Falcons to play in revised European Challenge Cup
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a shortened structure brought in on a one-off basis, with 14 teams competing in one large group.
That consists of four clubs from the Gallagher Premiership (teams TBC depending on current season league placings), six from France’s Top 14 (Bayonne, Castres, Brive, Pau, Agen and Stade Francais) and four from the Pro 14 (Benetton, Cardiff Blues, Zebre and Ospreys).
Fixtures will be confirmed following the end of the current Gallagher Premiership season, with teams from the same league not playing against each other.
Each team will play four games during the league phase, two home and two away, with the top eight teams progressing through to the round of 16.
There, they will be joined by eight teams dropping down from the Heineken Champions Cup, with one-leg knock-out games during the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, all leading up to the final in Marseille on May 21.
