2009/10: Quarter-finals

After four wins from six wasn’t enough to seal progression in their Heineken Cup pool, Scarlets dropped into the Challenge Cup where they faced RC Toulon in the quarter-finals.

The Welsh region were comprehensively beaten at Stade Félix Mayol, with Toulon running in five tries as they claimed a 38-12 victory.

Clement Marienval (2), Jeremy Sinzelle, Sonny Bill Williams and Olivier Missoup dotted down for the hosts, with Jonny Wilkinson kicking 13 points, while Scarlets only replied through four Stephen Jones penalties.

2011/12: Quarter-finals

Scarlets dropped into the Challenge Cup again two years later after narrowly missing out on the Heineken Cup knockout stage.

There was another trip to France lined up in the quarter-finals as they took on CA Brive at Stadium Municipal, and though it was a much tighter affair, they were on the wrong side of a 15-11 scoreline.

Liam Williams crossed for the game’s only try after Stephen Jones had nudged two penalties to put Scarlets within striking distance, but Riaan Swanepoel, who had kept Brive ahead with four efforts from the tee, added a fifth in the closing stages to seal their win.

2019/20: Quarter-finals

The 2019/20 season saw Scarlets compete in the Challenge Cup pool stage for the first time, and they progressed to the quarter-finals after picking up four wins from their six games.

Home and away victories against both London Irish and Bayonne did the business, with their two losses coming at the hands of Toulon, who they would go up against in the last eight at Stade Félix Mayol.

A decade on from their quarter-final in the same competition, it was much tougher to separate the two sides, with Scarlets leading at the break courtesy of two Leigh Halfpenny penalties.

However, Louis Carbonel struck from the tee early in the second half before Sergio Parisse dotted down to complete a turnaround for Toulon. Another Carbonel penalty late on capped an 11-6 victory for the hosts.

With the pool draw for the 2022/23 EPCR Challenge Cup completed, we continue our series looking at the clubs returning to the competition, and highlights of their past appearances. Scarlets are next up.