Eben Etzebeth, Sam Simmonds and George North all feature in opening Challenge Cup round

eben etzebeth, sam simmonds and george north all feature in opening challenge cup round

Eben-Etzebeth-Sharks-Champions-Cup-2023-PA

Round One of the Challenge Cup gets underway this Friday with Clermont v Edinburgh on Friday before eight further matches take place over the weekend.

Check on the team news for all the games, below.

Friday

Clermont v Edinburgh

Clermont: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Julien Heriteau, 12 George Moala, 11 Thomas Roziere, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Peceli Yato, 6 Lucas Dessaigne, 5 Thomas Lavanini, 4 Rob Simmons, Cristian Ojovan, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Etienne Falgoux (c)

Replacements: 16 Yohan Beheregaray, 17 Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18 Henzo Kiteau, 19 Fritz Lee, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Baptiste Jauneau, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Pierre Fouyssac

Edinburgh: 15 Tim Swiel, 14 Harry Paterson, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Cammy Scott, 9 Ben Vellacott (c), 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Luke Crosbie, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Robin Hislop

Replacements: 16 Adam McBurney, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Angus Williams, 19 Glen Young, 20 Connor Boyle, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Matt Currie, 23 Wes Goosen

Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin

Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT)

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)

Assistant Referees: Joy Neville (Ire), Padraic Reidy (Ire)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)

Saturday

Black Lion v Gloucester

Black Lion: 15 Luka Tsirekidze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 8 Ilia Spanderashvili, 7 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 6 Luka Ivanishvili, 5 Mikheil Babunashvili, 4 Nodar Cheishvili, 3 Giorgi Chkhartishvili, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Dato Abdushelishvili

Replacements: 16 Beka Mamrikashvili, 17 Aliko Shamilishvili, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19 Demuri Epremidze, 20 Giorgi Kervalishvili, 21 Giorgi Margalitadze, 22 Tornike Kakhoidze, 23 Miriani Modebadze

Gloucester: 15 Jacob Morris, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Louis Hillman-Cooper, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Barton, 9 Michael Young, 8 Ben Donnell, 7 Harry Taylor (c), 6 Freddie Thomas, 5 Cameron Jordan, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Jamal Ford-Robinson

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Arthur Clark, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Josh Hathaway

Venue: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium

Kick-off: 17:00 local (13:00 GMT)

Referee: Adam Jones (Wal)

Assistant Referees: Tom Spurrier (Wal), Elgan Williams (Wal)

TMO: Sean Brickell (Wal)

Zebre Parma v Cheetahs

Zebre Parma: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Franco Smith Jr, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Tiff Eden, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giovanni Licata (c), 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 David Sisi, 3 Juan Pitinari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Danilo Fischetti

Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Guido Volpi, 20 Taina Fox-Matamua, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Fetuli Paea, 23 Jake Polledri

Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Siba Xamlashe, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Laurence Victor, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Sibabalo Qoma, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Ali Mgijima

Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)

Referee: Jack Makepeace (Eng)

Assistant Referees: Sara Cox (Eng), Gareth Holsgrove (Eng)

TMO: Dean Richards (Eng)

Sharks v Pau

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Corne Rahl, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Ethan Hooker

Pau: 15 Thomas Carol, 14 Aminiasi Tuimaba, 13 Samuel Ezeala, 12 Jale Vatubua, 11 Gregoire Arfeuil, 10 Axel Desperes, 9 Thibault Daubagna, 8 Thibaut Hamonou, 7 Martin Puech (c), 6 Mehdi Tlili, 5 Fabrice Metz, 4 Guillaume Ducat, 3 Nicolas Corato, 2 Romain Ruffenach, 1 Paul Tailhades

Replacements: 16 Youri Delhommel, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Ziggy Fisi’ihoi, 19 Brent Liufau, 20 Josselin Bouhier, 21 Thomas Souverbie, 22 Thibault Debaes, 23 Nathan Decron

Venue: Kings Park

Kick-off: 17:15 local (15:15 GMT)

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)

Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (Eng), Simon Harding (Eng)

TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)

Castres v Scarlets

Castres: 15 Julien Dumora (c), 14 Josaia Raisuqe, 13 Adrien Seguret, 12 Vilimoni Botitu, 11 Antoine Bouzerand, 10 Louis le Brun, 9 Jeremy Fernandez, 8 Abraham Papalii, 7 Baptiste Cope, 6 Romain Macurdy, 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Florent Vanverberghe, 3 Aurelien Azar, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Wayan de Benedittis

Replacements: 16 Pierre Colonna, 17 Antoine Tichit, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Yann Peysson, 21 Gauthier Doubrere, 22 Pierre Popelin, 23 Theo Chabouni

Scarlets: 15 Tom Rogers, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Jonathan Davies (c), 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 7 Teddy Leatherbarrow, 6 Ben Williams, 5 Jac Price, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Joe Jones, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Steff Thomas

Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Ed Scragg, 20 Iwan Shenton, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Ioan Nicholas

Venue: Stade Pierre Fabre

Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)

Assistant Referees: Saba Abuashvili (Geo), Shota Tevzadze (Geo)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

Ospreys v Benetton

Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 George North, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris (c), 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Rhys Davies, 5 Adam Beard, 4 James Fender, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas

Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Harri Deaves, 20 Tristan Davies, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Jack Walsh, 23 Mat Protheroe

Benetton: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Paolo Odogwu, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Giosue Zilocchi, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Thomas Gallo

Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Filippo Alongi, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Toa Halafihi, 22 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 23 Leonardo Marin

Venue: Swansea.com Stadium

Kick-off: 17:30 GMT

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (Fra)

Assistant Referees: Baptiste Nuchy (Fra), Pierre Bru (Fra)

TMO: Patrick Dellac (Fra)

Dragons v Oyonnax

Dragons: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Steff Hughes (c), 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Will Reed, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Harri Keddie, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 George Nott, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rhodri Jones

Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 George Young, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Harri Ackerman, 23 Corey Baldwin

Oyonnax: 15 Maxime Salles, 14 Souleymane Coulibaly, 13 Leo Treilles, 12 Pedro Bettencourt, 11 Joe Ravouvou, 10 Jules Soulan, 9 Charlie Cassang, 8 Loic Godener, 7 Hugo Hermet, 6 Filimo Taofifenua, 5 Steve Mafi, 4 Victor Lebas, 3 Irakli Mirtskhulava, 2 Manu Leiataua, 1 Rory Sutherland

Replacements: 16 Julien Ratajczak, 17 Adrien Bordenave, 18 Antonin Corso, 19 Ewan Johnson, 20 Ilan El Khattabi, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alexis Pisani, 23 Thibault Berthaud

Venue: Rodney Parade

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)

Assistant Referees: Keane Davison (Ire), Tomas O’Sullivan (Ire)

TMO: Mark Patton (Ire)

Sunday

Perpignan v Lions

Perpignan: 15 Jean-Pascal Barraque, 14 Lucas Dubois, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Freddy Duguivalu, 11 Louis Dupichot, 10 Alexandre Perez, 9 Matteo Rodor, 8 Ewan Bertheau, 7 Alan Brazo, 6 Jaco van Tonder, 5 Shahn Eru, 4 Tristan Labouteley, 3 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Victor Montgaillard, 1 Sacha Lotrian

Replacements: 16 Vakhtang Jincharadze, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Akato Fakatika, 19 Lucas Bachelier, 20 Valentin Moro, 21 Tom Ecochard, 22 Eddie Sawailau, 23 Boris Goutard

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Raynard Roets, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Corne Fourie

Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Izan Esterhuizen, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Rynhardt Jonker

Venue: Stade Aime Giral

Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)

Referee: Adam Leal (Eng)

Assistant Referees: Alex Thomas (Eng), Neil Chivers (Eng)

TMO: Rowan Kitt (Eng)

Newcastle Falcons v Montpellier

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Ollie Spencer, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Rory Jennings, 9 James Elliott, 8 Callum Chick (c), 7 Sam Cross, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 John Hawkins, 3 Murray McCallum, 2 Bryan Byrne, 1 Phil Brantingham

Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Louie Johnson, 23 Zach Kerr

Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier (c), 14 George Bridge, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Auguste Cadot, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Leo Coly, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Alex Becognee, 6 Clement Doumenc, 5 Tyler DuGuid, 4 Marco Tauleigne, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Vano Karkadze, 1 Gregory Fichten

Replacements: 16 Adrien Sonzogni, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Bastien Chalureau, 20 Cantin Foguet, 21 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 22 Masi Dakuwaqa, 23 Pierre Lucas

Venue: Kingston Park

Kick-off: 15:15 GMT

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)

Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (Sco), Ru Campbell (Sco)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)

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