Saints v Toulon in Euro opener
Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:00
The two newly promoted clubs, England's Northampton Saints and France's Toulon, will kick-start the European Challenge Cup on October 9.
The Challenge Cup fixtures were released on Monday, with the opening round pitting Saint against Toulon in a Thursday game.
Saints, after one season in England's National League One, gained promotion to the Guinness Premiership this year.
Big-spending Toulon gained promotion to France's Top 14, after winning the Second Division (Pro D2).
Tana Umaga's Toulon – who have signed international back row forwards Jerry Collins (New Zealand) and Joe van Niekerk (South Africa) – and 2000 Heineken Cup winners Northampton Saints will be contesting Pool 2.
And on the Friday Montpellier, who now include former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall, who has joined Montpellier from the Ospreys, will take on Bristol.
Due to venue and potential weather restrictions in Romania - and following consultation with the clubs involved - Bucuresti Oaks will play their three home fixtures at the earliest possible dates to avoid the challenge of a Romania winter.
Pools:
POOL 1: London Irish, Connacht Rugby, Dax, Rugby Rovigo
POOL 2: Northampton Saints, Bristol Rugby, Montpellier, Toulon
POOL 3: Bourgoin, Worcester Warriors, Petrarca Rugby, Bucuresti Oaks
POOL 4: Newcastle Falcons, Brive, Overmach Rugby Parma, Cetransa El Salvador
POOL 5: Saracens, Viadana, Bayonne, Stade Montois
Fixtures:
(All kick-off times are local)
ROUND 1
Thursday, October 9
Pool 2: Toulon v Northampton Saints, 20.45
Friday, October 10
Pool 1: Dax v Connacht Rugby, 19.00
Pool 2: Montpellier v Bristol Rugby, 19.00
Pool 5: Bayonne v Viadana, 19.30
Saturday, October 11
Pool 1: London Irish v
Rugby Rovigo, 15.00
Pool 3: Petrarca Rugby v Worcester Warriors, 15.00
Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v El Salvador, 18.30
Sunday, October 12
Pool 3: Bucuresti Oaks v Bourgoin, 16.30
Pool 4: Overmach Parma v Brive, 14.30
Pool 5: Saracens v Stade Montois, 15.00
ROUND 2
Thursday, October 16
Pool 4: Brive v Newcastle Falcons, 20.45
Friday, October 17
Pool 1: Connacht Rugby v London Irish, TBC
Pool 2: Bristol Rugby v Toulon, 19.45
Pool 3: Bourgoin v Petrarca Rugby, 20.30
Pool 5: Stade Montois v Bayonne, 19.00
Saturday, October 18
Pool 1: Rugby Rovigo v Dax, 15.00
Pool 2: Northampton Saints v Montpellier, 19.45
Pool 5: Viadana v Saracens, 19.00
Sunday, October 19
Pool 3: Bucuresti Oaks v Worcester Warriors, 16.30
Pool 4: El Salvador v Overmach Parma,
12.30
ROUND 3
Thursday, December 4
Pool 2: Montpellier v Toulon, 20.45
Friday, December 5
Pool 1: Dax v London Irish, 19.00
Pool 3: Bourgoin v Worcester Warriors, 20.30
Pool 4: Brive v El Salvador, 19.30
Saturday, December 6
Pool 1: Rugby Rovigo v Connacht Rugby, 15.00
Pool 2: Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby, 15.00
Pool 4: Overmach Parma v Newcastle Falcons, 14.30
Pool 5: Stade Montois v Viadana, 15.30
Pool 5: Bayonne v Saracens, 20.45
Sunday, December 7
Pool 3: Bucuresti Oaks v Petrarca Rugby, 16.30
ROUND 4
Thursday, December 11
Pool 1: London Irish v Dax, 19.45
Friday, December 12
Pool 1: Connacht Rugby v Rugby Rovigo, 18.30
Saturday, December 13
Pool 2: Toulon v Montpellier, 20.45
Pool 3:
Petrarca Rugby v Bucuresti Oaks, 15.00
Pool 3: Worcester Warriors v Bourgoin, 15.00
Pool 5: Viadana v Stade Montois, 19.00
Sunday, December 14
Pool 2: Bristol Rugby v Northampton Saints, 15.00
Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v Overmach Parma, 15.00
Pool 4: El Salvador v Brive, 12.30
Pool 5: Saracens v Bayonne, 15.00
ROUND 5
January 16/17/18
Pool 1: Dax v Rugby Rovigo
Pool 1: London Irish v Connacht Rugby
Pool 2: Montpellier v Northampton Saints
Pool 2: Toulon v Bristol Rugby
Pool 3: Petrarca Rugby v Bourgoin
Pool 3: Worcester Warriors v Bucuresti Oaks
Pool 4: Newcastle Falcons v Brive
Pool 4: Overmach Parma v El Salvador
Pool 5: Bayonne v Stade Montois
Pool 5: Saracens v Viadana
ROUND 6
January 23/24/25
Pool 1: Rugby Rovigo v London Irish
Pool 1: Connacht Rugby v Dax
Pool
2: Northampton Saints v Toulon
Pool 2: Bristol Rugby v Montpellier
Pool 3: Bourgoin v Bucuresti Oaks
Pool 3: Worcester Warriors v Petrarca Rugby
Pool 4: Brive v Overmach Parma
Pool 4: El Salvador v Newcastle Falcons
Pool 5: Stade Montois v Saracens
Pool 5: Viadana v Bayonne
Quarterfinals - April 10/11/12
Semifinals - May 1/2/3
Final - May 22/23/24
