2012–13 European Challenge Cup

{{Infobox European Rugby Cup season

| name = 2012–13 Amlin Challenge Cup

| image =

| imagesize = 100px

| caption = Official logo

| countries = {{flag|England}}
{{flag|France}}
{{flag|Ireland|rugby union}}
{{flag|Italy}}
{{flag|Romania}}
{{flag|Spain}}
{{flag|Wales}}

| tournament format = Round-robin and knockout

| date = 11 October 2012 to 17 May 2013

| teams = 23

| matches = 67

| attendance = {{#expr:

+ 4160 + 6000 + 5550 + 1000 + 1500 + 3748 + 1000 + 1100 + 4186 + 4200

+ 9576 + 4576 + 1500 + 5720 + 6147 + 1012 + 7182 + 4054 + 11548 + 1950

+ 2468 + 7801 + 5800 + 885 + 1200 + 11445 + 7309 + 1100 + 600 + 9658

+ 4040 + 12186 + 2194 + 2107 + 1630 + 800 + 10535 + 600 + 10135 + 4473

+ 2678 + 1922 + 3500 + 1580 + 9131 + 1200 + 500 + 5744 + 500 + 6209

+ 4089 + 5278 + 1170 + 1332 + 350 + 9873 + 8955 + 1800 + 2424 + 9972

+ 10273 + 9654 + 12452 + 11155

+ 12242 + 18500

+ 20396

}}

| tries = {{#expr:

+ 1 + 9 + 12 + 11 + 7 + 10 + 14 + 9 + 7 + 7

+ 5 + 5 + 7 + 13 + 14 + 9 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 11

+ 3 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 8 + 11 + 5 + 6 + 1 + 3

+ 3 + 4 + 3 + 5 + 5 + 7 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 8

+ 4 + 4 + 3 + 9 + 2 + 6 + 14 + 12 + 10 + 0

+ 3 + 9 + 3 + 8 + 7 + 10 + 6 + 3 + 12 + 8

+ 8 + 9 + 4 + 7

+ 3 + 6

+ 5

}}

| top point scorer = Freddie Burns (Gloucester)
(86 points){{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset871=2012|title=Amlin Challenge Cup: Points Scorers|access-date=11 October 2013}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| top try scorer = Horacio Agulla (Bath)
Francis Fainifo (Stade Français)
Adrien Planté (Perpignan)
Andy Short (Worcester)
(6 tries){{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/statistics/player_records_tries.php?preset882=2012|title=Amlin Challenge Cup: Try Scorers|access-date=5 April 2013}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| venue = RDS Arena

| attendance2 = 20,396

| champions = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster

| count = 1

| runner-up = {{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français

| website = http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/

| previous year = 2011–12

| previous tournament = 2011–12 European Challenge Cup

| next year = 2013–14

| next tournament = 2013–14 European Challenge Cup

}}

The 2012–13 Amlin Challenge Cup was the 17th season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second-tier club rugby union competition. A total of 23 teams participated — 20 in the pool stage, plus three teams parachuting into the knockout stages from the Heineken Cup. The original 20 teams represented six countries.

The pool stage began in Mont-de-Marsan on 11 October 2012, with Stade Montois hosting Gloucester. It ended on 19 January 2013 when Stade Français hosted competition newcomers London Welsh,{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/18520.php|title=London Welsh begin campaign with glamour tie|date=31 July 2012|access-date=31 July 2012|publisher=European Rugby Cup|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527164452/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/18520.php|archive-date=27 May 2013|url-status=dead}} followed by the knockout stages culminating in the final at the RDS Arena in Dublin on 17 May 2013.

The defending Challenge Cup champions, France's Biarritz Olympique, did not initially have a chance to defend their crown because they earned an automatic berth in the Heineken Cup. However, having finish 2nd in their pool, and failing to reach the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, they were one of three teams parachuted into the Challenge Cup knockout stages. They were knocked out of the competition by Leinster at the semi-final stage. Leinster went on to win the competition, defeating Stade Français 34–13 in the final.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22530590|title= Leinster 34-13 Stade Francais|date=17 March 2013|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 May 2013 }}{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/may/17/stade-francais-leinster-amlin-challenge-cup|title= Leinster's Jonathan Sexton tames Stade Français to secure Amlin Cup|date=17 March 2013|work=Guardian|access-date=20 May 2013 }}{{cite web|url= http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/182896.html|title= Ruthless Leinster win Challenge Cup|date=17 March 2013|work=ESPN|access-date=20 May 2013 }}

Teams

Gernika Rugby Taldea represented Spain despite finishing just 5th in the División de Honor. Valladolid won the División de Honor, and the championship playoff, but turned down the opportunity to play in the Challenge Cup due to economic factors.{{cite news |url=http://www.valladolidrac.com/contenido.php?art_id=5476 |title=El VRAC Quesos Entrepinares no disputará la Amlin Challenge Cup |publisher=Valladolid RAC |date=12 June 2012 |access-date=29 June 2012 |quote=These are difficult times. The poor economic situation greatly complicates find sponsors who will assist the VRAC Cheese Entrepinares again leave their mark in Europe ten years after the last time you did. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811160434/http://www.valladolidrac.com/contenido.php?art_id=5476 |archive-date=11 August 2016 |url-status=dead }} As runners up in the championship playoff, Gernika qualified in their place.

class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
width=16%\| England !width=16%\| France !width=16%\| Italy !width=16%\| Romania !width=16%\| Spain !width=16%\| Wales
valign=top \| London Wasps Bath Gloucester London Irish Worcester Warriors London WelshLondon Welsh will directly replace Newcastle Falcons. {{cite news\|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/18471.php \|title=London Welsh confirmed for Amlin Challenge Cup\|publisher=European Rugby Cup \|date=5 July 2012 \|access-date=5 July 2012}} \| Stade Français Perpignan Bayonne Agen Bordeaux-Bègles Mont-de-Marsan Grenoble \| Calvisano Rovigo Cavalieri Prato Mogliano \| București Wolves \| Gernika \| Newport Gwent Dragons

class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"

width=16%| England

!width=16%| France

!width=16%| Italy

!width=16%| Romania

!width=16%| Spain

!width=16%| Wales

valign=top

London Wasps
Bath
Gloucester
London Irish
Worcester Warriors
London WelshLondon Welsh will directly replace Newcastle Falcons. {{cite news|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/18471.php |title=London Welsh confirmed for Amlin Challenge Cup|publisher=European Rugby Cup |date=5 July 2012 |access-date=5 July 2012}}

București Wolves

Gernika

Newport Gwent Dragons

Seeding

Teams that did not qualify for the 2012–13 Heineken Cup were ordered into four tiers according to the European Rugby Club Ranking. Five pools of four teams were drawn comprising one team from each tier.

The brackets show each team's European Rugby Club Ranking at the end of the 2011–12 season.

class="wikitable"
width=6%\| Tier 1 \|width=15%\| {{flagicon\|FRA}} Stade Français (10) \|width=15%\| {{flagicon\|ENG}} London Wasps (15) \|width=15%\| {{flagicon\|FRA}} Perpignan (16) \|width=15%\| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Bath (17) \|width=15%\| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Gloucester (22)
Tier 2 \|{{flagicon\|ENG}} London Irish (23) \|{{flagicon\|WAL}} Newport Gwent Dragons (31) \|{{flagicon\|ENG}} London Welsh \|{{flagicon\|ENG}} Worcester Warriors (35) \|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Calvisano (39)
Tier 3 \|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Bayonne (40) \|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Rovigo (41) \|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Agen (42) \|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Cavalieri Prato (43) \|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Bordeaux-Bègles (44)
Tier 4 \|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Mont de Marsan (45) \|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Grenoble (46) \|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Mogliano (47) \|{{flagicon\|ROM}} București Wolves \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Gernika

class="wikitable"

width=6%| Tier 1

|width=15%| {{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français (10)

|width=15%| {{flagicon|ENG}} London Wasps (15)

|width=15%| {{flagicon|FRA}} Perpignan (16)

|width=15%| {{flagicon|ENG}} Bath (17)

|width=15%| {{flagicon|ENG}} Gloucester (22)

Tier 2

|{{flagicon|ENG}} London Irish (23)

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Newport Gwent Dragons (31)

|{{flagicon|ENG}} London Welsh

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Worcester Warriors (35)

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Calvisano (39)

Tier 3

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Bayonne (40)

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Rovigo (41)

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Agen (42)

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Cavalieri Prato (43)

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux-Bègles (44)

Tier 4

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Mont de Marsan (45)

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Grenoble (46)

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Mogliano (47)

|{{flagicon|ROM}} București Wolves

|{{flagicon|ESP}} Gernika

Pool stage

class="wikitable"

|+ Key to colours

style="background:#cfc;"|

|Winner of each pool advances to quarterfinals.
Seed # in parentheses.

Points breakdown:

:4 points for a win

:2 points for a draw

:1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match (TB)

:1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less (LB)

Source: [http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/amlinchallengecup/pools/index.php?includeref=478&season=2012-2013 www.ercrugby.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203163922/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/amlinchallengecup/pools/index.php?includeref=478&season=2012-2013 |date=2014-02-03 }}

=Pool 1=

style="width:200px;"\|Team !width="20"\|P !width="20"\|W !width="20"\|D !width="20"\|L !width="20"\|PF !width="20"\|PA !width="20"\|Diff !width="20"\|TF !width="20"\|TA !width="20"\|TB !width="20"\|LB !width="20"\|Pts
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
bgcolor="#ccffcc" \|align=left\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} Gloucester (2) \| 6	6	0	0	179	86	+93	19	7	3	0	27
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} London Irish \| 6	4	0	2	174	139	+35	24	14	2	1	19
align=left\|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Mont-de-Marsan \| 6	2	0	4	100	156	−56	9	21	0	2	10
align=left\|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Bordeaux-Bègles \| 6	0	0	6	82	154	−72	7	17	0	2	2

=Pool 2=

style="width:200px;"\|Team !width="20"\|P !width="20"\|W !width="20"\|D !width="20"\|L !width="20"\|PF !width="20"\|PA !width="20"\|Diff !width="20"\|TF !width="20"\|TA !width="20"\|TB !width="20"\|LB !width="20"\|Pts
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
bgcolor="#ccffcc" \|align=left\|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Perpignan (3) \| 6	5	0	1	293	89	+204	42	5	4	1	25
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} Worcester Warriors \| 6	5	0	1	354	78	+276	51	7	4	1	25
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Gernika \| 6	2	0	4	80	309	−229	6	47	0	0	8
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Rovigo \| 6	0	0	6	67	318	−251	6	46	0	1	1

Per the Competition Rules,{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/amlinchallengecup/rules/index.php |title=Rules |publisher=European Rugby Cup |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123065630/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/amlinchallengecup/rules/index.php |archive-date=23 January 2013 }} Perpignan and Worcester were level on the first tiebreaker of head-to-head competition points (5–5); Perpignan topped the pool on the second tiebreaker of head-to-head try count (3–1).

=Pool 3=

style="width:200px;"\|Team !width="20"\|P !width="20"\|W !width="20"\|D !width="20"\|L !width="20"\|PF !width="20"\|PA !width="20"\|Diff !width="20"\|TF !width="20"\|TA !width="20"\|TB !width="20"\|LB !width="20"\|Pts
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
bgcolor="#ccffcc" \|align=left\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} London Wasps (4) \| 6	5	1	0	231	92	+139	30	9	3	0	25
align=left\|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Bayonne \| 6	4	1	1	201	91	+110	25	7	2	0	20
align=left\|{{flagicon\|WAL}} Newport Gwent Dragons \| 6	2	0	4	171	108	+63	19	10	2	3	13
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Mogliano \| 6	0	0	6	29	341	−312	4	52	0	0	0

=Pool 4=

style="width:200px;"\|Team !width="20"\|P !width="20"\|W !width="20"\|D !width="20"\|L !width="20"\|PF !width="20"\|PA !width="20"\|Diff !width="20"\|TF !width="20"\|TA !width="20"\|TB !width="20"\|LB !width="20"\|Pts
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
bgcolor="#ccffcc" \|align=left\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} Bath (1) \| 6	6	0	0	245	79	+166	36	7	5	0	29
align=left\|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Agen \| 6	3	0	3	154	120	+34	18	12	2	3	17
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ROM}} București Wolves \| 6	2	0	4	121	215	−94	14	29	1	0	9
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Calvisano \| 6	1	0	5	117	223	−106	13	33	2	1	7

=Pool 5=

style="width:200px;"\|Team !width="20"\|P !width="20"\|W !width="20"\|D !width="20"\|L !width="20"\|PF !width="20"\|PA !width="20"\|Diff !width="20"\|TF !width="20"\|TA !width="20"\|TB !width="20"\|LB !width="20"\|Pts
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
bgcolor="#ccffcc" \|align=left\|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Stade Français (8) \| 6	5	0	1	210	105	+105	25	7	4	1	25
align=left\|{{flagicon\|FRA}} Grenoble \| 6	4	0	2	173	81	+92	21	6	3	1	20
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} London Welsh \| 6	3	0	3	171	170	+1	20	24	2	0	14
align=left\|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Cavalieri Prato \| 6	0	0	6	68	266	−198	8	37	1	1	2

The result of the Grenoble / London Welsh match on 7 December 2012 was 20–9 to Grenoble, but London Welsh were retroactively awarded a 28–0 victory and five match points,{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/amlin_challenge_cup_fixtures.php?includeref=480&season=2012-2013&round=3|title=Amlin Challenge Cup Fixtures|publisher=European Rugby Cup|date=15 December 2012|access-date=15 December 2012}} after Grenoble admitted fielding an ineligible player, Lotu Taukeiaho,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20728702|title=London Welsh get Amlin Challenge Cup points boost|publisher=BBC|date=14 December 2012|access-date=15 December 2012}} during the match.

=Seeding for knockout stage=

Following the end of the pool stage, the 5 pool winners were seeded alongside the 3 2012–13 Heineken Cup pool runners-up who failed to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals – designated (HC). Teams are ranked by total number of Competition Points earned (4 for a win, 2 for a draw, etc.) in the pool stages. If this does not separate the teams, qualification/ranking will be based on:

:(a) the number of tries scored in all Pool matches.

:(b) aggregate points difference from all Pool matches.

:(c) the Club with the fewest players sent off and / or suspended in all Pool matches.

:(d) toss of a coin.

Seed !Team !Pts !TF !+/−
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
1 \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Bath	29	36	+166
2 \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Gloucester	27	19	+93
3 \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|FRA}} Perpignan	25	42	+204
4 \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|ENG}} London Wasps	25	30	+139
5 (HC) \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|IRE\|rugby union}} Leinster	20	12	+28
6 (HC) \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|FRA}} Toulouse	19	15	+48
7 (HC) \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|FRA}} Biarritz	15	14	+22
8 \|align=left\| {{flagicon\|FRA}} Stade Français	25	25	+105

Knockout stage

All kickoff times are local to the match location.

=Quarter-finals=

{{rugbybox

|date = 4 April 2013

|time = 20:00

|home = Gloucester {{flagicon|ENG}}

|score = 31–41

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/20726.php|title=Home|website=www.ercrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}

|away = {{flagicon|FRA}} Biarritz

|try1 = Tindall 13' m
Monahan 78' c
Edmonds 80' c

|con1 = F. Burns (2/3)

|pen1 = F. Burns (4/5) 10', 26', 34', 47'

|try2 = Thomas (2) 22' c, 31' c
Héguy 36' c
Baby 56' c
Burotu 73' c

|con2 = Yachvili (5/5)

|pen2 = Yachvili (1/3) 18'

|drop2 = Traille (1/1) 11'

|stadium = Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

|attendance = 10,273

|referee = John Lacey (Ireland)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date = 5 April 2013

|time = 20:00

|home = London Wasps {{flagicon|ENG}}

|score = 28–48

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/20748.php|title=Home|website=www.ercrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}

|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster

|try1 = Wade (2) 1' m, 14' c
Varndell (2) 65' m, 70' m

|con1 = Robinson (1/4)

|pen1 = Robinson (2/3) 35', 48'

|try2 = D'Arcy 5' c
Madigan 22' c
Ross 45' c
R. Kearney 59' m
Nacewa 67' c

|con2 = Madigan (4/5)

|pen2 = Madigan (5/6) 26', 38', 44', 52', 76'

|drop2 =

|stadium = Adams Park, High Wycombe

|attendance = 9,654

|referee = Pascal Gaüzère (France)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date = 5 April 2013

|time = 21:00

|home = Perpignan {{flagicon|FRA}}

|score = 30–19

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/20749.php|title=Home|website=www.ercrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}

|away = {{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse

|try1 = Taofifenua 6' c
Sid 37' c
Vahaamahina 46' c

|con1 = Hook (3/3)

|pen1 = Hook (3/3) 1', 71', 75'

|try2 = Maka 58' c

|con2 = Beauxis (1/1)

|pen2 = Beauxis (4/5) 10', 19', 22', 24'

|drop2 =

|stadium = Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan

|attendance = 12,452

|referee = Alain Rolland (Ireland)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date = 6 April 2013

|time = 13:00

|home = Bath {{flagicon|ENG}}

|score = 20–36

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/20758.php|title=Home|website=www.ercrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}

|away = {{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français

|try1 = penalty try 46' c
Claassens 65' m
Cuthbert 77' m

|con1 = Donald (1/1)

|pen1 = Donald (1/1) 25'

|try2 = Vuidravuwalu (2) 19' c, 29' c
Bonneval (2) 57' m, 59' m

|con2 = Fillol (2/2)

|pen2 = Plisson (1/1) 15'
Fillol (1/2) 23'
Porical (1/1) 80'

|drop2 = Plisson (1/2) 69'

|stadium = Recreation Ground, Bath

|attendance = 11,155

|referee = Nigel Owens (Wales)

}}

=Semi-finals=

{{rugbybox

|date = 26 April 2013

|time = 21:00

|home = Perpignan {{flagicon|FRA}}

|score = 22–25

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/20944.php|title=Home|website=www.ercrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}

|away = {{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français

|try1 = Guirado 10' m
Hook 22' m

|con1 =

|pen1 = Hook (4/5) 29', 43', 47', 66'

|try2 = Lyons 44' c

|con2 = Porical (1/1)

|pen2 = Porical (6/7) 8', 26', 35', 52', 73', 76'

|stadium = Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan

|attendance = 12,242

|referee = George Clancy (Ireland) }}

----

{{rugbybox

|date = 27 April 2013

|time = 14:30

|home = Leinster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}

|score = 44–16

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/20945.php|title=Home|website=www.ercrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017}}

|away = {{flagicon|FRA}} Biarritz

|try1 = Heaslip (2) 3' c, 40' c
J. Sexton 38' c
Nacewa 49' c
O'Driscoll 63' c

|con1 = J. Sexton (3/3)
Madigan (2/2)

|pen1 = J. Sexton (2/2) 27', 45'
Madigan (1/1) 55'

|try2 = Héguy 67' c

|con2 = Yachvili (1/1)

|pen2 = Yachvili (3/3) 18', 23', 36'

|stadium = RDS Arena, Dublin

|attendance = 18,500

|referee = Wayne Barnes (England) }}

=Final=

{{rugbybox

|date = 17 May 2013{{cite press release |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/18386.php |title=2012/13 Heineken Cup Pool Draw |publisher=European Rugby Cup |date=12 June 2012 |access-date=6 July 2012 |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615200901/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/18386.php |url-status=dead }}

|time = 20:00 IST

|home = Leinster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}

|score = 34–13

|report = Report{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/21055.php|title=Home|website=www.ercrugby.com|access-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607180321/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/21055.php|archive-date=7 June 2013|url-status=dead}}

|away = {{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français

|try1 = Madigan 2' c
Cronin 19' c
R. Kearney 27' c
Healy 78' c

|con1 = J. Sexton (4/4)

|pen1 = J. Sexton (2/2) 53', 62'

|try2 = Sinzelle 65' c

|con2 = Plisson (1/1)

|pen2 = Porical (2/2) 25', 40'

|drop2=

|stadium = RDS Arena, Dublin

|attendance = 20,396

|referee = Nigel Owens (Wales)

}}

Under European Rugby Cup rules, the winner of the Challenge Cup was automatically entered into the following season's Heineken Cup. If the Challenge Cup winner had already domestically qualified, the Cup winner's berth passed to another team from its country. As Leinster qualified for the 2013–14 Heineken Cup through their performance in the Pro 12, Connacht qualified for the Heineken Cup.