pau | 32–19 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Grandidier-Nkanang 17' m Maximin 53' c Delhommel 62' c Roudil 79' c Con: Desperes (3/4) 54', 63', 80' Pen: Desperes (2/2) 9', 33' | Report | Try: Fletcher (2) 13' c, 43' m Lockwood 53' c Con: Wilkinson (1/2) 14' Connon (1/1) 60' |
* Stade du Hameau, Pau Attendance: 8,675 Referee: Franco Rosella (Italy)
* 8 December 2024 15:15
| (1 BP) Ospreys | 30–14 | Lions |
| Try: Morgan 27' c Giles 44' m Hardy 47' c Edwards 78' m Con: O. Williams (2/4) 28', 48' Pen: O. Williams (2/2) 21', 35' | Report | Try: Marais 10' c Cronjé 75' c Con: Francis (1/1) 11' Nohamba (1/1) 76' |
* Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 2,877 Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)

#### Round 2

* 14 December 2024 14:00
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 59–15 | Ospreys |
| Try: Martins 10' c Duguid 14' c Uelese 29' c Coly 36' m Akrab 42' c Moustin 51' m Cadot 53' c Forletta 62' c Tambwe 66' c Con: Coly (4/5) 11', 15', 30', 44' Hogg (3/4) 54', 62', 67' | Report | Try: Boshoff 69' m Giles 80+2' c Con: Edwards (1/2) 80+3' Drop: Edwards (1/1) 33' |
* GGL Stadium, Montpellier Attendance: 7,793 Referee: Adam Leal (England)
* 14 December 2024 17:15
| (1 BP) Lions | 43–35 | Pau (1 BP) |
| Try: van der Merwe 12' c van den Berg 20' c Botha 40' m Penalty try 49' J. Schoeman 53' c R. Schoeman 61' c Con: Wolhuter (4/5) 13', 21', 54', 62' Pen: Wolhuter (1/1) 70' | Report | Try: Jooste 9' c Desperes 44' c Ruffenach 63' m Bouhier 75' c Con: Desperes (3/4) 10', 45', 76' Pen: Desperes (3/3) 16', 24', 38' |
* Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 2,042 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
* 15 December 2024 15:15
| Newcastle Falcons | 14–22 | Dragons |
| Try: Radwan 36' c Hearle 46' c Con: Wilkinson (2/2) 37', 47' | Report | Try: Martínez 15' c Wainwright 49' m Anderson 59' c Con: O'Brien (1/2) 17' C. Evans (1/1) 60' Pen: O'Brien (1/1) 34' |
* Kingston Park, Newcastle Attendance: 2,801 Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

#### Round 3

* 11 January 2025 17:30
| (1 BP) Ospreys | 35–15 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Walsh (2) 15' c, 64' c Parry 26' c Kasende 30' c Hardy 67' c Con: Edwards (5/5) 16', 27', 31', 65', 68' | Report | Try: Brown 6' c Pepper 77' m Con: Wilkinson (1/2) 7' Pen: Wilkinson (1/2) 17' |
* Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea Attendance: 3,198 Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
* 11 January 2025 18:30
| (1 BP) Montpellier | 28–5 | Lions |
| Try: Tauleigne 2' c Bernadet (2) 53' c, 60' c Simmonds 71' c Con: Vincent (3/3) 3', 55', 61' Barreau (1/1) 72' | Report | Try: Horn 46' m |
* GGL Stadium, Montpellier Attendance: 7,500 Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
* 12 January 2025 15:15
| Dragons | 15–24 | Pau |
| Try: Wainwright 37' m Dyer 77' c Con: Lloyd Evans (1/1) 77' Pen: Lloyd Evans (1/1) 13' | Report | Try: Mondinat 52' c Jooste 63' m Con: Desperes (1/2) 53' Pen: Desperes (1/1) 11', 23', 28', 47' |
* Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 4,009 Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)

#### Round 4

* 17 January 2025 20:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 7–26 | Montpellier (1 BP) |
| Try: Hearle 32' c Con: Wilkinson (1/1) 33' | Report | Try: Bernardet 1' c Serfontein 46' c Akrab 59' m Martins 68' c Con: Darmon (1/1) 2' Barreau (2/3) 47', 69' |
* Kingston Park, Newcastle Attendance: 3,885 Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy)
* 18 January 2025 14:00
| (2 BP) Pau | 28–31 | Ospreys (1 BP) |
| Try: Attissogbé 7' c Brau-Boirie 37' c Penalty try 64' Roudil 68' c Con: Desperes (3/3) 8', 38', 69' | Report | Try: Conbeer 14' c Boshoff 44' c J. Morgan 54' m D. Edwards 73' m L. Davies 75' c Con: D. Edwards (3/5) 15', 45', 76' |
* Stade du Hameau, Pau Attendance: 6,974 Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
* 18 January 2025 17:15
| (1 BP) Lions | 60–10 | Dragons |
| Try: Horn (2) 8' c, 48' m Francis 15' c Venter (2) 22' c, 65' c Mafura 26' c Lombard 56' m Visagie 61' m Rass 80' c Con: Francis (4/4) 9', 16', 23', 27' Lombard (2/5) 66', 80' Pen: Francis (1/1) 3' | Report | Try: Latu 53' c Con: Reed (1/1) 54' Pen: Reed (1/2) 7' |
* Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 2,562 Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)

### Pool 3

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 3 :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Edinburgh (3) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 127 | 67 | +60 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 16 | Home round of 16 |
| 2 | Bayonne (6) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 125 | 101 | +24 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 14 | Home round of 16 |
| 3 | Scarlets (13) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 97 | 94 | +3 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 11 | Home as third best / Away round of 16 |
| 4 | Gloucester (15) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 82 | 115 | −33 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 9 | Away round of 16 |
| 5 | Vannes | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 115 | 108 | +7 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| 6 | Black Lion | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 132 | −61 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |

#### Round 1

* 6 December 2024 20:00
| Gloucester | 15–10 | Edinburgh (1 BP) |
| Try: Blake 10' c Tuisue 64' m Con: Carreras (1/2) 12' Pen: Carreras (1/1) 45' | Report | Try: Goosen 36' c Con: Thompson (1/1) 37' Pen: Healy (1/1) 80' |
* Kingsholm, Gloucester Attendance: 9,482 Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
* 7 December 2024 14:00
| Bayonne | 17–16 | Scarlets (1 BP) |
| Try: Bruni 14' c Lopez 23' c Con: Lopez (2/2) 15', 24' Pen: Segondis (1/1) 76' | Report | Try: Sh. Evans 40+1' c Con: I. Lloyd (1/1) 40+2' Pen: I. Lloyd (3/4) 4', 35', 74' |
* Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne Attendance: 9,752 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
* 7 December 2024 17:00
| Black Lion | 22–19 | Vannes (1 BP) |
| Try: Tabutsadze 39' c Con: Matkava (1/1) 40' Pen: Matkava (5/5) 6', 29', 52', 65', 74' | Report | Try: Varney 19' c Con: Debaes (1/1) 20' Pen: Debaes (3/3) 45', 49', 54' Cotarmanac'h (1/1) 69' |
* Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 6,235 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

#### Round 2

* 13 December 2024 20:00
| (1 BP) Edinburgh | 52–12 | Bayonne |
| Try: Currie 10' m Tuipulotu 37' c Graham (2) 45' c, 58' m van der Merwe 50' c Dodd (2) 63' c, 70' c Ritchie 77' c Con: Thompson (3/5) 38', 46', 51' Healy (3/3) 64', 71', 78' | Report | Try: Martin 42' c Germain 49' m Con: Lopez (1/2) 43' |
* Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 5,885 Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
* 14 December 2024 18:30
| (1 BP) Vannes | 43–19 | Gloucester |
| Try: Benmegal (2) 1' c, 46' c Ruru (2) 2' c, 8' m Chateau 66' c Blanchard 70' c Con: Lafage (5/6) 1', 3', 46', 66', 71' Pen: Lafage (1/1) 80' | Report | Try: Harris 4' c Blackmore 54' c Morris 58' m Con: Barton (1/1) 5' Taylor (1/2) 54' |
* Stade de la Rabine, Vannes Attendance: 11,815 Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Georgia)
* 15 December 2024 13:00
| (1 BP) Scarlets | 36–18 | Black Lion |
| Try: G. Davies 2' c Macleod (2) 16' m, 42' c J. Williams 28' c Hughes 78' c Con: Costelow (4/5) 3', 28', 44', 79' Pen: Costelow (1/1) 68' | Report | Try: Ivanishvili 32' m Babunashvili 60' c Con: Tsirekidze (1/1) 60' Pen: Matkava (2/2) 9', 11' |
* Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 6,013 Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)

#### Round 3

* 10 January 2025 20:00
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 31–7 | Scarlets |
| Try: Englefield 3' c Clement 16' c Barton 30' m Blake 50' m Wade 73' c Con: Carreras (2/4) 4', 17' Barton (1/1) 74' | Report | Try: James 64' c Con: Lloyd (1/1) 65' |
* Kingsholm, Gloucester Attendance: 11,441 Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
* 11 January 2025 14:00
| (1 BP) Vannes | 25–29 | Edinburgh (1 BP) |
| Try: Edwards 24' c Taccola 37' c Vili 65' m Con: Lebail (2/2) 25', 37' Pen: Lebail (2/2) 15', 46' | Report | Try: Goosen 7' m Price (2) 16' c, 28' c van der Merwe 60' c Con: Healy (2/3) 17', 29' Thompson (1/1) 61' Pen: Thompson (1/1) 71' |
* Stade de la Rabine, Vannes Attendance: 11,792 Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
* 11 January 2025 18:15
| Black Lion | 16–41 | Bayonne (1 BP) |
| Try: Ivanishvili 39' c Con: Matkava (1/1) 40' Pen: Matkava (3/4) 2', 6', 26' | Report | Try: Héguy 11' c Tiberghien 15' c Hannoun (2) 42' m, 51' c Martin 61' m Martocq 63' c Con: Germain (4/6) 11', 16', 52', 64' Pen: Germain (1/1) 28' |
* Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 6,700 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)

#### Round 4

* 18 January 2025 17:30
| (1 BP) Scarlets | 38–28 | Vannes (1 BP) |
| Try: Macleod (2) 6' c, 20' c Murray 26' m G. Davies 32' c Rogers 37' m van der Merwe 53' c Con: Lloyd (4/6) 7', 21', 33', 54' | Report | Try: Camou 48' c Uhila 64' c Surano 75' c Boulier 80' c Con: Cotarmanac'h (1/1) 49' Lafage (3/3) 64', 76', 80' |
* Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 5,773 Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
* 19 January 2025 13:00
| (1 BP) Edinburgh | 36–15 | Black Lion |
| Try: Skinner 1' c Goosen 23' c Crosbie 28' c Currie 43' c Harrison 49' m Con: Healy (4/5) 1', 24', 29', 44' Pen: Healy (1/1) 10' | Report | Try: Kvatadze 66' c Aptsiauri 72' m Con: Matkava (1/2) 66' Pen: Matkava (1/1) 19' |
* Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
* 19 January 2025 14:00
| (1 BP) Bayonne | 55–17 | Gloucester |
| Try: Germain 9' m Martin 32' c Lopez 38' c Mori 43' c Bosch 57' m Tiberghien (2) 66' c, 68' c Habel-Kueffner 75' c Con: Lopez (3/5) 33', 39', 44' Segonds (3/3) 67', 70', 76' Pen: Lopez (1/1) 30' | Report | Try: Chapman 3' c Jordan 78' c Con: Barton (1/1) 4' Atkinson (1/1) 79' Pen: Barton (1/1) 23' |
* Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne Attendance: 13,210 Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)