2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup
The 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup is the fifth edition of the European Rugby Challenge Cup, an annual second-tier rugby union competition for professional clubs. Including the predecessor competition, the original European Challenge Cup, this is the 23rd edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition. Clubs from five of the nations that participate in the Six Nations Championship (Scotland being the only exception), along with club-sides from Romania and Russia, are competing.
| 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Countries | England France Ireland Italy Romania Russia Wales |
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and Knockout |
| Date | 12 October 2018 – 10 May 2019 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Teams | 20 |
| Matches played | 66 |
| Attendance | 510,167 (7,730 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 28,438 Clermont v La Rochelle (Final) 10 May 2019 |
| Lowest attendance | 100 Enisei-STM v Bristol Bears 12 January 2019 |
| Tries scored | 474 (7.18 per match) |
| Top point scorer(s) | Ihaia West (La Rochelle) (64 points) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Peter Betham (Clermont) (10 tries) |
| Final | |
| Venue | St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Champions | Clermont (3rd title) |
| Runners-up | La Rochelle |
The first round of the group stage began on 12 October 2018, and the competition will end with the final on 10 May 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. This will be the second time the final will be held in England in the era of the current Challenge Cup, and the 12th including finals of the original Challenge Cup.