2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup
The 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup is the 10th edition of the EPCR Challenge Cup, an annual second-tier rugby union competition for professional clubs. Including the predecessor competition, the original European Challenge Cup, this is the 28th edition of European club rugby's second-tier competition.
| 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Countries | England France Georgia Ireland Italy Scotland South Africa Wales |
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and knockout |
| Date | 8 December 2023 – 24 May 2024 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Teams | 18 pool stage plus 4 knockout. |
| Matches played | 47 |
| Attendance | 332,850 (7,082 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 17,233 – Black Lion v Clermont 20 January 2023 |
| Lowest attendance | 1,600 – Zebre Parma v Cheetahs 9 December 2023 |
| Tries scored | 275 (5.85 per match) |
| Top point scorer(s) | Ruan Pienaar (Cheetahs) 54 points |
| Top try scorer(s) | Onisi Ratave (Benetton) 6 tries |
| Final | |
| Venue | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London |
The tournament commenced in December 2023, and will conclude with the final on 24 May 2024 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England.
This is the second year that teams from South Africa can qualify, following the second United Rugby Championship season. Two teams have been invited from outside the three main European professional leagues; The Black Lion from Tbilisi, Georgia are current holders of the Rugby Europe Super Cup, the third-tier competition in European rugby administered by Rugby Europe, and Cheetahs the current holders of the Currie Cup, South Africa's second tier and most historic national competition. Originally not represented in the Challenge Cup, two Irish teams, Ulster and Connacht, joined in the play-off rounds, having dropped down for the Champions Cup.