The pool stage of the 1997–98 European Challenge Cup.
| 1997–98 European Challenge Cup pool stage | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 1997–98 European Challenge Cup | ||
| Date | 7 September 1997 - 12 October 1997 | ||
| Qualifiers | |||
| Seed 1 |  Colomiers | ||
| Seed 2 | Agen | ||
| Seed 3 | Stade Français | ||
| Seed 4 |  Newcastle Falcons | ||
| Seed 5 | Montferrand | ||
| Seed 6 | Castres Olympique | ||
| Seed 7 | Gloucester | ||
| Seed 8 |  Connacht | ||
| |||
Pool 1
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agen
|
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 12 | +15 | 219 | 105 | +114 | 12 |
| Bristol
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 22 | −6 | 115 | 180 | −65 | 4 |
 Ebbw Vale
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 17 | −5 | 117 | 155 | −38 | 4 |
| La Rochelle
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 15 | −4 | 128 | 139 | −11 | 4 |
| 7 September 1997 15:00 |
| Bristol Shoguns | 33 – 14 | La Rochelle |
| Memorial Ground |
| 7 September 1997 18:00 |
| Ebbw Vale | 16 – 27 | Agen |
| Eugene Cross Park |
| 13 September 1997 14:30 |
| Ebbw Vale | 28 – 15 | Bristol Shoguns |
| Eugene Cross Park |
| 14 September 1997 17:00 |
| La Rochelle | 20 – 33 | Agen |
| Stade Marcel Deflandre |
| 20 September 1997 14:15 |
| Agen | 45 – 18 | Bristol Shoguns |
| Stade Armandie |
| 20 September 1997 17:00 |
| La Rochelle | 25 – 24 | Ebbw Vale |
| Stade Marcel Deflandre |
| 27 September 1997 14:00 |
| Agen | 21 – 15 | La Rochelle |
| Stade Armandie |
| 27 September 1997 14:00 |
| Bristol Shoguns | 18 – 16 | Ebbw Vale |
| Memorial Ground |
| 3 October 1997 19:30 |
| Bristol Shoguns | 24 – 42 | Agen |
| Memorial Ground |
| 4 October 1997 14:00 |
| Ebbw Vale | 21 – 19 | La Rochelle |
| Eugene Cross Park |
| 11 October 1997 20:00 |
| Agen | 51 – 12 | Ebbw Vale |
| Stade Armandie |
| 12 October 1997 15:00 |
| La Rochelle | 35 – 7 | Bristol Shoguns |
| Stade Marcel Deflandre |
Pool 2
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montferrand
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 203 | 120 | +83 | 10 |
| Newport
|
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 27 | −7 | 172 | 192 | −20 | 6 |
| Sale Sharks
|
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 163 | 117 | +46 | 6 |
| Montpellier
|
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 27 | −15 | 90 | 199 | −109 | 2 |
| 7 September 1997 14:00 |
| Newport | 42 – 17 | Montpellier |
| Rodney Parade |
| 7 September 1997 15:00 |
| Montferrand | 25 – 16 | Sale Sharks |
| Stade Marcel Michelin |
| 13 September 1997 14:05 |
| Montferrand | 58 – 32 | Newport |
| Stade Marcel Michelin |
| 14 September 1997 15:00 |
| Montpellier | 30 – 12 | Sale Sharks |
| Stade Sabathe |
| 21 September 1997 15:00 |
| Montpellier | 16 – 18 | Montferrand |
| Stade Sabathe |
| 27 September 1997 14:00 |
| Newport | 26 – 31 | Montferrand |
| Rodney Parade |
| 28 September 1997 15:00 |
| Sale Sharks | 43 – 3 | Montpellier |
| Heywood Road |
| 4 October 1997 14:00 |
| Newport | 17 – 11 | Sale Sharks |
| Rodney Parade |
| 4 October 1997 19:00 |
| Montferrand | 56 – 10 | Montpellier |
| Stade Marcel Michelin |
| 12 October 1997 15:00 |
| Montpellier | 14 – 28 | Newport |
| Stade Sabathe |
| 12 October 1997 15:00 |
| Sale Sharks | 20 – 15 | Montferrand |
| Heywood Road |
Pool 3
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stade Français
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 18 | +30 | 337 | 131 | +206 | 10 |
| London Irish
|
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 169 | 133 | +36 | 8 |
| Dax
|
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 139 | 180 | −41 | 6 |
 Farul Constanţa
|
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 38 | −28 | 94 | 295 | −201 | 0 |
| 6 September 1997 20:00 |
| Dax | 32 – 20 | Farul Constanţa |
| Stade Maurice Boyau |
| 7 September 1997 14:30 |
| London Irish | 25 – 41 | Stade Français |
| The Avenue |
| 12 September 1997 20:00 |
| Dax | 34 – 19 | London Irish |
| Stade Maurice Boyau |
| 13 September 1997 17:00 |
| Stade Français | 83 – 10 | Farul Constanţa |
| Stade Jean Bouin |
| 20 September 1997 16:00 |
| Stade Français | 65 – 19 | Dax |
| Stade Jean Bouin |
| 20 September 1997 16:30 |
| Farul Constanţa | 9 – 26 | London Irish |
| Stadionul de Rugby Farul |
| 27 September 1997 15:00 |
| London Irish | 24 – 11 | Dax |
| The Avenue |
| 27 September 1997 16:30 |
| Farul Constanţa | 28 – 85 | Stade Français |
| Stadionul de Rugby Farul |
| 4 October 1997 15:00 |
| London Irish | 46 – 10 | Farul Constanţa |
| The Avenue |
| 4 October 1997 20:00 |
| Dax | 20 – 35 | Stade Français |
| Stade Maurice Boyau |
| 11 October 1997 15:00 |
| Stade Français | 28 – 29 | London Irish |
| Stade Jean Bouin |
| 11 October 1997 16:30 |
| Farul Constanţa | 17 – 23 | Dax |
| Stadionul de Rugby Farul |
Pool 4
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connacht
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 144 | 97 | +47 | 10 |
| Northampton Saints
|
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 13 | +4 | 161 | 116 | +45 | 6 |
| Bordeaux-Begles
|
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 112 | 110 | +2 | 6 |
| Nice
|
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 94 | 188 | −94 | 2 |
| 6 September 1997 20:00 |
| Nice | 24 – 25 | Bordeaux-Begles |
| Stade du Ray |
| 9 September 1997 15:00 |
| Connacht | 43 – 13 | Northampton Saints |
| The Sports Ground |
| 13 September 1997 15:00 |
| Northampton Saints | 25 – 13 | Bordeaux-Begles |
| Franklin's Gardens |
| 14 September 1997 15:00 |
| Nice | 20 – 16 | Connacht |
| Stade du Ray |
| 20 September 1997 17:00 |
| Northampton Saints | 66 – 7 | Nice |
| Franklin's Gardens |
| 20 September 1997 20:00 |
| Bordeaux-Begles | 9 – 15 | Connacht |
| Stade Andre Moga |
| 27 September 1997 15:00 |
| Connacht | 28 – 25 | Nice |
| The Sports Ground |
| 27 September 1997 20:00 |
| Bordeaux-Begles | 23 – 16 | Northampton Saints |
| Stade Andre Moga |
| 4 October 1997 15:00 |
| Connacht | 22 – 15 | Bordeaux-Begles |
| The Sports Ground |
| 4 October 1997 20:00 |
| Nice | 10 – 26 | Northampton Saints |
| Stade du Ray |
| 11 October 1997 15:00 |
| Northampton Saints | 15 – 20 | Connacht |
| Franklin's Gardens |
| 11 October 1997 20:00 |
| Bordeaux-Begles | 27 – 8 | Nice |
| Stade Andre Moga |
Pool 5
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colomiers
|
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 13 | +27 | 290 | 121 | +169 | 12 |
| Richmond
|
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 15 | +13 | 196 | 133 | +63 | 8 |
| Bridgend RFC
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 37 | −25 | 130 | 259 | −129 | 4 |
| Grenoble
|
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 24 | −15 | 112 | 215 | −103 | 0 |
| 7 September 1997 14:30 |
| Grenoble | 33 – 35 | Bridgend |
| Stade Lesdiguieres |
| 7 September 1997 15:00 |
| Colomiers | 34 – 18 | Richmond |
| Stade Selery |
| 13 September 1997 15:00 |
| Richmond | 43 – 14 | Bridgend |
| The Athletic Ground |
| 14 September 1997 15:00 |
| Colomiers | 60 – 10 | Grenoble |
| Stade Selery |
| 20 September 1997 14:00 |
| Bridgend | 24 – 49 | Colomiers |
| Brewery Field |
| 20 September 1997 15:00 |
| Richmond | 37 – 8 | Grenoble |
| The Athletic Ground |
| 27 September 1997 18:00 |
| Bridgend | 12 – 44 | Richmond |
| Brewery Field |
| 27 September 1997 20:00 |
| Grenoble | 24 – 29 | Colomiers |
| Stade Lesdiguieres |
| 4 October 1997 16:00 |
| Colomiers | 69 – 20 | Bridgend |
| Stade Selery |
| 4 October 1997 20:00 |
| Grenoble | 16 – 29 | Richmond |
| Stade Lesdiguieres |
| 11 October 1997 14:30 |
| Bridgend | 25 – 21 | Grenoble |
| Brewery Field |
| 12 October 1997 14:15 |
| Richmond | 25 – 49 | Colomiers |
| The Athletic Ground |
Pool 6
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 12 | +7 | 170 | 101 | +69 | 10 |
| Toulon
|
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 136 | 104 | +32 | 7 |
| Béziers
|
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 150 | 147 | +3 | 5 |
 Petrarca Rugby
|
6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 29 | −16 | 108 | 212 | −104 | 2 |
| 6 September 1997 20:00 |
| Toulon | 19 – 14 | Béziers |
| Stade Félix Mayol |
| 7 September 1997 15:00 |
| Gloucester | 43 – 10 | Petrarca Rugby |
| Kingsholm |
| 13 September 1997 15:00 |
| Gloucester | 18 – 15 | Toulon |
| Kingsholm |
| 13 September 1997 20:30 |
| Béziers | 40 – 23 | Petrarca Rugby |
| Stade de la Méditerranée |
| 20 September 1997 14:15 |
| Béziers | 27 – 29 | Gloucester |
| Stade de la Méditerranée |
| 21 September 1997 15:30 |
| Petrarca Rugby | 13 – 54 | Toulon |
| Stadio Plebiscito |
| 27 September 1997 20:30 |
| Petrarca Rugby | 26 – 26 | Béziers |
| Stadio Plebiscito |
| 28 September 1997 19:00 |
| Toulon | 16 – 13 | Gloucester |
| Stade Félix Mayol |
| 4 October 1997 15:00 |
| Gloucester | 38 – 17 | Béziers |
| Kingsholm |
| 4 October 1997 20:00 |
| Toulon | 20 – 20 | Petrarca Rugby |
| Stade Félix Mayol |
| 11 October 1997 20:30 |
| Béziers | 26 – 12 | Toulon |
| Stade de la Méditerranée |
| 12 October 1997 15:30 |
| Petrarca Rugby | 16 – 29 | Gloucester |
| Stadio Plebiscito |
Pool 7
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Falcons
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 8 | +28 | 264 | 98 | +166 | 10 |
| Biarritz
|
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 17 | −7 | 123 | 153 | −30 | 6 |
| Perpignan
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 13 | −1 | 98 | 138 | −40 | 4 |
 Edinburgh
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 29 | −20 | 109 | 205 | −96 | 4 |
| 7 September 1997 16:00 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 37 – 10 | Biarritz |
| Kingston Park Stadium |
| 7 September 1997 19:00 |
| Perpignan | 21 – 9 | Edinburgh |
| Stade Aimé Giral |
| 14 September 1997 15:00 |
| Edinburgh | 15 – 32 | Biarritz |
| Goldenacre |
| 14 September 1997 15:00 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 60 – 3 | Perpignan |
| Kingston Park Stadium |
| 20 September 1997 20:00 |
| Biarritz | 18 – 6 | Perpignan |
| Parc des Sports Aguilera |
| 21 September 1997 15:00 |
| Edinburgh | 16 – 40 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Goldenacre |
| 27 September 1997 20:00 |
| Biarritz | 25 – 27 | Edinburgh |
| Parc des Sports Aguilera |
| 27 September 1997 20:30 |
| Perpignan | 13 – 27 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Stade Aimé Giral |
| 4 October 1997 20:30 |
| Perpignan | 40 – 6 | Biarritz |
| Stade Aimé Giral |
| 5 October 1997 15:00 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 72 – 24 | Edinburgh |
| Kingston Park Stadium |
| 11 October 1997 14:15 |
| Biarritz | 32 – 28 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Parc des Sports Aguilera |
| 12 October 1997 15:00 |
| Edinburgh | 18 – 15 | Perpignan |
| Goldenacre |
Pool 8
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castres
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 10 | +16 | 206 | 97 | +109 | 10 |
| Saracens
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 197 | 128 | +69 | 10 |
| Narbonne
|
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 168 | 138 | +30 | 4 |
| Neath
|
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 41 | −31 | 93 | 301 | −208 | 0 |
| 7 September 1997 15:00 |
| Neath | 12 – 36 | Castres |
| The Gnoll |
| 7 September 1997 18:00 |
| Narbonne | 16 – 18 | Saracens |
| Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié |
| 13 September 1997 18:00 |
| Neath | 10 – 50 | Narbonne |
| The Gnoll |
| 14 September 1997 15:00 |
| Saracens | 26 – 21 | Castres |
| Vicarage Road |
| 20 September 1997 20:00 |
| Castres | 24 – 19 | Narbonne |
| Stade Pierre Antoine |
| 21 September 1997 15:00 |
| Saracens | 69 – 30 | Neath |
| Vicarage Road |
| 27 September 1997 14:15 |
| Castres | 32 – 18 | Saracens |
| Stade Pierre Antoine |
| 27 September 1997 19:30 |
| Narbonne | 52 – 21 | Neath |
| Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié |
| 4 October 1997 18:00 |
| Neath | 12 – 26 | Saracens |
| The Gnoll |
| 4 October 1997 19:30 |
| Narbonne | 14 – 25 | Castres |
| Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié |
| 11 October 1997 20:00 |
| Castres | 68 – 8 | Neath |
| Stade Pierre Antoine |
| 12 October 1997 15:00 |
| Saracens | 40 – 17 | Narbonne |
| Vicarage Road |
Qualifiers
edit| Seed | Pool Winners | Pts | TF | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colomiers
|
12 | 40 | +169 |
| 2 | Agen
|
12 | 27 | +114 |
| 3 | Stade Français
|
10 | 48 | +206 |
| 4 | Newcastle Falcons
|
10 | 36 | +166 |
| 5 | Montferrand
|
10 | 28 | +83 |
| 6 | Castres Olympique
|
10 | 26 | +109 |
| 7 | Gloucester
|
10 | 19 | +69 |
| 8 | Connacht
|
10 | 11 | +47 |