The fixtures for the 2016/17 European Challenge Cup will be announced on Friday (19 August) at 12.00 UK and Irish time.
- Ospreys will find out their European schedule this Friday lunchtime
- Have been drawn with Newcastle, Lyon and Grenoble
- All three teams will visit the Liberty Stadium for the first time
The dates, venues, kick-off times and television coverage for the matches in Rounds 1 to 4 will be made available for the first time, while the dates, kick-off times and broadcast details for the matches in Rounds 5 and 6 will be announced in December following the conclusion of the Round 4 fixtures as per previous years.
The Ospreys have been drawn in Pool 2 with Newcastle Falcons from the Aviva Premiership and Grenoble and Lyon from France’s T14.
Once the Pool Draws for both tournaments are completed, the fixtures are decided by means of a scheduling process which includes consultation with the 40 participating clubs, league bodies and broadcasters across each territory.
EPCR is challenged with producing a balanced and fair schedule which takes into account club preferences, restrictions at many shared stadia, date requests associated with moves to larger venues as well as ensuring that its broadcasters across Europe can cover as many compelling matches as possible from Thursday evening through to Sunday.
2016/17 Challenge Cup pools
Pool 1: La Rochelle, Gloucester Rugby, Benetton Treviso, Bayonne
Pool 2: Ospreys, Grenoble, Newcastle Falcons, Lyon
Pool 3: Brive, Worcester Warriors, Newport Gwent Dragons, Enisei-STM
Pool 4: Cardiff Blues, Bath Rugby, Pau, Bristol Rugby
Pool 5: Harlequins, Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Français Paris, Timisoara Saracens
EPCR weekends
Round 1: 13/14/15/16 October
Round 2: 20/21/22/23 October
Round 3: 8/9/10/11 December
Round 4: 15/16/17/18 December
Round 5: 12/13/14/15 January 2017
Round 6: 19/20/21/22 January 2017
Quarter-finals: 30/31 March - 1/2 April 2017
Semi-finals: 21/22/23 April 2017
European Rugby Challenge Cup: Friday 12 May, BT Murrayfield Stadium
Admission to all three home Challenge Cup Pool 2 games is included in an Ospreys season membership, along with 11 PRO12 matches and two in the Anglo Welsh Cup, with prices starting at just £149 for adults.
You can find out more about a season membership, or sign up for 2016/17, at www.ospreysrugby.com/2016membership
ENDS