EPCR Challenge Cup – Round 3 review

Stade Français Paris faced Exeter Chiefs in Round 3 of the EPCR Challenge Cup. Both qualified for the knockouts.

Round 3 of the EPCR Challenge Cup delivered the first confirmed knockout qualifiers, and all eyes now turn to next weekend’s final pool matches, where qualification and home advantage hang in the balance on the road to the Bilbao Final in May.

Please find below a comprehensive review including results, updated pools, key data and top performers.

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Round 3 – Top Performers

Points: 29, Jacob Umaga, Benetton Rugby

Carries: 23, Keiran Williams, Ospreys

Metres: 225, Onisi Ratave, Benetton Rugby

Defenders beaten: 12, Onisi Ratave, Benetton Rugby

Line-outs won: 11, Zebre Parma, Leonardo Krumov

Tackles: 29, Harry Beddall, Dragons RFC

Round 3 – Key Stats

• Benetton Rugby quartet Paolo Odogwu, Jacob Umaga, Louis Lynagh, and Leonardo Marin each scored a brace at the weekend.

• Morgan Morse (Ospreys) scored a try, made 17 carries, beat nine defenders and won a turnover at the weekend.

• Onisi Ratave (Benetton Rugby) beat more defenders (12), made more clean breaks (eight), more dominant collisions (13), and more post-contact metres (40) than any other player in Round 3.

• Lasha Tsikhistavi (Black Lion) won a round-high four turnovers at the weekend.

• Juan Martin Scelzo (Stade Français Paris) made the most dominant tackles in Round 3 (three).

• Stade Français Paris stunned Exeter Chiefs with a jaw-dropping comeback, overturning a 22-point deficit to stay unbeaten at home, securing their place in the knockouts in the process, with a losing bonus point for the Chiefs enough to see them through.

Newcastle Red Bulls also qualified, making it three wins from three in Pool 2 after a four-try victory over USAP.

Black Lion kept their knockout dreams alive in Pool 1, edging US Montauban 28-31. Meanwhile in Pool 2, the Lions outgunned last season’s finalists Lyon Olympique Universitaire in an 11-try thriller, with qualification still wide open for both clubs.

Cardiff Rugby overturned Racing 92 with 25 unanswered points in South Wales to secure their place in the knockouts from Pool 3, while in Pool 2 Benetton Rugby were ruthless, running in 11 tries against Dragons RFC to seal their knockout place in emphatic style.

In Pool 1, Montpellier Hérault Rugby and the Ospreys both secured their places in the Round of 16 on Sunday. Trailing 24-14 at half-time, Montpellier mounted a tense comeback and took the lead with just five minutes remaining, holding on for a dramatic 33-31 victory. Meanwhile in Italy, Zebre Parma withstood a late surge from the Ospreys, whose losing bonus point was enough to see them progress to the next round.

In Amsterdam, as a result of poor weather conditions, the Toyota Cheetahs v Ulster Rugby fixture was cancelled following a pitch inspection by match-day referee Kevin Bralley, who deemed the surface unplayable. Upon review of all the information available, the match result was subsequently recorded as a 28-0 win to Ulster Rugby, and five points were awarded including a four-try bonus point, securing their place in the knockouts.