The 1996–97 European Challenge Cup pool stage was the opening stage of the first season of the European Challenge Cup, the second-tier competition for European rugby union clubs. Matches took place between 12 October and 2 November 1996.
Twenty-four teams participated in this phase of the competition; they were divided into four pools of six teams each, with each team playing the other teams in their pool once only. Teams were awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw. The winner and runner-up of each pool progressed to the knockout stage of the tournament. These teams then competed in a single-elimination tournament that ended with the final at the Stade de la Méditerranée in Béziers, France on 26 January 1997.
Results
Pool 1 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Agen5500209+1115682+7410 Montferrand5401308+2221174+1378 Sale Sharks53021814+4166115+516 Newport52031419−1598158−604 Glasgow51041530−15113202−892 Newbridge50051633−17106219−1130 Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown:*2 points for a win*1 point for a draw
Pool 2 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Castres Olympique5500296+2320771+13610 Narbonne5401216+1516190+718 Dinamo-București52121232−20109213−1045 Bridgend41121014−494120−263 Bristol51041112−112899+292 Treorchy40041023−1372178−1060 Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown:*2 points for a win*1 point for a draw
The Treorchy v Bridgend match was not played.
Pool 3 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Northampton Saints55002812+1620788+11910 Toulon54012210+12164102+628 Orrell52031822−4122173−514 Connacht5203917−894131−374 Dunvant51041522−7106169−632 Petrarca51041019−9118148−302 Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown:*2 points for a win*1 point for a draw
Pool 4 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Bourgoin5500274+2319666+13010 Bordeaux-Bègles53112913+1619599+967 Swansea53112819+9207138+697 Gloucester520317170119123−44 Ebbw Vale5104636−3048243−1952 London Irish50051230−1890186−960 Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown:*2 points for a win*1 point for a draw
Qualifiers SeedPool WinnersPtsTF+/−1 Castres Olympique1029+1362 Northampton Saints1028+1193 Bourgoin1027+1304 Agen1020+74SeedRunners-upPtsTF+/−5 Montferrand830+1376 Toulon822+627 Narbonne821+718 Bordeaux-Bègles729+96
See also European Challenge Cup 1996–97 Heineken Cup
References