Amlin Challenge Cup
Wilkinson to return to Newcastle with Toulon
ESPNscrum Staff
June 15, 2011
Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw raises the Amlin Challenge Cup, Harlequins v Stade Francais, Amlin Challenge Cup Final, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, May 20, 2011
Harlequins won last season's Amlin Challenge Cup, beating Stade Francais in a truly epic final © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Jonny Wilkinson
Tournaments/Tours: Amlin Challenge Cup

Jonny Wilkinson is set for an emotional return to Kingston Park after his Toulon side were drawn in the same pool as former club Newcastle Falcons in next season's Amlin Challenge Cup.

The England fly-half spent twelve seasons with the Falcons, racking up a staggering 2,005 points in 180 appearances, before leaving for France in 2009. The injury-prone Wilkinson has resurrected his career in the Top 14 but will no doubt be excited about lining out against his former side. As well as Newcastle, Toulon also have Petrarca Padova and tournament newcomers Lyon Rugby for company in Pool 2.

Elsewhere, Worcester Warriors have been drawn in Pool 1 alongside last year's runners-up, Stade Francais, Italians Crociati Parma and Romanian outfit Bucharest Wolves. London Wasps, meanwhile, have been grouped with French outfit Bayonne, who this week announced the signing of Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, Femi-CZ Rovigo and Bordeaux-Begles.

Exeter Chiefs have been landed in Pool 4 alongside James Hook's new side, Perpignan, Welsh region Newport Gwent Dragons and Cavalieri Prato, while Sale Sharks have undoubtedly been the toughest draw, having been pit alongside two French sides in the shape of Brive and Agen, as well as Spain's Club de Rugby La Vila, who will also be making their first appearance in the Challenge Cup.

The tournament gets underway on the second weekend of November. As with last season, only the pool winners qualify for the quarter-finals, where they will be joined by the three best runners-up from the pool stages of the Heineken Cup.

Pool 1: Stade Francais Paris, Worcester Warriors, Crociati Parma, Bucharest Wolves
Pool 2: Toulon, Newcastle Falcons, Petrarca Padova, Lyon Rugby
Pool 3: London Wasps, Bayonne, Femi-CZ Rovigo, Bordeaux-Begles
Pool 4: Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons, Exeter Chiefs, Cavalieri Prato
Pool 5: Sale Sharks, Brive, Agen, Club de Rugby La Vila

Amlin Challenge Cup 2011/12 Dates

ROUND 1 - 10/11/12/13 November 2011
ROUND 2 - 17/18/19/20 November 2011
ROUND 3 - 8/9/10/11 December 2011
ROUND 4 - 15/16/17/18 December 2011
ROUND 5 - 12/13/14/15 January 2012
ROUND 6 - 19/20/21/22 January 2012

QUARTER-FINALS - 6/7/8 April 2012

SEMI-FINALS - 27/28/29 April 2012

The 16th Amlin Challenge Cup Final - 18/19/20 May 2012

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