2007–08 European Challenge Cup

The 2007–08 European Challenge Cup was the 12th year of the European Challenge Cup, the second tier rugby union cup competition below the Heineken Cup. The tournament was held between November 2007 and May 2008.

2007–08 European Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Italy
 Romania
 Spain
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and Knockout
Date8 November 2007 – 25 May 2008
Tournament statistics
Top point scorer(s)Olly Barkley (Bath)
(91 points)
Top try scorer(s)Ollie Phillips (Newcastle)
(8 tries)
Final
ChampionsEngland Bath (1st title)
Runners-upEngland Worcester Warriors
← 2006–07 (Previous)
(Next) 2008–09 →

Pool stage

Pool 1

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts
Bath Rugby6600286+2220365+1385029
Auch63031119−8109147−381114
Albi62041521−6130177−471211
Overmach Parma61051018−8104157−53037

Pool 2

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts
Worcester Warriors6600366+3024549+1965029
Montauban63032812+16175113+623116
București6213722−1577158−810010
Gran Parma6015738−3182259−177013

Pool 3

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts
Newcastle Falcons6501343+3126457+2073124
Brive6402215+1617973+1063220
Connacht63032510+1517297+752115
El Salvador6006365−6226414−388000

Pool 4

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts
Sale Sharks6510348+2624462+1825027
Montpellier64111214−2114115−11019
Bayonne61051620−4100164−64228
Petrarca Padova6105727−2073190−117015

Pool 5

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts
Castres Olympique65011912+7160105+551021
Leeds Carnegie64021810+8157101+562119
Calvisano62041329−16123200−77109
Dax61051514+1109143−34137

Seeding and runners-up

SeedPool WinnersPtsTF+/-
1 Worcester Warriors2936+196
2 Bath2928+138
3 Sale Sharks2734+182
4 Newcastle Falcons2434+207
5 Castres Olympique2119+55
SeedPool Runners-upPtsTF+/-
6 Brive2021+106
7 Leeds Carnegie1918+56
8 Montpellier1912−1
Montauban1628+62
Auch1411−38

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

4 April 2008
19:30
Sale Sharks 49–24 Brive
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,192
5 April 2008
14:15
Bath 57–5 Leeds Carnegie
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,569
5 April 2008
15:00
Worcester Warriors 36–26 Montpellier
Sixways Stadium
Attendance: 5,210
5 April 2008
20:00
Newcastle Falcons 40–13 Castres Olympique
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,005

Semi-finals

25 April 2008
20:00
Worcester Warriors 31–16 Newcastle Falcons
Sixways Stadium
Attendance: 6,795
26 April 2008
12:30
Bath 36–14 Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,216

Final

25 May 2008
12:00
Bath 24–16 Worcester Warriors
Tries: Fa'amatuainu 31' c
Abendanon 35' m
Con: Barkley (1/2) 32'
Pen: Barkley 15', 53'
James 75'
Drop: Barkley 67'
ReportTry: Delport 79' c
Con: Carlisle (1/1) 79'
Pen: Drahm 23', 39', 45'
Kingsholm Stadium
Attendance: 16,157
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)

See also