2011–12 European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup 2011/12 was the 16th edition of the European Challenge Cup, the second tier European Cup competition in rugby union. For sponsorship reasons, he was known as the Amlin Challenge Cup. There were 23 teams involved - 20 in the group stage and another three in the knockout round, the 12 were excreted in the Heineken Cup 2011 /. The competition began on 10 June 2011, the finals took place on May 18, 2012 in The Stoop, London. The title was won the French team Biarritz Olympique.
- 4.1 seedings
- 4.2 quarterfinals
- 4.3 Semi-finals
- 4.4 final
Mode
All teams in the Aviva Premiership English, French Top 14 and the International Pro12 who had not qualified for the Heineken Cup, took part in the European Challenge Cup. There were four teams from the Italian Campionato di Excellency as well as representatives of Romania and Spain.
The 20 participants in the group stage were divided into five groups of four teams. The seeding order based on the placement in the pan-European club ranking. Each team played one home and one away match against the three group opponents. In the group stage the teams were:
- Four points for a win
- Two points for a draw
- A bonus point with four or more experiments
- A bonus point for a loss by seven points or less difference
For the quarter final, qualified the five group winners, added the third - to fifth- best runners came from the knockout round of the Heineken Cup 2011 /12.
Draw
The non-qualified for the Heineken Cup teams were divided with four teams according to the European club ranking in four pots (in brackets the placement end of the previous season):
Group stage
- Group winners qualified for the quarterfinals
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Knockout round
Seedings
After the group stage came together, the five group winners and the third - to fifth- best runners of the Heineken Cup 2011 /12.