No match will provide more intrigue in Round 1 than Black Lion’s debut in the competition on Saturday 9 December in Pool 3 against two-time winners Gloucester Rugby at the Georgian side’s Tbilisi stronghold, the 27,000-capacity Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.

That is one of six games on the second day of the tournament, which kicks off with a first Challenge Cup meeting between three-time champions ASM Clermont Auvergne and Edinburgh Rugby at Stade Marcel Michelin, also in Pool 3, the night before.

The last four of the 18 entrants are in action on Sunday 11 December, when USAP host Emirates Lions and Newcastle Falcons entertain two-time winners Montpellier Hérault Rugby, both in Pool 2.

The highlight of Round 2 is undoubtedly the clash between Gloucester and Clermont at Kingsholm Stadium as the English side attempt to draw level with their French visitors on the Challenge Cup honours board.

That kicks off the second round on Friday 15 December along with Black Lion’s first journey to Wales, where they take on Scarlets.

The following day Oyonnax stage their first home EPCR game since 2017/18 when they entertain Zebre Parma in Pool 1 at Stade Charles-Mathon in one of five games on Saturday 16 December.

The round closes with a potential epic at GGL Stadium, where Montpellier will be itching for revenge against Ospreys after suffering two shock defeats to the Welsh region last season, and an all-South African tussle between Toyota Cheetahs and Cell C Sharks.

Round 3 opponents Zebre Parma and Dragons RFC, who meet at Italy’s Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi as one of six games on Saturday 13 January, will also need no introduction, being familiar foes in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Newcastle Falcons-Benetton Rugby and Ospreys-USAP begin the tournament’s resumption in the New Year on Friday 12 January after a month’s break, while Toyota Cheetahs-Section Paloise closes the round on Sunday 14 January.

The pool stage finishes with some tasty all-URC encounters, with Scarlets hosting Edinburgh on Friday 19 January, before Emirates Lions entertain Ospreys and Dragons welcome Cell C Sharks on Sunday 21 January,

The Round of 16 takes place on 5/6/7 April before the quarter-finals on 12/13/14 April and the semi-finals on 3/4/5 May.

The Challenge Cup final will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday 24 May and tickets for EPCR’s London 2024 Finals Weekend are on sale now.

Tickets can be purchased HERE and a weekend ticket, which also includes the Champions Cup final on Saturday 25 May, offers the best seats at the best price.

The 2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage fixtures have been announced and there are plenty of enthralling encounters across the four rounds of games.