The last game of the Challenge Cup group stage saw Pau lose to the Cheetahs. We now know the table of the round of 16, for which six French clubs are qualified.
The group stage of the Challenge Cup 2022-23 is over! It ended this Sunday at the end of the afternoon with the victory of the South Africans of the Cheetahs against the Pau Section, with the score of 9-6. No try was scored during this game, and it was Siya Masuka on the Cheetahs side and Thibault Debaes on the Pau side who scored all the points for their team on foot. Pau found himself 15 against 14 for ten minutes following Rudolph’s yellow card but did not take the opportunity to score a try. The Palois therefore finish penultimate and say goodbye to Europe for this season.
Toulon at home until the semi-finals
Following this result, we therefore know the table for the final phase of the competition, with no less than six French clubs present in the round of 16. A Top 14 club is already guaranteed to play in the quarters, since the Stade Français will be opposed to the defending champion, Lyon, in the eighth. Toulon will also have the advantage of hosting during the weekend of April 1, while Brive, Clermont and Racing will have to travel. The Racingmen, donated from the Champions Cup, like Lyon, Clermont and Sale, will even be entitled to a trip to South Africa, to the Johannesburg Lions. The RCT, finalist last year and best team in the group stage with 19 points gleaned, is the only team guaranteed to play at home until the semi-finals. If he passes all the rounds, of course.
Round of 16
Weekend du 1er avril
Match 1 : Toulon (FRA) – Cheetahs (AFS)
Match 2 : French Stadium (FRA) – Lyon (FRA)
Match 3 : Treviso (ITA) – Connacht (IRL)
Match 4 : Cardiff (PdG) – Sale (ENG)
Match 5 : Scarlets (PdG) – Letters (FRA)
Match 6 : Bristol (ENG) – Clermont (FRA)
Match 7 : Glasgow (ECO) – Dragons (PdG)
Match 8 : Lions (AFS) – Racing 92 (FRA)
QUARTER-FINALS
April 8 weekend
Match 9 : Winner Game 1 – Winner Match 2
Match 10 : Winner Match 3 – Winner Match 4
Match 11 : Winner Match 5 – Winner Match 6
Match 12 : Winner Match 7 – Winner Match 8
SEMI-FINALS
April 29 weekend
Winner Match 9 – Winner Match 10
Winner Match 11 – Winner Match 12
FINALE
May 19 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin
