Worcester Warriors have been handed the honour of kicking off the new season of Amlin Challenge Cup rugby when the club entertains French giants Stade Francais Paris at Sixways Stadium on Thursday, November 10 (kick-off 7.45pm).
Warriors will face Stade Francais, Crociati Parma Rugby and Bucharest Wolves in Pool 1 of the European competition this campaign.
The highlight of the draw for many is the fixtures against last year’s Amlin Challenge Cup runners-up Stade Francais and the highly-anticipated clash between the sides at the home of the Warriors has now been selected as the opening game of the tournament and will be screened live on Sky Sports.
Charlie Little, Managing Director at Warriors, said: “We’re delighted to have been selected by ERC to host the opening game of this season’s Amlin Challenge Cup. When you look at the quality of the teams involved in the competition this season it is fantastic that we have been chosen as the big game of the opening weekend.
“The visit of Stade Francais, one of France’s most celebrated and famous teams, has really caught the imagination of our supporters. While a Thursday evening is not our usual night for rugby, we hope as many fans as possible will be able to come along for what is sure to be another special and memorable night under the floodlights.
“Season Tickets holders gain entry into his game, along with all our home European fixtures, so I would encourage anyone who has not yet renewed or taken up this year’s packages to join us for a big year of league and cup rugby at Sixways.”
After the opening game with Stade Francais, Richard Hill’s men travel overseas for a fixture with Crociati Parma at Stadio XXV Aprile on Saturday, November 19 (kick-off 8.30pm local time).
Warriors then face back-to-back games with Bucharest Wolves in December with a trip to Romania and Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf at the start of the month before Worcester return to home soil on Saturday, December 17 (kick-off 3pm).
Italian visitors Crociati Parma visit Sixways in the opening weeks of 2012 before Warriors complete Pool 1 with an exciting away clash in the French capital against Stade Francais on the weekend of January 19/20/21/22.
Confirmed dates for Rounds 5 and 6 will be announced after Round 4 is completed. Full broadcast schedules will be announced shortly. All games remain subject to change.
For further details of Season Tickets at Worcester Warriors call the Box Office on 01905 454183.
POOLS
POOL 1: Stade Français Paris, Worcester Warriors, Crociati Rugby, Bucharest Wolves
POOL 2: Toulon, Newcastle Falcons, Petrarca Rugby, Lyon Rugby
POOL 3: London Wasps, Bayonne, Femi-CZ Rovigo, Bordeaux-Begles
POOL 4: Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons, Exeter Chiefs, I Cavalieri Prato
POOL 5: Sale Sharks, Brive, Agen, CR La Vila
FIXTURES
(All kick-offs LOCAL times with host broadcasters where relevant)
ROUND 1
THURSDAY, 10 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Worcester Warriors v Stade Français Paris 19.45 Sky Sports
Pool 2 Toulon v Petrarca Rugby 20.30 Eurosport France
FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 4 Perpignan v Exeter Chiefs 19.00 Eurosport France
SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 2 Newcastle Falcons v Lyon Rugby 15.00
Pool 3 Femi-CZ Rovigo v Bayonne 15.00
Pool 3 Bordeaux-Begles v London Wasps 20.55 FR4
Pool 4 I Cavalieri Prato v Newport Gwent Dragons 14.30
Pool 5 CR La Vila v Agen 16.00
Pool 5 Brive v Sale Sharks 18.30
SUNDAY, 13 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Bucharest Wolves v Crociati Rugby 15.00
ROUND 2
THURSDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Bayonne v Bordeaux-Begles 20.30 Eurosport France
Pool 4 Newport Gwent Dragons v Perpignan 19.45 S4C
FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Stade Français Paris v Bucharest Wolves 19.00 Eurosport France
Pool 5 Sale Sharks v CR La Vila 19.45
SATURDAY, 19 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Crociati Rugby v Worcester Warriors 20.30
Pool 2 Petrarca Rugby v Newcastle Falcons 15.00
Pool 2 Lyon Rugby v Toulon 20.55 FR4
Pool 4 Exeter Chiefs v I Cavalieri Prato 15.00
SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER, 2011
Pool 5 Agen v Brive 18.00 Eurosport France
Pool 3 London Wasps v Femi-CZ Rovigo 15.00
ROUND 3
THURSDAY, 8 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 2 Newcastle Falcons v Toulon 19.45 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Agen v Sale Sharks 20.30 Eurosport France
FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 4 Perpignan v I Cavalieri Prato 19.00
SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Crociati Rugby v Stade Français Paris 20.30
Pool 2 Lyon Rugby v Petrarca Rugby 17.00
Pool 3 Femi-CZ Rovigo v Bordeaux-Begles 15.00
Pool 3 Bayonne v London Wasps 20.55 FR4
Pool 5 CR La Vila v Brive 16.00
SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Bucharest Wolves v Worcester Warriors 15.00
Pool 4 Exeter Chiefs v Newport Gwent Dragons 17.45 S4C
ROUND 4
THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Stade Français Paris v Crociati Rugby 20.30 Eurosport France
Pool 3 London Wasps v Bayonne 19.45 Sky Sports
Pool 5 Brive v CR La Vila 20.00
FRIDAY, 16 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 3 Bordeaux-Begles v Femi-CZ Rovigo 19.00
SATURDAY, 17 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 1 Worcester Warriors v Bucharest Wolves 15.00
Pool 2 Petrarca Rugby v Lyon Rugby 15.00
Pool 2 Toulon v Newcastle Falcons 20.55 FR4
Pool 4 I Cavalieri Prato v Perpignan 14.30
SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER, 2011
Pool 4 Newport Gwent Dragons v Exeter Chiefs 17.45 S4C
Pool 5 Sale Sharks v Agen 15.00
ROUND 5
12 / 13 / 14 15 JANUARY, 2012
Pool 1 Worcester Warriors v Crociati Rugby
Pool 1 Bucharest Wolves v Stade Français Paris
Pool 2 Toulon v Lyon Rugby
Pool 2 Newcastle Falcons v Petrarca Rugby
Pool 3 Bordeaux-Begles v Bayonne
Pool 3 Femi-CZ Rovigo v London Wasps
Pool 4 I Cavalieri Prato v Exeter Chiefs
Pool 4 Perpignan v Newport Gwent Dragons
Pool 5 Brive v Agen
Pool 5 CR La Vila v Sale Sharks
ROUND 6
19 / 20 / 21 / 22 JANUARY, 2012
Pool 1 Crociati Rugby v Bucharest Wolves
Pool 1 Stade Français Paris v Worcester Warriors
Pool 2 Lyon Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Pool 2 Petrarca Rugby v Toulon
Pool 3 Bayonne v Femi-CZ Rovigo
Pool 3 London Wasps v Begles-Bordeaux
Pool 4 Exeter Chiefs v Perpignan
Pool 4 Newport Gwent Dragons v I Cavalieri Prato
Pool 5 Agen v CR La Vila
Pool 5 Sale Sharks v Brive
QUARTER-FINALS – 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 APRIL, 2012
SEMI-FINALS – 27/ 28 / 29 APRIL, 2012
AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP FINAL – 18/ 19 / 20 MAY, 2012