Black Lion become first Georgian rugby team to compete in Europe as Challenge Cup confirms pools

Black Lion will become the first Georgian side in history to play European club rugby after accepting an invitation to take part in this season’s Challenge Cup.

Elsewhere the Toyota Cheetahs have been invited to return after reaching the knockout stages last season.

Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs, who triumphed in the Currie Cup final last weekend, will take their place again after losing to eventual winners RC Toulon.

Black Lion go into Pool 3 where they will take on two former tournament winners in Gloucester Rugby and Clermont, as well as Castres Olympique and Scarlets with their two home matches staged in Tbilisi.

Georgian Rugby Union President, Ioseb Tkemaladze said: “This is a hugely important moment for Georgian rugby and for the country.

“We’ve all been working hard for this – on the pitch and behind the scenes – for many years. We’re grateful to EPCR for taking a lead and showing the vision that is needed to further the global development and growth of the game.”

The Toyota Cheetahs will face Oyonnax Rugby, Section Paloise, Cell C Sharks and Zebre Parma in Pool 1 and will play the majority of their home games in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Their pool stage match against the Cell C Sharks will be played in either Bloemfontein or Durban depending on the outcome of the current fixture scheduling process.

EPCR Chairman, Dominic McKay, said: “The inclusion of Black Lion and the return of the Toyota Cheetahs reflect a continuing commitment to widen the scope of our tournaments and to showcase new, exciting talent for fans worldwide.

“The Toyota Cheetahs have already enhanced the EPCR Challenge Cup with their performance last season, and we are confident that the Georgians’ passion and physicality will further raise the intensity of the tournament.”

Full details of the fixture schedules for the 2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup and Champions Cup will be announced soon.