Former Amlin Challenge Cup champions, Gloucester Rugby, have been drawn with high-quality opposition in English rivals, London Irish, as well as French representatives, Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles and Mont-de-Marsan, following the pool draw for the 2012\/13 tournament.<\/p>\n
Gloucester will renew their Amlin Challenge Cup rivalry with London Irish, who they dramatically defeated 36-34 after extra-time in the 2006 decider, in a competition which will culminate in the 2013 final at the RDS, Dublin on Friday, 17 May (8.00).<\/p>\n
Another former winner, London Wasps, who were victorious in 2003, have been drawn in Pool 3 along with Newport Gwent Dragons, Bayonne and Italian newcomers, Rugby Mogliano, while the 2008 champions, Bath Rugby, will be up against Cammi Rugby Calvisano from Italy, Agen, and Romania\u2019s Bucharest Wolves in Pool 4.<\/p>\n
Worcester Warriors\u2019 contests with Perpignan could well be the highlight of Pool 2 which includes Spanish debutants, Bizkaia Gernika RT, and in Pool 5, Newcastle Falcons are also scheduled to meet strong French opposition in the guise of the 2011 beaten finalists, Stade Fran\u00e7ais Paris, and Grenoble, as well as I Cavalieri Prato from Italy.<\/p>\n
The five pool winners will progress to the quarter-finals where they will be joined by three pool runners-up from the Heineken Cup.<\/p>\n
The draw took place at ERC\u2019s offices in Dublin and was overseen by Jon Davies, Tournament and Operations Director, Six Nations Rugby.<\/p>\n
Amlin Challenge Cup 2012\/13 Pools<\/p>\n
Pool 1: Gloucester Rugby, London Irish, Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles, Mont-de-Marsan<\/p>\n
Pool 2: Perpignan, Worcester Warriors, Femi-CZ VEA Rovigo, Bizkaia Gernika RT<\/p>\n
Pool 3: London Wasps, Newport Gwent Dragons, Bayonne, Rugby Mogliano<\/p>\n
Pool 4: Bath Rugby, Cammi Rugby Calvisano, Agen, Bucharest Wolves<\/p>\n
Pool 5: Stade Fran\u00e7ais Paris, *Newcastle Falcons, I Cavalieri Prato, Grenoble<\/p>\n
*Newcastle Falcons\u2019 participation is subject to an appeal to the Rugby Football Union by London Welsh<\/p>\n
Amlin Challenge Cup Dates<\/p>\n
Round 1 11\/12\/13\/14 October 2012<\/p>\n
Round 2 18\/19\/20\/21 October 2012<\/p>\n
Round 3 6\/7\/8\/9 December 2012<\/p>\n
Round 4 13\/14\/15\/16 December 2012<\/p>\n
Round 5 10\/11\/12\/13 January 2013<\/p>\n
Round 6 17\/18\/19\/20 January 2013<\/p>\n
Quarter-finals 4\/5\/6\/7 April 2013<\/p>\n
Semi-finals 25\/26\/27\/28 April 2013<\/p>\n
Dublin 2013 European club rugby finals<\/p>\n
Amlin Challenge Cup final \u2013 RDS, Friday, 17 May 2013 (8.00)<\/p>\n
Heineken Cup final\u2013 Aviva Stadium, Saturday, 18 May 2013 (5.00)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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