1999–2000 European Challenge Cup

1999–2000 European Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Italy
 Romania
 Spain
 Wales
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and Knockout
Date19 November 1999 to 28 May 2000
Tournament statistics
Teams28
Top point scorer(s)David Aucagne (Pau)
(130 points)
Top try scorer(s)Philippe Bernat-Salles (Biarritz)
Nicolas Brusque (Pau)
Francois Plisson (Castres)
(7 tries)
Final
VenueLes Sept Deniers
Attendance6,000
ChampionsFrance Pau (1st title)
Runners-upFrance Castres Olympique
← 1998–99 (Previous)
(Next) 2000–01 →

The 1999–2000 European Challenge Cup was the fourth year of the European Challenge Cup, the second tier rugby union cup competition below the Heineken Cup. The tournament was held between November 1999 and May 2000.

Pool stage

Pool 1

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
England Bristol Shoguns 6 5 0 1 18 8 10 165 96 69 10
France Bordeaux-Begles 6 4 0 2 18 11 7 158 124 34 8
France Dax 6 3 0 3 12 14 −2 129 146 −17 6
Italy Calvisano 6 0 0 6 3 18 −15 69 155 −86 0

Pool 2

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
France Castres Olympique 6 6 0 0 39 12 27 249 94 155 12
Wales Newport 6 3 0 3 15 14 1 137 119 18 6
England Bedford Blues 6 2 0 4 15 31 −16 121 223 −102 4
Italy Rugby Rovigo 6 1 0 5 13 25 −12 107 178 −71 2

Pool 3

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
France Pau 6 5 0 1 32 9 23 229 114 115 10
France Perpignan 6 5 0 1 24 9 15 200 104 96 10
England Sale Sharks 6 2 0 4 17 24 −7 168 181 −13 4
Wales Caerphilly 6 0 0 6 8 39 −31 81 279 −198 0

Pool 4

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
Wales Ebbw Vale 6 6 0 0 31 13 18 252 127 125 12
France Toulon 6 3 0 3 17 8 9 178 148 30 6
Ireland Connacht 6 2 0 4 15 18 −3 131 165 −34 4
Romania Steaua București 6 1 0 5 13 37 −24 120 241 −121 2

Pool 5

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
France Biarritz Olympique 6 5 0 1 34 8 26 227 77 150 10
England Gloucester 6 4 1 1 25 12 13 188 113 75 9
Wales Bridgend RFC 6 2 1 3 13 20 −7 113 151 −38 5
Spain Spain XV 6 0 0 6 7 39 −32 79 266 −187 0

Pool 6

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
England Newcastle Falcons 6 5 0 1 24 8 16 200 90 110 10
France Narbonne 6 3 0 3 19 7 12 153 96 57 6
France Aurillac 6 3 0 3 13 20 −7 125 153 −28 6
Wales Dunvant 6 1 0 5 11 32 −21 92 231 −139 2

Pool 7

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
England London Irish 6 4 0 2 24 19 5 192 140 52 8
France SU Agen 6 5 0 1 30 7 23 211 100 111 8*
France Brive 6 3 0 3 25 18 7 199 162 37 6
Italy Rugby Roma 6 0 0 6 9 44 −35 94 294 −200 0

* Agen deducted two points for fielding non-registered players in two matches.[1]

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

15 April 2000
16:00
Pau France36–20England Newcastle Falcons
Report
Stade Municipal du Hameau, Pau
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Robert Davies
15 April 2000
17:30
Ebbw Vale Wales20–21England London Irish
Report
Eugene Cross Park, Ebbw Vale
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Joel Jutge
15 April 2000
19:30
Castres Olympique France43–33France Perpignan
Report
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Chris White
15 April 2000
20:00
Biarritz Olympique France29–32England Bristol
Report
Parc des Sports Aguilera, Biarritz
Attendance: 3,300
Referee: Giovanni Morandin

Semi-finals

5 May 2000
20:00
Castres Olympique France40–30England London Irish
Report
Stade Selery, Colomiers
Attendance: 5,800
Referee: Antonio Lombardi
6 May 2000
19:30
Pau France51–27England Bristol
Report
Stade Maurice Trelut, Tarbes
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: David Tyndall

Final

28 May 2000
15:00
Pau France34–21France Castres Olympique
Report
Les Sept Deniers, Toulouse
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Chris White

See also

References