Following a tense conclusion to the pool stage last weekend when eight of the nine matches counted either for qualification or ranking, EPCR can now announce the dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage of the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 fixtures.

The road to the 2024 London Finals at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the weekend of 24/25 May will become clearer as the knockout stage gets under way in early April and the clubs remaining in contention for silverware – including Aviron Bayonnais, Sale Sharks, Connacht Rugby and Ulster Rugby who have qualified from the Investec Champions Cup – have 11 EPCR titles between them, with five tournament winners also in the mix.

The No 1-ranked club, Hollywoodbets Sharks from the United Rugby Championship, will be up against Zebre Parma in Durban on Sunday, 7 April, and No 2-ranked Gloucester Rugby, the leading club from the Gallagher Premiership, face Castres Olympique at Kingsholm on Friday, 5 April.

On Saturday, 6 April, ASM Clermont Auvergne, three-time tournament winners and the highest-ranked club from the TOP 14, host the Toyota Cheetahs at Stade Marcel-Michelin, Benetton Rugby are at home against the Emirates Lions, Ospreys clash with Sale Sharks at the Brewery Field in Bridgend, and Edinburgh Rugby take on Aviron Bayonnais at the Hive Stadium.

In addition to the Hollywoodbets Sharks v Zebre Parma tie on Sunday, 7 April, Ulster Rugby travel to face Montpellier Hérault Rugby, and Connacht are also in France for a head-to-head with Section Paloise at Stade du Hameau.

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Round of 16
(Pool stage rankings in brackets / All kick-offs local times)

Friday 5 April
Match 2: Gloucester Rugby (2) v Castres Olympique (15), Kingsholm (20.00)
Viaplay-Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby

Saturday 6 April
Match 4: ASM Clermont Auvergne (4) v Toyota Cheetahs (13), Stade Marcel-Michelin (13.30)
France TV / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby

Match 3: Benetton Rugby (3) v Emirates Lions (14), Stadio Comunale di Monigo (18.30)
epcrugby.tv / SuperSport / FloRugby

Match 7: Ospreys (7) v Sale Sharks (10), Brewery Field, Bridgend (20.00)
S4C / FloRugby

Match 8: Edinburgh Rugby (8) v Aviron Bayonnais (9), Hive Stadium (20.00)
Viaplay-Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby

Sunday 7 April
Match 5: Montpellier Hérault Rugby (5) v Ulster Rugby (12), GGL Stadium (13.30)
beIN SPORTS / Viaplay-Premier Sports / FloRugby

Match 1: Hollywoodbets Sharks (1) v Zebre Parma (16), Hollywoodbets Kings Park (16.00)
SuperSport / epcrugby.tv / FloRugby

Match 6: Section Paloise (6) v Connacht Rugby (11), Stade du Hameau (18.30)
beIN SPORTS / Viaplay-Premier Sports / FloRugby

Quarter-finals - 12/13/14 April
QF 1: winner R16 1 v winner R16 8
QF 2: winner R16 2 v winner R16 7
QF 3: winner R16 3 v winner R16 6
QF 4: winner R16 4 v winner R16 5
NB The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage.

Semi-finals - 3/4/5 May
SF 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 4
SF 2: winner QF 2 v winner QF 3
NB The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage.

2024 EPCR Challenge Cup final - Friday, 24 May; Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (20.00)