2000–01 European Challenge Cup

The 2000–01 European Challenge Cup was the fifth year of the European Challenge Cup, the second tier rugby union cup competition below the Heineken Cup. The tournament was held between October 2000 and May 2001.

2000–01 European Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Ireland
 Italy
 Wales
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and Knockout
Date6 October 1999 - 20 May 2001
Tournament statistics
Top point scorer(s)Barry Everitt (London Irish)
(119 points)
Top try scorer(s)Pépito Elhorga (Agen)
(8 tries)
Final
ChampionsEngland NEC Harlequins (1st title)
Runners-upFrance Narbonne
← 1999–2000 (Previous)
(Next) 2001–02 →

Pool stage

Pool 1

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
Newcastle Falcons65012710172349913510
Benetton Treviso650117116157976010
Bordeaux-Begles620417143136152−164
Cross Keys6006733−2660239−1790

Pool 2

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
Béziers6501141041511123910
Montferrand640223914201107948
Neath62041623−7151192−414
Connacht6105415−1160152−922

Pool 3

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
Perpignan640220911187105828
Rotherham Titans64021319−6122136−148
Bridgend RFC62041516−1144166−224
Grenoble62041216−4120166−464

Pool 4

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
Agen6501375322599116810
Sale Sharks64021618−2178155238
Auch62131621−5134185−515
Caerphilly60151136−25128268−1401

Pool 5

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
NEC Harlequins6501228141888010810
Dax6501171071521034910
Ebbw Vale61051318−5120151−312
Périgueux6105925−1694220−1262

Pool 6

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
London Irish650125131225410614810
Brive65012311121841434110
Aurillac620420173155179−244
Piacenza60061037−2790255−1650

Pool 7

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
Mont de Marsan6501228141771136410
La Rochelle6312211110167113547
Bristol Shoguns631217161199147527
Rugby Parma60061237−2592262−1700

Pool 8

TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
Narbonne4310139412476487
Bourgoin4211136710483215
Rugby Viadana4004819−1178147−690

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

27 January 2001
Agen 31–0 Béziers
Stade Armandie
28 January 2001
Newcastle Falcons 61–23 Mont de Marsan
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,500

Semi-finals

21 April 2001
Narbonne 22–15 Agen
Stade Ernest Wallon
Attendance: 12,000
22 April 2001
NEC Harlequins 17–12 Newcastle Falcons
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 6,000

Final

20 May 2001
NEC Harlequins 42–33 Narbonne
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 11,211


Harlequins: J. Williams, Gollings, Greenwood, Greenstock, O'Leary, Burke, M. Powell, Leonard, Wood, Dawson, Morgan, White-Cooper, Sanderson, Wilson, Winters.

Replacements: Friday, Chalmers, Jennings, Starr, Fuga, Codling, Jenkins.

Narbonne: Corletto, Joubert, Douy, A. Stoica, Rouch, Quesada, Sudre, Martinez, Ledesma, Pucciarello, Gaston, Merle, Furet, Raynaud, Reid.

Replacements: Racine, Poux, Plateret, Mathieu, Azema, Rosalen, Buada.

Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

See also