European_Shield

European Shield

European Shield

Rugby competition

For the competition in the sport of rugby league football, see Rugby League European Shield. For the qualification competition from 2016 for the European Rugby Challenge Cup, see European Rugby Continental Shield.

The European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons)[1] was a repechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup. As such, it formed Europe's third-tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup. The name "European Shield" had previously been used for the now renamed European Challenge Cup.

Quick Facts Sport, Instituted ...

A total of 16 teams participated in each season. The competition was contested between the first round losers from the European Challenge Cup with teams being added directly to make up the full 16 team complement.[2] The structure of the competition was a purely knockout format; teams played each other on a home and away basis, with the aggregate points winner proceeding to the next round. The final was a single leg.

The competition had a brief existence, running for just three seasons in 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. Three clubs won the competition in each year that it was run and there were three different runners up. Thereafter, the European Challenge Cup reverted to its previous "pool and knockout" format and the European Shield was discontinued.[1]

Winners of the European Shield

More information Year, Winner ...

Seasons

2002–03 competition

Main article: 2002–03 European Shield

This competition was contested between the first round losers from the 2002–03 European Challenge Cup. A total of 16 teams participated, representing five countries.

The competition began on 6 December 2002 and culminated in the final at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on 25 May 2003. Castres Olympique secured a victory over Caerphilly in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.[2]

Teams

More information France, Italy ...

Final

25 May 2003
13:00
Caerphilly Wales12–40France Castres Olympique
Try: Boobyer
El-Abd
Con: Thomas (1)		ReportTry: Roque
Forment (2)
Spanghero
Arbo
Con: Teulet (3)
Pen: Teulet (3)
Madejski Stadium, Reading, Berkshire
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)

2003–04 competition

Main article: 2003–04 European Shield

This competition was contested between 12 first round losers from the 2003–04 European Challenge Cup plus 4 other Clubs entering directly into the 1st Round.[3] A total of 16 teams participated, representing five countries.

The competition began on 10 January 2004 and culminated in the final at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana on 21 May 2004. Montpellier secured a victory over Viadana in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.[2]

Teams

More information England, France ...

Final

21 May 2004
21:00
Montpellier France25–19Italy Viadana
Try: Buada
Arbo
Daniell
Con: Bortolussi (1)
Jouve (1)
Pen: Jouve (2)		ReportTry: Steyn (1)
Con: Steyn (1)
Pen: Steyn (4)
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
Attendance: 2,553
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)

2004–05 competition

Main article: 2004–05 European Shield

This competition was intended to be contested between 12 first round losers from the 2004–05 European Challenge Cup, plus 4 other Clubs that joined directly at the 1st Round of the Shield.[4] AA Coimbra subsequently declined to play in the competition.[5] therefore a total of 15 teams participated, representing six countries.

The competition began on 4 December 2004 and culminated in the final at Kassam Stadium in Oxford on 21 May 2005. Auch secured a victory over Worcester Warriors in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.[2]

Teams

More information England, France ...

Final

21 May 2005
17:00
Worcester Warriors England10–23France Auch
Try: O'Leary (1)
Con: Hayes (1)
Pen: Hayes (1)		Stats
Report		Try: Bastide (1)
Patat (1)
Con: Dambielle (2)
Pen: Dambielle (3)
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Attendance: 2,823
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "European Shield History". ERC. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  2. [2]
    "Challenge Cup European Champions". ERC. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  3. [3]
    "Parker Pen Shield News". ERC. 14 December 2003. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. [4]
    "ERC Press Release: European Shield Draw". ERC. 2 November 2004. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  5. [5]
    "ERC Press Release: Coimbra Withdraw". ERC. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article European_Shield, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.