The 2012–13 Amlin Challenge Cup pool stage was the opening stage of the 17th season of the European Challenge Cup, the second-tier competition for European rugby union clubs.

It began with a match between Mont-de-Marsan and Gloucester on Thursday 11 October 2012 and ended on 19 January 2013 when Stade Français hosted competition newcomers London Welsh.

The pool winners advanced to the knockout stage, where they were joined by three entrants from the Heineken Cup pool stage.

These teams then competed in a single-elimination tournament that ended with the final at the RDS Arena in Dublin on 17 May 2012.

[2] All times are local to the game location.