As EPCR confirms the dates, venues, kick-off times and broadcast details for the Round of 16, the stage is set for an explosive run to the Bilbao Finals at San Mamés Stadium on Friday 22 May.
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.
Friday 3 April
The knockout action gets underway at Dexcom Stadium as Connacht Rugby host Hollywoodbets 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.
Saturday 4 April
Saturday opens with a blockbuster as Exeter Chiefs welcome Munster Rugby 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 entered following a fifth-place finish in the Investec Champions Cup.
An all-French showdown follows as top seeds Montpellier Hérault Rugby face USAP at Stade Septien. 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 Rugby host two-time winners Cardiff Rugby 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 Rugby take on Welsh rivals Ospreys at Affidea Stadium. Ulster topped their pool to qualify as the third seed, while Ospreys qualified 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 stand-out matches of the round sees Stade Rochelais, 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 5 April
Sunday’s action begins as 2017 winners Stade Français Paris host Dragons RFC 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 Section Paloise to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. Zebre Parma impressed in the pool stages with three wins, while Section Paloise drop in from the Investec Champions Cup. Their last meeting came in 2024, when Pau edged a one-point victory.
Broadcast coverage
Fans will be able to watch the action on Premier Sports in the UK and Ireland, beIN SPORTS in France, SuperSport in South Africa and FloRugby in the USA and Canada. Additional free-to-air coverage will be available on S4C in Wales, and all matches will be available on EPCR’s OTT platform EPCRugby.TV.
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Round of 16
(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)
Friday 3 April
Match 8: Connacht Rugby (8) v Hollywoodbets Sharks (9), Dexcom Stadium (20.00)
Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / Supersports / FloRugby /EPCR TV
Saturday 4 April
Match 7: Exeter Chiefs (7) v Munster Rugby (10), Sandy Park Stadium (12.30)
Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby /EPCR TV
Match 1: Montpellier Hérault Rugby (1) v USAP (16), Septeo Stadium (13.30)
France TV / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCR TV
Match 2: Benetton Rugby (2) v Cardiff Rugby (15), Stadio Comunale di Monigo (18.30)
EPCR TV / S4C / beIN Sports / FloRugby
Match 3: Ulster Rugby (3) v Ospreys (14), Affidea Stadium (20.00)
Premier Sports / S4C / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby /EPCR TV
Match 6: Newcastle Red Bulls (6) v Stade Rochelais (11), Kingston Park (20.00)
EPCR TV / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby
Sunday 5 April
Match 4: Stade Français Paris (4) v Dragons RFC (13), Stade Jean Bouin (13.30)
beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCRugby.TV
Match 5: Zebre Parma (5) v Section Paloise (12), Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (18.30)
EPCR TV / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby (21:00)
Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April
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
Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May
SF 1: Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
SF 2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3