The Challenge Cup draw has been made. RC Vannes has been placed in Pool 3 alongside the Black Lions (Georgia), the Scarlets (Wales), Edinburgh (Scotland), Gloucester (England) and Bayonne*. The top four will qualify for the round of 16.
Black Lion (Géorgie)
This will be their second participation in the Challenge Cup. Last season, the Georgian team won one match (on the Scarlets’ pitch) for three defeats. This franchise created in 2021 is the only professional team in Georgia. Winners of the first three editions of the Rugby Europe Super Cup, a championship bringing together teams from emerging rugby countries (Spain, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, etc.), the Black Lions are aiming to join the URC, the championship in which the best Irish, South African, Scottish, Welsh and Italian teams participate.
Scarlets (Wales)
This Welsh team based in Llanelli is participating in the URC. They finished 13th out of 16 last season and have struggled to exist at this level for a few seasons after reaching the final twice in 2017 (champion) and 2018 (runner-up). The Scarlets can still rely on several Welsh internationals including scrum-half Gareth Davies (76 caps), hooker Ryan Elias (41) and fly-half Sam Costelow (12).
Edinburgh (Scotland)
Still in the URC, the club from the Scottish capital narrowly failed to qualify for the final stages last season. Somewhat in the shadow of its compatriots, Glasgow, crowned champions in 2024, Edinburgh nevertheless has solid assets with many internationals from the XV du Chardon such as the powerful winger Duhan van der Merwe (39 caps), the second row Grant Gilchrist (72), the third rows Hamish Watson (59) and Jamie Ritchie (49) or the scrum-half Ali Price (67).
Gloucester (England)
Second from bottom in the last two Premiership seasons, Gloucester will be under pressure this season as the English championship reintroduces the promotion-relegation system. Without this threat, the “Cherry and whites” reached the Challenge Cup final last season, defeated by the Durban Sharks (22-36). They should be able to count on number 8 Zach Mercer, best player in the Top 14 in 2022 when he won the Brennus Shield with Montpellier, or even the Italian scrum-halves Stephen Varney and Welsh Tomos Williams.
RC Vannes will face the four foreign teams (two home and two away) but not Aviron Bayonnais
