Stade Francais first up in Europe bid

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


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