European Challenge Cup
Battle lines drawn for Challenge Cup
Scrum.com
July 26, 2010
Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams hold the European Challenge Cup aloft, Toulon v Cardiff Blues, European Challenge Cup, Stade Velodrom, Marseille, France, May 23, 2010
Cardiff Blues won the Challenge Cup silverware last season with a dramatic final victory over Toulon © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Amlin Challenge Cup

Sale Sharks will launch their bid for a hat-trick of European Challenge Cup title against Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador in Round 1 of next season's competition.

The Sharks, the 2002 and 2005 winners, are joined by Harlequins, the 2001 and 2004 champions, in bidding to make it three titles with the London club travelling to Bayonne for their opening clash.

Bourgoin and Gloucester Rugby are also past winners of a tournament which will again see the five Pool winners and three of the Heineken Cup Pool runners-up contesting the knock-out stages in 2011.

Tournament newcomers are Premiership club Exeter Chiefs and Italian club Cavalieri Prato with Rugby Parma now operating as Crociati Rugby.

The fixtures, dates, kick-off times and host broadcasters for the first four rounds have been announced by tournament organisers European Rugby Cup. Click here for the complete fixtures.

2010-11 European Challenge Cup Pool Draw:
Pool 1: Bayonne, Cavalieri, Connacht Rugby, Harlequins
Pool 2: Brive, El Salvador, Petraca Rugby, Sale Sharks
Pool 3: Bourgoin, Exeter Chiefs, Montpellier, Newcastle Falcons
Pool 4: Bucuresti Oaks, Crociati Rugby, Leeds Carnegie, Stade Francais Paris
Pool 5: Agen, Gloucester Rugby, La Rochelle, Rugby Rovigo

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