# 2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage

The 2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage was the first stage of the competition in what was the eighth season of the EPCR Challenge Cup. The competition involved fifteen teams competing across three pools of five teams, for ten last 16 places. The three highest-ranked clubs from each pool and the highest-ranked fourth-placed club, joined the three clubs ranked 9 to 11 from each of the Heineken Champions Cup pools, in the Round of 16. The pool stage began on 10 December 2021 and was completed on 10 April 2022.
Several round 2 matches between teams from France and the UK were postponed. This was due to new travel restrictions between the UK and France introduced by the French government on 18 December 2021.

## Pool stage

The teams were allocated into three pools depending on where they finished in their respective leagues in the previous season.
Teams in the same pool will play each other once, each playing two home and two away games in the pool stage, and will receive a bye round. The pool stage will begin in December 2021, and continue through to April 2022, before the top three from each pool and the best fourth-placed side progress to the last 16.
Teams will be awarded competition points, based on match result. Teams receive four points for a win, two points for a draw, one attacking bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one defensive 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 will be used, as directed by EPCR:
* 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.
Key to colours :
* Winner, runner-up and third of each pool, advance to round of 16.
* The highest-scoring fourth-place team also advance to round of 16.

### Pool A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Toulon | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 107 | 57 | +50 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 2 | Newcastle Falcons | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 73 | 89 | −16 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 3 | Biarritz | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 47 | +12 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 4 | Worcester Warriors | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 85 | 91 | −6 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | Zebre Parma | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 75 | 115 | −40 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 |

#### Round 1

* 10 December 2021 20:00
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 31–26 | Worcester Warriors (2 BP) |
| Try: Wright 1' c Brown 24' c McGuigan 40'+2 c Lindsay-Haugue 47' c Con: Haydon-Wood (4/4) 2', 26', 40'+3', 48' Pen: Hodgson (1/1) 77' | Report | Try: Penalty try 7' van der Merwe 16' c Doel 30' c Chudley 66' m Con: Searle (2/2) 17', 31' |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,431 Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
* 11 December 2021 14:00
| Zebre Parma | 13–26 | Biarritz (1 BP) |
| Try: Trulla 39' c Con: Rizzi (1/1) 40' Pen: Rizzi (2/2) 5', 24' | Report | Try: Erbani 20' c Erdocia 36' c Tscheisvhili 48' m Scannell 67' c Con: Bosch (2/3) 21', 37' Herron (1/1) 68' |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 200 Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)

#### Round 2

* 17 December 2021 21:00
| (1 BP) Toulon | 28–14 | Zebre Parma |
| Try: Setiano 7' c Roux 40' c Serin 44' c Penalty try 63' Con: Carbonel (3/3) 8', 40', 45' | Report | Try: Tuivuaka 34' c Bianchi 69' c Con: Canna (2/2) 35', 70' |
* Stade Mayol Attendance: 500 Referee: Laurent Cardona (France)
* 18 December 2021 15:15
| Worcester Warriors | Cancelled 0–0 | Biarritz |
* Sixways Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
* Initially postponed (with the intent to reschedule) due to travel restrictions between UK and France, but later cancelled with a 0–0 draw verdict and 2 match points to each team.

#### Round 3

* 14 January 2022 21:00
| (1 BP) Biarritz | 13–17 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Jalaghonia 63' c Con: Bosch (1/1) 65' Pen: Herron (2/2) 34', 72' | Report | Try: Stuart 5' c Wacokecoke 80' c Con: Connon (2/2) 7', 80' c Pen: Connon (1/1) 47' |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
* 15 January 2022 17:30
| Worcester Warriors | 23–34 | Toulon |
| Try: Van der Merwe 62' c Doel 67' c Con: Smith (2/2) 63', 78' Pen: Smith (3/3) 2', 6', 24' | Report | Try: Du Preez 30' c Isa 36' c Villière 48' c Gigashvili 60' c Con: Belleau (4/4) 31', 38', 50', 61' Pen: Belleau (2/2) 15', 44' |
* Sixways Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

#### Round 4

* 22 January 2022 16:15
| (1 BP) Zebre Parma | 26–36 | Worcester Warriors (1 BP) |
| Try: Cronjé 31' c D'Onofrio 36' c Trulla 66' m Lucchin 78' Con: O'Malley (2/2) 31', 38' | Report | Try: Annett (2) 3', 16' m Searle 33' c Howe 44' c Hill 57' c Con: Searle (4/4) 4', 34', 45', 58' Pen: Searle (1/2) 70' |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 750 Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
* 22 January 2022 21:00
| Toulon | Cancelled 28–0 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Stade Mayol Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
* Toulon awarded the 5 match points and a 28–0 victory following COVID cases within the Newcastle Falcons team.

#### Round 5

* 9 April 2022 20:00
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 25–22 | Zebre Parma (1 BP) |
| Try: Davison 17' m Burrell 28' m McGuigan 58' m Nordli-Kelemeti 79' c Con: Connon (1/4) 80+2' Pen: Connon (1/1) 40+3' | Report | Try: Andreani 46' c Con: Andreani (1/1) 47' Pen: Rizzi (5/5) 2', 13', 15', 25', 55' |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,200 Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
* 9 April 2022 21:00
| Biarritz | 20–17 | Toulon |
| Try: Barry 4' c Speight 13' m Kuridrani 53' m Con: Bosch (1/3) 5' Pen: Bosch (1/1) 66' | Report | Try: Salles 49' m Pen: Belleau (4/4) 16', 22', 29', 45' |
* Parc des Sports Aguiléra Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

### Pool B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Lyon | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 57 | +65 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Gloucester | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 161 | 84 | +77 | 23 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 3 | Benetton | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 75 | 95 | −20 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 4 | Perpignan | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 138 | −84 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Dragons | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 74 | 112 | −38 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 |

#### Round 1

* 10 December 2021 21:00
| Lyon | 19–13 | Gloucester (1 BP) |
| Try: Taufua 47' c Con: Doussain (1/1) 49' Pen: Doussain (3/4) 11', 25', 59' Pélissé (1/1) 71' | Report | Try: Jordan 60' c Con: Twelvetrees (1/1) 61' Pen: Twelvetrees (2/2) 19', 46' |
* Matmut Stadium de Gerland Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
* 11 December 2021 18:30
| Perpignan | 22–16 | Dragons |
| Try: Penalty try 55' Ecochard 62' c Plana 67' m Con: Ecochard (1/2) 63' Pen: Ecochard (1/1) 66' | Report | Try: Roberts 73' c Con: S. Davies (1/1) 74' Pen: S. Davies (3/3) 8', 21', 53' |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 5,455 Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

#### Round 2

* 17 December 2021 20:00
| Dragons | 28–41 | Lyon (1 BP) |
| Try: Doge 40' c Seiuli 46' m Wainwright 57' c Con: S. Davies (2/3) 40', 58' Pen: S. Davies (3/4) 18', 29', 64' | Report | Try: Dumortier (2) 10' m, 41' c Parisien 20' c Pélissié 35' c Con: Berdeu (3/4) 21', 36', 42' Pen: Berdeu (5/6) 26', 61', 67', 73', 80' |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 3,025 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England)
* 17 December 2021 20:00
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 54–25 | Benetton |
| Try: Singleton 19' m Meehan 24' c Reid 29' c Alemanno 41' c Penalty try 50' Varney 58' c May 67' c Clement 74' c Con: Hastings (4/5) 26', 30', 42', 58' Evans (2/2) 68', 74' | Report | Try: R. Smith 35' c Negri 40' m Morisi 63' c Con: R. Smith (2/3) 37', 63' Pen: R. Smith (2/3) 9', 13' |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 9,050 Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

#### Round 3

* 15 January 2022 16:15
| Benetton | 23–9 | Dragons |
| Try: Herbst 13' m Padovani 55' c Baravalle 75' m Con: R. Smith (1/2) 56' Pen: R. Smith (2/3) 21', 70' | Report | Pen: S. Davies (3/3) 2', 24', 40' |
* Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy (France)
* 15 January 2022 21:00
| Perpignan | 6–37 | Lyon (1 BP) |
| Pen: Rodor (2/2) 11', 40' | Report | Try: R. Taofifénua 22' c Couilloud 41' c Niniashvili 50' m Laporte 74' c Charcosset 76' m Con: Sopoaga (2/3) 23', 42' Berdeu (1/2) 75' Pen: Sopoaga (1/1) 34' |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

#### Round 4

* 21 January 2022 21:00
| Lyon | 25–10 | Benetton |
| Try: Kaabèche 14' c Dumortier 30' m Mignot 74' c Con: Berdeu (1/2) 15' Sopoaga (1/1) 75' Pen: Berdeu (1/1) 25' Sopoaga (1/2) 73' | Report | Try: Brex 17' c Con: Marin (1/1) 27' Pen: Marin (1/1) 37' |
* Matmut Stadium de Gerland Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
* 22 January 2022 17:30
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 68–19 | Perpignan |
| Try: Ludlow 6' c Moyle 10' c Reid (2) 20' m, 48' m Socino 28' c Atkinson 35' c Varney 54' c Singleton 70' c Harris 74' c Rees-Zammit 78' c Con: Hastings (4/6) 7', 11', 29', 36' Evans (4/4) 54', 70', 74', 79' | Report | Try: Lam 14' c Seguela (2) 23' m, 51' c Con: Rodor (2/3) 15', 52' |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 14,000 Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)

#### Round 5

* 9 April 2022 16:15
| Benetton | 17–7 | Perpignan |
| Try: Albornoz 51' c Els 60' c Con: Albornoz (2/2) 52', 60' Pen: Da Re (1/1) 5' | Report | Try: Sawailau 38' c Con: Rodor (1/1) 40' |
* Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 800 Referee: Adam Leal (England)
* 9 April 2022 20:00
| Dragons | 21–26 | Gloucester |
| Try: Basham 18' c Rosser 26' c Keddie 40+2' c Con: S. Davies (3/3) 19', 27', 40+3' | Report | Try: Socino (3) 13' c, 62' c, 67' c Rees-Zammit 36' m Con: Barton (1/2) 14' Twelvetrees (2/2) 63', 68' |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,737 Referee: Tual Trainini (France)

### Pool C

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Edinburgh | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 161 | 47 | +114 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 2 | London Irish | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 78 | 82 | −4 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | Saracens | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 118 | 78 | +40 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 4 | Brive | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 41 | 146 | −105 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Pau | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 75 | 120 | −45 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 5 |

#### Round 1

* 11 December 2021 15:15
| (1 BP) Saracens | 18–21 | Edinburgh |
| Try: Goode 14' m Christie 27' c Con: Man. Vunipola (1/2) 28' Pen: Man. Vunipola (2/2) 42', 58' | Report | Try: Moyano 23' c Nel 67' c Con: Boffelli (1/2) 24' Pen: Boffelli (3/4) 4', 18', 52' |
* StoneX Stadium Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
* 11 December 2021 21:00
| Pau | 17–33 | London Irish (1 BP) |
| Try: Levron 58' c Joseph 78' c Con: Levron (2/2) 59', 79' Pen: Levron (1/1) 14' | Report | Try: Penalty try 12' Creevy (2) 20' c, 47' c Cracknell (2) 75' m, 80'+1 c Con: Jennings (2/2) 22', 48' Jackson (1/2) 80'+3 |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 4,067 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

#### Round 2

* 18 December 2021 21:00
| Pau | Cancelled 28–0 | Saracens |
* Stade du Hameau Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
* Pau awarded the 5 match points and a 28–0 victory following COVID cases within the Saracens team.
* 19 December 2021 15:15
| London Irish | Cancelled 0–0 | Brive |
* Brentford Community Stadium Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
* Initially postponed (with the intent to reschedule) due to travel restrictions between UK and France, but later cancelled with a 0–0 draw verdict and 2 match points to each team.

#### Round 3

* 14 January 2022 21:00
| Brive | 33–25 | Pau |
| Try: Japaridze 21' c Jurand 37' c Penalty try 55' Con: Laranjeira (2/2) 22', 39' Pen: Laranjeira (4/4) 11', 28', 35', 51' | Report | Try: Le Bail 57' c Puech 45' m Vatubua 77' c Con: Le Bail (1/2) 58' Debaes (1/1) 78' Pen: Le Bail (2/3) 17', 30' |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Adrien Descottes (France)
* 15 January 2022 15:15
| London Irish | 21–20 | Edinburgh (1 BP) |
| Try: Rowe 24' c Hoskins 44' c Cracknell 77' c Con: Jackson (3/3) 26', 45', 78' | Report | Try: McBurney 22' c Moyano 31' c Con: Boffelli (2/2) 22', 32' Pen: Van der Walt (2/2) 39', 61' |
* Brentford Community Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy

#### Round 4

* 21 January 2022 20:00
| (1 BP) Edinburgh | 66–3 | Brive |
| Try: Young 5' c Ritchie 27' c Graham 33' m Owsley (2) 37' c, 41' c Muncaster 52' c Watson 66' m Bennett 72' c Pyrgos 80+1' c Con: Boffelli (6/7) 6', 27', 30', 38', 42', 53' Savala (2/2) 73', 80+1' | Report | Pen: Laranjeira (1/1) 3' |
* Edinburgh Rugby Stadium Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England)
* 23 January 2022 15:15
| (1 BP) Saracens | 45–24 | London Irish (1 BP) |
| Try: Maitland 13' m Lewington (2) 24' c, 30' c Daly 33' m Koch 53' c Beaton 75' c Mawi 80' c Con: Man. Vunipola (5/7) 26', 32', 53', 76', 80' | Report | Try: Stokes 9' c Redmond 19' c González 44' m Arundell 77' m Con: Jennings (1/1) 10' van Rensburg (1/3) 19' |
* StoneX Stadium Attendance: 7,500 Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)

#### Round 5

* 8 April 2022 20:00
| (1 BP) Edinburgh | 54–5 | Pau |
| Try: McInally 3' c Boyle (2) 10' m, 21' c Pyrgos 32' c Nel 40' c Moyano (2) 46' c, 79' c Phillips 69' c Con: Van der Walt (6/7) 4', 22', 33', 40+1', 47', 70' Savala (1/1) 80' | Report | Try: Carol 78' m |
* Edinburgh Rugby Stadium Attendance: 6,108 Referee: Sara Cox (England)
* 8 April 2022 21:00
| Brive | 5–55 | Saracens (1 BP) |
| Try: Tuicuvu 14' m | Report | Try: Christie 10' m Mawi 22' c Isiekwe 35' c Van Zyl 41' c Earl 58' c Segun 62' m George 70' c Harris 75' c Con: Farrell (6/8) 23', 36', 42', 59', 71', 76' Pen: Farrell (1/1) 6' |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)