Pontypridd's road leads to Rome

Pontypridd finished as Parker Pen Shield runners-up

Click here for full first round draw

Parker Pen Shield runners up Pontypridd begin this season's campaign in a revamped European competition away to Roma on Saturday.

Rather than beginning with pool stages like the top tier Heineken Cup, the new Parker Pen Challenge Cup switches to a home-and-away knockout format.

The 16 aggregate winners will go forward to the second round, continuing to play on a home and away format.

It's going to be tough away from home

Pontypridd coach Lynn Howells

Pontypridd have been in excellent form in the Celtic League and will want to stamp their authourity in the first leg at the Stadio Tre Fontane.

"It's not a bad draw, but Roma are one of the better sides in Italy," said Pontypridd coach Lynn Howells.

"So it's going to be tough - especially away from home."

Meanwhile, Bridgend - the other Welsh seeded side - will face French side Pau who are one of the most difficult unseeded sides, again with the away match first.

Unseeded Ebbw Vale have been drawn against Montauban, while Caerphilly are against former Parker Pen winners Harlequins, both playing their home tie first.

Vale faced Montauban in last season's competition, winning at home but losing away.

The 16 first-round losers will drop into a separate repechage competition, which will confusingly be known as the Parker Pen Shield.

All these matches will be played on the weekends of 6/7/8 and 13/14/15 December, ensuring that every team has at least four games in Europe.

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Parker Pen Challenge Cup first round draw:
Matches to be played Saturday 12 October unless stated.

Grenoble v Newcastle
Rugby Treviso v Castres Olympique

Pol Rugby L'Aquila v Colomiers
Dinamo Bucharest v Saracens

Ebbw Vale v Montauban (Fri 11 Oct)
Madrid 2012 v Borders

G.R.A.N. Rugby Parma v Bath (Fri 11 Oct)
Rugby Pau v Bridgend

Overmach Parma v London Wasps
La Moraleja Alcobendas v Bordeaux-Begles

Caerphilly v Harlequins
Rovigo v Stade Francais (Sun 13 Oct)

Silea v RC Narbonne (Sun 13 Oct)
Mont de Marsan v Connacht Petrarca

Padova v Leeds
Roma v Pontypridd

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