1999–2000 European Challenge Cup

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.

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 →

Pool stage

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Pool 1

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

Pool 2

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

Pool 3

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

Pool 4

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

Pool 5

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

Pool 6

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

Pool 7

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
  London Irish 6 4 0 2 24 19 5 192 140 52 8
  SU Agen 6 5 0 1 30 7 23 211 100 111 8*
  Brive 6 3 0 3 25 18 7 199 162 37 6
  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

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Quarter-finals

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15 April 2000
16:00
Pau  36–20  Newcastle Falcons
Report
Stade Municipal du Hameau, Pau
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Robert Davies
15 April 2000
17:30
Ebbw Vale  20–21  London Irish
Report
Eugene Cross Park, Ebbw Vale
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Joel Jutge
15 April 2000
19:30
Castres Olympique  43–33  Perpignan
Report
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Chris White
15 April 2000
20:00
Biarritz Olympique  29–32  Bristol
Report
Parc des Sports Aguilera, Biarritz
Attendance: 3,300
Referee: Giovanni Morandin

Semi-finals

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5 May 2000
20:00
Castres Olympique  40–30  London Irish
Report
Stade Selery, Colomiers
Attendance: 5,800
Referee: Antonio Lombardi
6 May 2000
19:30
Pau  51–27  Bristol
Report
Stade Maurice Trelut, Tarbes
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: David Tyndall

Final

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28 May 2000
15:00
Pau  34–21  Castres Olympique
Report
Les Sept Deniers, Toulouse
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Chris White

See also

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References

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