1996–97 European Challenge Cup

The qualifying teams were drawn from seven countries. Generally, these were teams from the top division of domestic rugby that did not qualify to play in the Heineken Cup:

• England: 6 teams from the English Premiership
• France: 7 teams from the French Championship
• Ireland: one team representing one of the four Provinces of Ireland
• Italy: one team from the National Championship of Excellence
• Romania: one team from the National League
• Scotland: one team representing one of the four geographical districts
• Wales: 7 teams from the Welsh Premier Division

Twenty four teams participated in the pool stage of the competition; they were divided into four pools of six teams each, with each team playing the other teams in their pool once only. Matches took place between 12 October and 2 November 1996 and teams were awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw. The winner and runner-up of each pool progressed to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Pool 1

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Agen	5	5	0	0	20	9	+11	156	82	+74	10
Montferrand	5	4	0	1	30	8	+22	211	74	+137	8
Sale Sharks	5	3	0	2	18	14	+4	166	115	+51	6
Newport	5	2	0	3	14	19	−15	98	158	−60	4
Glasgow	5	1	0	4	15	30	−15	113	202	−89	2
Newbridge	5	0	0	5	16	33	−17	106	219	−113	0
Source : www.ercrugby.com

Pool 2

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Castres Olympique	5	5	0	0	29	6	+23	207	71	+136	10
Narbonne	5	4	0	1	21	6	+15	161	90	+71	8
Dinamo-București	5	2	1	2	12	32	−20	109	213	−104	5
Bridgend	4	1	1	2	10	14	−4	94	120	−26	3
Bristol	5	1	0	4	11	12	−1	128	99	+29	2
Treorchy	4	0	0	4	10	23	−13	72	178	−106	0
Source : www.ercrugby.com

The Treorchy v Bridgend match was not played.[4]

Pool 3

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Northampton Saints	5	5	0	0	28	12	+16	207	88	+119	10
Toulon	5	4	0	1	22	10	+12	164	102	+62	8
Orrell	5	2	0	3	18	22	−4	122	173	−51	4
Connacht	5	2	0	3	9	17	−8	94	131	−37	4
Dunvant	5	1	0	4	15	22	−7	106	169	−63	2
Petrarca	5	1	0	4	10	19	−9	118	148	−30	2
Source : www.ercrugby.com

Pool 4

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Bourgoin	5	5	0	0	27	4	+23	196	66	+130	10
Bordeaux-Bègles	5	3	1	1	29	13	+16	195	99	+96	7
Swansea	5	3	1	1	28	19	+9	207	138	+69	7
Gloucester	5	2	0	3	17	17	0	119	123	−4	4
Ebbw Vale	5	1	0	4	6	36	−30	48	243	−195	2
London Irish	5	0	0	5	12	30	−18	90	186	−96	0
Source : www.ercrugby.com

• European Challenge Cup
• 1996–97 Heineken Cup