By Sea_point
June 22 2006

The ERC have annouced details of the pools for the 2006-07 Challenge Cup and it's implications for our beloved Connacht. The fixture shedule is yet to be announced.

The European Challenge Cup 2006 / 2007 draw for the composition of the five Pools of four teams each was made today (Thursday, 22 June) in the Dublin offices of ERC, the tournament organisers.

Connacht have been drawn in a formidable group containing two times European Challenge Cup winners NEC Harlequins, Montpellier and 1998 Heineken Cup winners Bath Rugby.

Stuart Abbott - a Heineken Cup final winner with London Wasps two years ago when they beat Toulouse in the 2004 final, joined Harlequins in the summer and, along with players like clubmate and All Blacks ace Andrew Mehrtens, will be among the host of international stars including Mayo-man and former Connacht player and current Ireland squad member down under Gavin Duffy , and Simon Keogh the former Leinster player who starred for Ireland A and in the recent Churchill Cup competing for European glory. Connacht will of course be looking to gain revenge for their defeat over two legs the season before last at the semi-final stage of this competition.

 

Bath, probably the most successful team in domestic rugby in England (yes even more than the tiggers),will bring their own brand of no-nsense rugby to Galway led by their talismanic second row Danny Grewcock.

As is now tradition Connacht greet some French opposition and this season it's another old foe as we welcome back Montpellier Hérault Rugby. Last season Connacht were victorious against Montpellier sneaking a win at Stade Sabathe by 19 -13, thanks to a Ted Robinson try and 14 points from Paul warwicks boot. The return leg in Galway saw Connacht storm to a 43-10 scoring six tries in the process from Ted Robinson, Keith Matthews (2), Conor McPhillips, Matt Lacey and Colm Rigney with Dave Slemen adding 9 points from the boot.

Connacht went on to be runners up in their group narrowly behind Worcester Warriors, and thus qualified for an away 1/4 final against Newcastle Falcolns at which point we dissapointingly exited the competition on a 23-3 scoreline 

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP POOLS 2006 / 2007

POOL 1: Newport Gwent Dragons, Bayonne, Bristol Rugby, Bucuresti
POOL 2: Glasgow Warriors, Narbonne, Saracens, GRAN Parma
POOL 3: Newcastle Falcons, Brive, Petrarca Padova, Montauban
POOL 4: Connacht Rugby, Montpellier, Bath Rugby, NEC Harlequins
POOL 5: ASM Clermont Auvergne, Worcester Warriors, Viadana, Albi