English teams have dominated the opening two Rounds of the European Challenge Cup - but Overmach Rugby Parma have also notched up back-to-back wins to sit proudly at the top of Pool 4 and fly the flag for Italian rugby.
The Italian club have beaten 1997 Heineken Cup champions Brive and Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador to join London Irish and Saracens - Heineken Cup semi-finalists last season - 2000 Heineken Cup winners Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors as Pool leaders.
The next big test for Overmach Rugby Parma will come in Round 3 when they host Newcastle Falcons at Stadio "XXV Aprile" .
Elsewhere, Northampton Saints and Bristol rugby clash at Franklin's Gardens in an all-England showdown that could have a major bearing on the eventual Pool 2 winner and automatic knock-out stages qualifier.
European Challenge Cup 2008-09 - Round 3
(All kick-offs LOCAL times)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Pool 2 Montpellier v Toulon 20.45 France 4
Friday, December 5, 2008
Pool 1 Dax v London Irish 19.00
Pool 3 Bourgoin v Worcester Warriors 20.30
Pool 4 Brive v El Salvador 19.30
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Pool 1 Rugby Rovigo v Connacht Rugby 15.00
Pool 2 Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby 15.00
Pool 4 Overmach Parma v Newcastle Falcons 14.30
Pool 5 Bayonne v Saracens 20.45 Eurosport France / Sky Sports
Pool 5 Mont de Marsan v Viadana 15.30
Sunday, December 7 2008
Pool 3 Bucuresti Oaks v Petrarca Rugby 16.30