EPCR Challenge Cup: Round-of-16 kick-off times, dates and how to watch details revealed
Exeter Chiefs will host Munster while Newcastle Red Bulls face La Rochelle.
EPCR has confirmed the dates, venues, kick-off times and broadcast details for the Challenge Cup Round of 16 as teams battle it out for a spot in the final in Bilbao.
The route for the sides has now been mapped out and the stage is set for a thrilling run to the Bilbao Finals, which take place at San Mamés Stadium on Friday, May 22.
Featuring five French, three Irish, three Welsh, two English, two Italian and one South African club, the Round of 16 is set to deliver a compelling mix of first-time encounters, classic rivalries and heavyweight contenders chasing the silverware.
The knockout action gets underway at Dexcom Stadium as Connacht host the Sharks in a first-ever EPCR Challenge Cup meeting. 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup winners, the Sharks arrive having dropped down after finishing fifth in their Investec Champions Cup pool. Connacht, appearing in the knockout stages for the 14th time, are still in pursuit of a first title after a quarter-final exit last season.
Sandy Park showdown
Saturday opens with a blockbuster as Exeter Chiefs welcome Munster to Sandy Park. While this is their first EPCR Challenge Cup meeting, the sides have faced each other five times in the Investec Champions Cup, most recently in 2023/24 when Exeter claimed victory. Exeter secured home advantage with two pool wins and a draw in the pool stages, while Munster enter following a fifth-place finish in the Investec Champions Cup.
An all-French showdown follows as top seeds Montpellier face Perpignan at Septeo Stadium. Montpellier, two-time EPCR Challenge Cup winners, were flawless in the pool stage, collecting maximum points. The teams have not previously met in the competition, though Montpellier dominated their most recent domestic encounter. Both sides were knocked out in last season’s Round of 16.
In Italy, Benetton host two-time winners Cardiff at Stadio Comunale di Monigo in a repeat of the 2023 quarter-final, which Benetton won. The Italians topped their pool with four wins from four, while Cardiff booked their place with two home victories.
Next, Ulster take on Welsh rivals Ospreys at Affidea Stadium. Ulster topped their pool to qualify as the third seed, while Ospreys qualify in 14th. Ospreys have made it to the quarter finals in the last two seasons, while Ulster were last in the knockouts in 2024. Despite frequent domestic clashes, this marks their first EPCR Challenge Cup meeting.
One of the standout matches of the round sees La Rochelle, two-time Investec Champions Cup winners, make the trip to Newcastle Red Bulls at Kingston Park. Relegated after a Round 4 defeat in the Investec Champions Cup, the French heavyweights face a Newcastle side seeded sixth after winning three of four pool matches. The clubs meet for the first time.
Sunday’s action begins as 2017 winners Stade Français host Dragons at Stade Jean Bouin. It will be the first knockout match in the competition for both clubs since the 2022/23 season when both were knocked out in the Round of 16.
The Round of 16 concludes in Italy with Zebre Parma welcoming Pau to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. Zebre Parma impressed in the pool stages with three wins, while Pau drop in from the Investec Champions Cup. Their last meeting came in 2024, when Pau edged a one-point victory.
EPCR Challenge Cup Round-of-16
Match 8: Connacht (8) v Sharks (9)
Date: Friday, April 3
Venue: Dexcom Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)
TV coverage: Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / Supersports / FloRugby / EPCR TV
Match 7: Exeter Chiefs (7) v Munster (10)
Date: Saturday, April 4
Venue: Sandy Park
Kick-off: 12:30 BST (11:30 GMT)
TV coverage: Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCR TV
Match 1: Montpellier (1) v Perpignan (16)
Date: Saturday, April 4
Venue: Septeo Stadium
Kick-off: 13:30 local (12:30 BST, 11:30 GMT)
TV coverage: France TV / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCR TV
Match 2: Benetton (2) v Cardiff (15)
Date: Saturday, April 4
Venue: Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Kick-off: 18:30 local (17:30 BST, 16:30 GMT)
TV coverage: EPCR TV / S4C / beIN Sports / FloRugby
Match 3: Ulster (3) v Ospreys (14)
Date: Saturday, April 4
Venue: Affidea Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)
TV coverage: Premier Sports / S4C / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCR TV
Match 6: Newcastle Red Bulls (6) v La Rochelle (11)
Date: Saturday, April 4
Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)
TV coverage: EPCR TV / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby
Match 4: Stade Français (4) v Dragons (13)
Date: Sunday, April 5
Venue: Stade Jean Bouin
Kick-off: 13:30 local (12:30 BST, 11:30 GMT)
TV coverage: beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCRugby.TV
Match 5: Zebre Parma (5) v Pau (12)
Date: Sunday, April 5
Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Kick-off: 18:30 local (17:30 BST, 16:30 GMT)
TV coverage: EPCR TV / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby
Quarter-finals – April 10/11/12
QF 1: Winner R16 1 v Winner R16 8
QF 2: Winner R16 2 v Winner R16 7
QF 3: Winner R16 3 v Winner R16 6
QF 4: Winner R16 4 v Winner R16 5
NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
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Semi-finals – May 1/2/3
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
SF 2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3
NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
2026 EPCR Challenge Cup Final
Date: Friday, May 22
Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST)
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