2005–06 European Challenge Cup

2005–06 European Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Italy
 Romania
 Scotland
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and Knockout
Date22 October 2005 – 21 May 2006
Tournament statistics
Top point scorer(s)Shane Drahm (Worcester)
(101 points)
Top try scorer(s)James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
(9 tries)
Final
ChampionsEngland Gloucester (1st title)
Runners-upEngland London Irish
← 2004–05 (Previous)
(Next) 2006–07 →

The 2005–06 European Challenge Cup was the tenth year of the European Challenge Cup, the second tier rugby union cup competition below the Heineken Cup. The tournament was held between October 2005 and May 2006.

Group stage

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Pool 1

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
England Northampton Saints 6 5 0 1 32 12 20 194 96 98 5 0 25
France Narbonne 6 4 0 2 16 11 5 125 113 12 2 0 18
England Bristol 6 3 0 3 26 21 5 203 150 53 3 1 16
Italy Viadana 6 0 0 6 9 39 −30 81 244 −163 0 1 1

Pool 2

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
England London Irish 6 6 0 0 32 11 21 239 81 158 3 0 27
France Agen 6 3 0 3 23 15 8 163 143 20 3 0 14
France Pau 6 2 0 4 12 19 −7 107 153 −46 2 1 11
Italy Overmach Parma 6 1 0 5 8 30 −22 74 206 −132 0 0 4

Pool 3

[edit]
Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
England Gloucester 6 6 0 0 49 6 43 331 53 278 5 0 29
France Bayonne 6 4 0 2 31 11 20 202 93 109 4 0 20
Romania București 6 1 0 5 7 40 −33 71 253 −182 0 1 5
France Toulon 6 1 0 5 9 39 −30 64 269 −205 0 1 5

Pool 4

[edit]
Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
England Newcastle Falcons 6 6 0 0 44 10 34 324 81 243 4 0 28
France Brive 6 3 0 3 30 19 11 203 169 34 4 2 18
Scotland Borders 6 3 0 3 19 23 −4 155 177 −22 2 1 15
Italy L'Aquila 6 0 0 6 14 55 −41 103 358 −255 0 1 1

Pool 5

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
England Worcester Warriors 6 5 0 1 24 12 12 181 103 78 3 1 25
Ireland Connacht 6 4 0 2 25 14 11 190 119 71 3 1 20
Italy Catania 6 2 0 4 15 41 −26 116 257 −141 1 1 8
France Montpellier 6 1 0 5 26 23 3 170 178 −8 2 2 7

Seeding and runners-up

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Seed Pool Winners Pts TF +/-
1 England Gloucester 29 49 +278
2 England Newcastle Falcons 28 44 +243
3 England London Irish 27 32 +158
4 England Northampton Saints 25 32 +98
5 England Worcester Warriors 25 24 +78
Seed Pool Runners-up Pts TF +/-
6 France Bayonne 20 31 +109
7 Ireland Connacht 20 25 +71
8 France Brive 18 30 +34
France Narbonne 18 16 +12
France Agen 14 16 +20

Knockout stage

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Quarter-finals

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31 March 2006
19:30
Newcastle Falcons England23–3Ireland Connacht
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,486
1 April 2006
15:00
Gloucester England46–13France Brive
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,898
1 April 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints England25–34England Worcester Warriors
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 9,531
2 April 2006
15:00
London Irish England48–5France Bayonne
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,100

Semi-finals

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22 April 2006
12:35
Gloucester England31–23England Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,609
23 April 2006
12:35
Newcastle Falcons England22–27England London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,243

Final

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21 May 2006
12:15
Gloucester England36–34England London Irish
The Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,053

See also

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