<page_title> 1996–97 European Challenge Cup </page_title> <section_title> Teams </section_title> <table> <cell> Bristol Gloucester London Irish Northampton Saints Orrell Sale Sharks <col_header> England </col_header> </cell> <cell> Agen Bordeaux-Bègles Bourgoin Castres Olympique Montferrand Narbonne Toulon <col_header> France </col_header> </cell> <cell> Connacht <col_header> Ireland </col_header> </cell> <cell> Petrarca <col_header> Italy </col_header> </cell> <cell> Dinamo-Bucureşti <col_header> Romania </col_header> </cell> <cell> Glasgow <col_header> Scotland </col_header> </cell> <cell> Bridgend Dunvant Ebbw Vale Newbridge Newport Swansea Treorchy <col_header> Wales </col_header> </cell> </table>
Twenty-four teams took part from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Scotland and Wales.