The first legs in the EPCR play-offs will get under way on Saturday when Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo take on Georgian newcomers, Tbilisi Caucasians, at Stadio Mario Battaglini, and Bucharest Wolves host Cammi Rugby Calvisano at Stadium Arcul de Triumf, with the decisive second legs scheduled for Saturday, 27 September.
The winners will be decided by aggregate scores over the two legs with either Rovigo or Tbilisi booking a place in Pool 1 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup alongside Cardiff Blues, London Irish and Grenoble, while the qualifier from the Calvisano v Bucharest Wolves ties will join Stade Francais Paris, Newport Gwent Dragons and Newcastle Falcons in Pool 3.
Rovigo and Calvisano have reached the play-offs via their finishing positions in the Italian Eccellenza while Bucharest Wolves and Tbilisi Caucasians are representing Rugby Europe. Tbilisi, who will be making their debut in European competition, have been formed specially for the play-offs with squad members selected from clubs in the Georgian Premier Division.
The series reflects the changed format of European professional club rugby which has all clubs in the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup qualifying on merit for the first time.
The other 18 clubs in the 2014/15 Challenge Cup have qualified on merit from their respective domestic leagues - the Aviva Premiership, the Top 14 and the Guinness PRO12. This season, the tournament will be made up of five pools of four with the pool winners and the three highest-ranked runners-up securing spots in the quarter-finals.
European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualification Play-offs
(Local kick-off times)
Saturday, 20 September
Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo v Tbilisi Caucasians, Stadio Mario Battaglini (16.00)
Referee: Lloyd Lynton (Scotland)
Bucharest Wolves v Cammi Rugby Calvisano, Stadium Arcul de Triumf (21.00)
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Saturday, 27 September
Tbilisi Caucasians v Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo, Stadium Avchala (17.00)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Cammi Rugby Calvisano v Bucharest Wolves, Peroni Stadium (19.30)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 1: Cardiff Blues, London Irish, Grenoble, Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo or Tbilisi Caucasians
European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 3: Stade Francais Paris, Newport Gwent Dragons, Newcastle Falcons, Cammi Rugby Calvisano or Bucharest Wolves
EPCR pool stage weekends
Round 1: 16/17/18/19 October 2014
Round 2: 23/24/25/26 October 2014
Round 3: 4/5/6/7 December 2014
Round 4: 11/12/13/14 December 2014
Round 5: 15/16/17/18 January 2015
Round 6: 22/23/24/25 January 2015
Knockout stage weekends
Quarter-finals: 2/3/4/5 April 2015
Semi-finals: 17/18/19 April 2015
LONDON 2015 FINALS
European Rugby Challenge Cup – Twickenham Stoop; Friday, 1 May 2015 (19.45)
European Rugby Champions Cup – Twickenham Stadium; Saturday, 2 May 2015 (17.00)
