# 2005–06 European Challenge Cup pool stage

The 2005–06 European Challenge Cup pool stage was the opening stage of the tenth season of the European Challenge Cup, the second-tier competition for European rugby union clubs. It began with all twenty teams playing on 22 October 2005 and ended when Bristol hosted Narbonne on 22 January 2006.
Twenty teams participated in this phase of the competition; they were divided into five pools of four teams each, with each team playing the others home and away. Competition points were earned using the standard bonus point system. The five pool winners and the best three runners-up advanced to the knockout stage. These teams then competed in a single-elimination tournament that ended with the final at the Twickenham Stoop in London on 21 May 2006.

## Results

All times are local to the game location.
    Key to colours   Winner of each pool, advance to quarterfinals. Seed # in parentheses   Three highest-scoring second-place teams advance to quarterfinals. Seed # in parentheses

### Pool 1

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Northampton Saints (4) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 194 | 96 | 98 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| Narbonne | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 125 | 113 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Bristol | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 203 | 150 | 53 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| Viadana | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 39 | −30 | 81 | 244 | −163 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* 22 October 2005 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 47–25 | Viadana |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 10,802
* 22 October 2005 18:30
| Narbonne | 20–13 | Bristol |
* Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 5,250
* 28 October 2005 19:30
| Viadana | 14–20 | Narbonne |
* Stadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance: 500
* 30 October 2005 15:00
| Bristol | 36–28 | Northampton Saints |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,662
* 9 December 2005 19:30
| Viadana | 23–39 | Bristol |
* Stadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance: 600
* 10 December 2005 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 32–20 | Narbonne |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 11,572
* 16 December 2005 19:30
| Narbonne | 7–22 | Northampton Saints |
* Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 3,500
* 18 December 2005 15:00
| Bristol | 89–5 | Viadana |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,426
* 14 January 2006 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 45–8 | Bristol |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 12,227
* 14 January 2006 18:30
| Narbonne | 29–14 | Viadana |
* Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 2,500
* 21 January 2006 19:30
| Viadana | 0–20 | Northampton Saints |
* Stadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance: 0
* 22 January 2006 15:00
| Bristol | 18–29 | Narbonne |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,762

### Pool 2

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| London Irish (3) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 11 | 21 | 239 | 81 | 158 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| Agen | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 163 | 143 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
| Pau | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 19 | −7 | 107 | 153 | −46 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Overmach Parma | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 30 | −22 | 74 | 206 | −132 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
* 22 October 2005 15:00
| Overmach Parma | 23–50 | Agen |
* Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 490
* 22 October 2005 18:30
| Pau | 13–20 | London Irishÿ |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 5,800
* 29 October 2005 18:30
| Agen | 23–6 | Pau |
* Stade Armandie Attendance: 8,000
* 30 October 2005 15:00
| London Irish | 64–0 | Overmach Parma |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,760
* 10 December 2005 18:30
| Pau | 29–3 | Overmach Parma |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 2,000
* 11 December 2005 15:00
| London Irish | 29–21 | Agen |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 4,452
* 17 December 2005 14:30
| Overmach Parma | 20–11 | Pau |
* Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 200
* 17 December 2005 18:30
| Agen | 24–32 | London Irish |
* Stade Armandie Attendance: 12,000
* 14 January 2006 14:30
| Overmach Parma | 11–19 | London Irish |
* Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 1,000
* 14 January 2006 18:30
| Pau | 36–12 | Agen |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 4,000
* 21 January 2006 14:00
| London Irish | 75–12 | Pau |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 4,647
* 21 January 2006 15:00
| Agen | 33–17 | Overmach Parma |
* Stade Armandie Attendance: 5,000

### Pool 3

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Gloucester (1) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 6 | 43 | 331 | 53 | 278 | 5 | 0 | 29 |
| Bayonne (6) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 11 | 20 | 202 | 93 | 109 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| București | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 40 | −33 | 71 | 253 | −182 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Toulon | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 39 | −30 | 64 | 269 | −205 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
* 22 October 2005 15:00
| București | 16–20 | Toulon |
* Steaua Stadium Attendance: 500
* 22 October 2005 19:00
| Bayonne | 10–26 | Gloucester |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 5,000
* 29 October 2005 15:00
| Gloucester | 106–3 | București |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 7,500
* 29 October 2005 18:30
| Toulon | 19–28 | Bayonne |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 5,000
* 10 December 2005 14:00
| București | 10–38 | Bayonne |
* Steaua Stadium Attendance: 600
* 10 December 2005 18:30
| Toulon | 3–74 | Gloucester |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 4,200
* 16 December 2005 19:30
| Bayonne | 45–6 | București |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 1,200
* 17 December 2005 15:00
| Gloucester | 66–5 | Toulon |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 9,037
* 13 January 2006 19:00
| Bayonne | 62–0 | Toulon |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 4,000
* 14 January 2006 14:00
| București | 13–27 | Gloucester |
* Steaua Stadium Attendance: 700
* 21 January 2006 14:00
| Gloucester | 32–19 | Bayonne |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 8,000
* 21 January 2006 15:00
| Toulon | 17–23 | București |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 1,000

### Pool 4

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Newcastle Falcons (2) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 10 | 34 | 324 | 81 | 243 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| Brive (8) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 203 | 169 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| Borders | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 23 | −4 | 155 | 177 | −22 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| L'Aquila | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 55 | −41 | 103 | 358 | −255 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* 22 October 2005 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 51–19 | Brive |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 6,080
* 22 October 2005 15:00
| L'Aquila | 25–32 | Borders |
* Stadio Communale Frattem Attendance: 1,000
* 29 October 2005 18:30
| Brive | 64–22 | L'Aquila |
* Parc Municipal des Sports Attendance: 4,107
* 30 October 2005 16:00
| Borders | 11–26 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Netherdale Attendance: 4,029
* 10 December 2005 15:00
| L'Aquila | 0–86 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Stadio Communale Frattem Attendance: 1,000
* 11 December 2005 16:00
| Borders | 25–22 | Brive |
* Netherdale Attendance: 1,050
* 17 December 2005 18:30
| Brive | 34–28 | Borders |
* Parc Municipal des Sports Attendance: 5,850
* 18 December 2005 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 90–14 | L'Aquila |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 5,216
* 14 January 2006 15:00
| L'Aquila | 19–47 | Brive |
* Stadio Tommaso Fattori Attendance: 800
* 15 January 2006 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 47–20 | Borders |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 5,866
* 21 January 2006 14:00
| Borders | 39–23 | L'Aquila |
* Netherdale Attendance: 923
* 21 January 2006 15:00
| Brive | 17–24 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Parc Municipal des Sports Attendance: 6,700

### Pool 5

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Worcester Warriors (5) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 181 | 103 | 78 | 3 | 1 | 25 |
| Connacht (7) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 190 | 119 | 71 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| Catania | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 41 | −26 | 116 | 257 | −141 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Montpellier | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 170 | 178 | −8 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
* 22 October 2005 14:00
| Worcester Warriors | 36–18 | Montpellier |
* Sixways Attendance: 6,078
* 22 October 2005 14:30
| Connacht | 62–17 | Catania |
* Sportsground Attendance: 600
* 28 October 2005 19:30
| Montpellier | 13–19 | Connacht |
* Stade Sabathé Attendance: 2,000
* 29 October 2005 16:00
| Catania | 14–19 | Worcester Warriors |
* Stadio Santa Maria Goretti Attendance: 900
* 9 December 2005 19:30
| Montpellier | 74–12 | Catania |
* Stade Sabathé Attendance: 1,000
* 10 December 2005 14:00
| Worcester Warriors | 30–20 | Connacht |
* Sixways Attendance: 6,137
* 17 December 2005 14:00
| Connacht | 22–21 | Worcester Warriors |
* Sportsground Attendance: 2,200
* 18 December 2005 15:00
| Catania | 37–34 | Montpellier |
* Stadio Santa Maria Goretti Attendance: 400
* 14 January 2006 14:00
| Connacht | 43–10 | Montpellier |
* Sportsground Attendance: 2,500
* 14 January 2006 14:00
| Worcester Warriors | 44–8 | Catania |
* Sixways Attendance: 600
* 20 January 2006 19:30
| Catania | 28–24 | Connacht |
* Stadio Santa Maria Goretti Attendance: 900
* 20 January 2006 19:30
| Montpellier | 21–31 | Worcester Warriors |
* Stade Sabathé Attendance: 2,500

## Seeding and runners-up

| Seed | Pool Winners | Pts | TF | +/- |
| 1 | Gloucester | 29 | 49 | +278 |
| 2 | Newcastle Falcons | 28 | 44 | +243 |
| 3 | London Irish | 27 | 32 | +158 |
| 4 | Northampton Saints | 25 | 32 | +98 |
| 5 | Worcester Warriors | 25 | 24 | +78 |
| Seed | Pool Runners-up | Pts | TF | +/- |
| 6 | Bayonne | 20 | 31 | +109 |
| 7 | Connacht | 20 | 25 | +71 |
| 8 | Brive | 18 | 30 | +34 |
| – | Narbonne | 18 | 16 | +12 |
| – | Agen | 14 | 16 | +20 |