Warriors are ready to pit their wits against top European sides - The Worcester Observer

Warriors are ready to pit their wits against top European sides

Worcester Editorial 6th Jun, 2018   0

WARRIORS will be among 19 clubs with as many as 12 European titles between them in a highly-competitive 2018/19 Challenge Cup tournament.

Former winners such as Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Stade Français Paris and Pau will feature when the pool draws for next season’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup are made on June 20 in Lausanne as the first steps on the road to the 2019 Newcastle finals are mapped out.

Some clubs approach the Challenge Cup as a possible route to qualification for the Champions Cup – widely recognised as the one to win in club rugby – while others take the chance to rub shoulders with the heavyweights and to showcase their progression.

Russia’s Enisei-STM have booked a place once again after retaining their Continental Shield title. However Heidelberger RK, who were losing Continental Shield finalists in Bilbao, are ineligible to compete in next season’s Challenge Cup.




Tournament chiefs have ruled Dr Hans-Peter Wild, the majority shareholder of Stade Français Paris and the primary financial backer of Heidelberger RK, would be in a position to influence or to control the management or performance of two clubs in the same competition and have therefore kicked the German side out of the competition.

The Challenge Cup has enjoyed a recent surge in engagement with the past three seasons returning the highest average attendances in the tournament’s history.


Two clubs who were already qualified for the Champions Cup played out a thrilling final at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium with Cardiff Blues edging out Gloucester Rugby 31-30 in front of 32,543 spectators, the second-highest attendance for a Challenge Cup decider.

CHALLENGE CUP PARTICIPANTS 2018/19

Gallagher Premiership Rugby: Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, Harlequins, Worcester Warriors, Bristol Bears

Guinness PRO14: Benetton Rugby, Ospreys, Connacht Rugby, Zebre Rugby Club, Dragons

Top 14: La Rochelle, Pau, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Bordeaux-Bègles, Agen, Stade Français Paris, Perpignan, Grenoble

Continental Shield: Enisei-STM, TBC

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Worcester Observer.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.