Following the pool stage, clubs from three different countries will contest the first play-off round of the European Rugby Continental Shield at the end of next month. The matches will be played on a home-and-away basis with the second round scheduled for April, and the two winners will qualify for next season’s Challenge Cup.

Pool A winners, Kawasaki Robot Calvisano of Italy, will meet Pool B winners, Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo Delta, also of Italy, in the first of their two matches at Pata Stadium on Saturday, 30 March.

Once the second play-off match is concluded on Saturday, 20 April, the aggregate score from the two matches will determine which of the Italian clubs will qualify for the 2019/20 Challenge Cup.

In recognition of their qualification for the current Challenge Cup campaign via last season’s Continental Shield, Enisei-STM of Russia and Romania’s Timisoara Saracens will also compete against one another over two legs to decide who will book the second place in the 2019/20 Challenge Cup.

The Continental Shield, which was won by Enisei-STM in Bilbao last season, is organised by EPCR in conjunction with Rugby Europe and the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).

  

Play-offs – Round 1: Saturday, 30 March

Kawasaki Robot Calvisano v Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo Delta, Pata Stadium, Calvisano (15.00)

Timisoara Saracens v Enisei STM, Dan Paltinisanu Stadium, Timisoara (15.00)

 

Play-offs – Round 2: Saturday, 20 April

Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo Delta v Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo (15.00)

Enisei STM v Timisoara Saracens, Avangard Stadium, Krasnoyarsk (15.00)

 

For more information on the Continental Shield, click here