The brackets show each team's European Rugby Club Ranking at the end of the 2009–10 season.

(HC) Means a team has entered the competition from the Heineken Cup The quarter-finals were decided based on the above seeding.

The draw was conducted in the Sky Sports booth by Ieuan Evans and Jean-Pierre Lux, Chairman of ERC, at Adams Park, High Wycombe.

This rule was abandoned for 2010–11; the home club in each semi-final is now determined strictly by the draw.

The final of the Amlin Challenge Cup took place at Cardiff City Stadium on 20 May 2011.