European rugby cups: how the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup work

Every year Europe’s best clubs go head to head in two competitions that can define a whole season: the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. This is where European club rugby finds its continental dimension — and our Italian sides are in it too.

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup: the difference

They’re run by EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby). The Champions Cup is the top competition, for the elite clubs; the Challenge Cup is the second tier, still at a high level. In short: the Champions Cup is rugby’s Champions League, the Challenge Cup its Europa League.

Who takes part

The clubs come from three leagues: the United Rugby Championship (URC), France’s Top 14 and England’s Gallagher Premiership. You qualify on merit, based on your finishing position in your domestic league.

How it works

It starts with a pool stage (groups of six, with clubs from different leagues), then moves into the knockout rounds up to the final. Teams knocked out of the Champions Cup can «drop down» and keep going in the Challenge Cup.

What about the Italian sides?

Benetton and Zebre, our two franchises, take part regularly in the European cups: for them it’s the ultimate test, the challenge against the elite of club rugby.

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