# 2006–07 European Challenge Cup pool stage

The 2006–07 European Challenge Cup pool stage was the opening stage of the 11th season of the European Challenge Cup, the second-tier competition for European rugby union clubs. It began with five matches on 20 October 2006 and ended with the final seven pool games on 20 January 2007.
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 19 May 2007.

## 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 |
| Newport Gwent Dragons (4) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 10 | 19 | 211 | 79 | 132 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| Bristol (6) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 6 | 20 | 168 | 69 | 99 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| București | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 35 | −20 | 124 | 230 | −106 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Bayonne | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 33 | −19 | 106 | 231 | −125 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
* 20 October 2006 19:30
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 50–3 | Bayonne |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,112 Referee: Rob Debney
* 21 October 2006 15:00
| București | 3–27 | Bristol Rugby |
* Steaua Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
* 27 October 2006 19:45
| Bristol Rugby | 11–7 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
* Memorial Ground Attendance: 8,113 Referee: Eric Darriere
* 28 October 2006 14:00
| București | 32–27 | Bayonne |
* Steaua Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Stefano Mancini
* 8 December 2006 19:30
| Bayonne | 17–38 | Bristol Rugby |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Malcolm Changleng
* 8 December 2006 19:30
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 66–10 | București |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,325 Referee: Giulio de Santis
* 15 December 2006 19:45
| Bristol Rugby | 48–6 | Bayonne |
* Memorial Ground Attendance: 5,400 Referee: Tim Hayes
* 16 December 2006 13:00
| București | 29–39 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
* Steaua Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Carlo Damasco
* 12 January 2007 19:30
| Bayonne | 38–31 | București |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 3,600 Referee: Paulo Ventura
* 12 January 2007 19:30
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 17–11 | Bristol Rugby |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 6,834 Referee: Romain Poite
* 19 January 2007 19:30
| Bristol Rugby | 33–19 | București |
* Memorial Ground Attendance: 5,621 Referee: Jerome Garces
* 19 January 2007 20:30
| Bayonne | 15–32 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
* Stade Jean Dauger Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Stefano Mancini

### Pool 2

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Saracens (2) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 9 | 26 | 225 | 101 | 124 | 5 | 0 | 26 |
| Glasgow Warriors (7) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 10 | 15 | 204 | 72 | 132 | 3 | 1 | 22 |
| Narbonne | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 20 | −4 | 127 | 171 | −44 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Parma | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 43 | −37 | 84 | 296 | −212 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* 21 October 2006 14:30
| GRAN Parma | 16–19 | Narbonne |
* Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 300 Referee: Andrew Macpherson
* 22 October 2006 15:00
| Saracens | 28–23 | Glasgow Warriors |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,266 Referee: Tim Hayes
* 27 October 2006 19:30
| Glasgow Warriors | 69–7 | GRAN Parma |
* Hughenden Attendance: 1,707 Referee: Rob Debney
* 28 October 2006 19:30
| Narbonne | 20–37 | Saracens |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 2,500 Referee: George Clancy
* 8 December 2006 19:30
| Glasgow Warriors | 51–7 | Narbonne |
* Hughenden Attendance: 1,431 Referee: Carlo Damasco
* 10 December 2006 15:00
| Saracens | 71–16 | GRAN Parma |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 3,379 Referee: David Rosich
* 16 December 2006 14:30
| GRAN Parma | 16–36 | Saracens |
* Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 800 Referee: Jerome Garces
* 16 December 2006 19:30
| Narbonne | 7–8 | Glasgow Warriors |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
* 13 January 2007 14:30
| GRAN Parma | 17–47 | Glasgow Warriors |
* Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 700 Referee: Dean Richards
* 14 January 2007 15:00
| Saracens | 47–20 | Narbonne |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,782 Referee: Carlo Damasco
* 19 January 2007 19:30
| Glasgow Warriors | 6–6 | Saracens |
* Hughenden Attendance: 2,570 Referee: David Rosich
* 20 January 2007 19:30
| Narbonne | 54–12 | GRAN Parma |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Andrew Small

### Pool 3

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Brive (5) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 11 | 21 | 225 | 79 | 146 | 3 | 1 | 24 |
| Newcastle Falcons (8) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 11 | 18 | 181 | 85 | 96 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| Montauban | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 107 | 98 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Petrarca Padova | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 45 | −39 | 47 | 298 | −251 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* 20 October 2006 19:00
| Montauban | 13–26 | Brive |
* Stade de Sapiac Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Andrew Small
* 20 October 2006 20:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 50–5 | Petrarca Padova |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,233 Referee: James Jones
* 28 October 2006 15:00
| Brive | 41–12 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Stadium Municipal, Brive Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Hugh Watkins
* 28 October 2006 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 5–53 | Montauban |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Dean Richards
* 8 December 2006 19:00
| Montauban | 16–10 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Stade de Sapiac Attendance: 4,000 Referee: George Clancy
* 9 December 2006 15:00
| Brive | 78–18 | Petrarca Padova |
* Stadium Municipal, Brive Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Rob Debney
* 16 December 2006 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 6–48 | Brive |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 500 Referee: Peter Allan
* 17 December 2006 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 35–0 | Montauban |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,895 Referee: Malcolm Changleng
* 12 January 2007 19:00
| Montauban | 19–7 | Petrarca Padova |
* Stade de Sapiac Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Rob Debney
* 12 January 2007 20:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 24–17 | Brive |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,388 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
* 20 January 2007 15:00
| Brive | 15–6 | Montauban |
* Stadium Municipal, Brive Attendance: 6,500 Referee: Dean Richards
* 20 January 2008 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 6–50 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 1,700 Referee: Neil Paterson

### Pool 4

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Bath Rugby (3) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 164 | 106 | 58 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| NEC Harlequins | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 171 | 109 | 62 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| Connacht Rugby | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 16 | −1 | 119 | 150 | −31 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Montpellier | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 29 | −16 | 116 | 205 | −89 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
* 20 October 2006 19:00
| Connacht Rugby | 18–19 | NEC Harlequins |
* Sportsground Attendance: 2,561 Referee: Romain Poite
* 20 October 2006 19:30
| Montpellier | 14–21 | Bath Rugby |
* Stade Sabathe Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Peter Allan
* 28 October 2006 14:15
| Bath Rugby | 21–19 | Connacht Rugby |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,308 Referee: David Rosich
* 28 October 2006 20:45
| NEC Harlequins | 57–10 | Montpellier |
* The Stoop Attendance: 9,020 Referee: Carlo Damasco
* 8 December 2006 18:30
| Connacht Rugby | 26–13 | Montpellier |
* Sportsground Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Sean Davey
* 9 December 2006 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 18–24 | Bath Rugby |
* The Stoop Attendance: 10,522 Referee: Eric Darriere
* 15 December 2006 19:30
| Montpellier | 35–22 | Connacht Rugby |
* Stade Sabathe Attendance: 1,800 Referee: Rob Debney
* 16 December 2006 14:15
| Bath Rugby | 20–14 | NEC Harlequins |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Andrew Macpherson
* 12 January 2007 19:0
| Connacht Rugby | 24–36 | Bath Rugby |
* Sportsground Attendance: 2,244 Referee: Tim Hayes
* 12 January 2007 19:30
| Montpellier | 27–37 | NEC Harlequins |
* Stade Sabathe Attendance: 4,200 Referee: James Jones
* 20 January 2007 14:15
| Bath Rugby | 42–17 | Montpellier |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,265 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
* 20 January 2007 14:15
| NEC Harlequins | 26–10 | Connacht Rugby |
* The Stoop Attendance: 9,053 Referee: David Changleng

### Pool 5

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| Clermont (1) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 13 | 14 | 210 | 107 | 103 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| Worcester Warriors | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 141 | 99 | 42 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| Rugby Viadana | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 20 | −8 | 114 | 145 | −31 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Albi | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 22 | −15 | 66 | 180 | −114 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* 21 October 2006 15:00
| Worcester Warriors | 25–7 | Rugby Viadana |
* Sixways Stadium Attendance: 5,526 Referee: David Rosich
* 21 October 2006 18:30
| Albi | 21–30 | Clermont |
* La Maison des Sports Attendance: 3,734 Referee: Carlo Damasco
* 27 October 2006 20:00
| Rugby Viadana | 26–13 | Albi |
* Stadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Andrew Macpherson
* 28 October 2006 15:00
| Clermont | 29–23 | Worcester Warriors |
* Stade Marcel Michelin Attendance: 8,000 Referee: James Jones
* 9 December 2006 15:00
| Worcester Warriors | 29–0 | Albi |
* Sixways Stadium Attendance: 4,917 Referee: Stefano Mancini
* 10 December 2006 15:00
| Viadana | 9–14 | Clermont |
* Stadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance: 1,100 Referee: Dean Richards
* 16 December 2006 15:00
| Clermont | 57–29 | Rugby Viadana |
* Stade Marcel Michelin Attendance: 8,210 Referee: Andrew Small
* 16 December 2006 18:30
| Albi | 12–23 | Worcester Warriors |
* La Maison des Sports Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Simon McDowell
* 13 January 2007 15:00
| Worcester Warriors | 22–35 | Clermont |
* Sixways Stadium Attendance: 5,848 Referee: Andrew Macpherson
* 13 January 2007 18:30
| Albi | 17–27 | Rugby Viadana |
* La Maison des Sports Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Andrew Small
* 20 January 2007 15:00
| Clermont | 45–3 | Albi |
* Stade Marcel Michelin Attendance: 8,000 Referee: David Keane
* 20 January 2007 15:00
| Rugby Viadana | 16–19 | Worcester Warriors |
* Stadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Pascal Gauzere

## Seeding and runners-up

| Seed | Pool Winners | Pts | TF | +/- |
| 1 | Clermont | 28 | 27 | +103 |
| 2 | Saracens | 26 | 35 | +124 |
| 3 | Bath | 26 | 21 | +58 |
| 4 | Newport Gwent Dragons | 25 | 29 | +132 |
| 5 | Brive | 24 | 32 | +146 |
| Seed | Pool Runners-up | Pts | TF | +/- |
| 6 | Bristol | 25 | 29 | +132 |
| 7 | Glasgow Warriors | 22 | 25 | +132 |
| 8 | Newcastle Falcons | 21 | 29 | +96 |
| – | Harlequins | 21 | 18 | +62 |
| – | Worcester Warriors | 20 | 22 | +42 |