European Shield

European Shield

Competition logo
Sport Rugby union
Instituted 2002
Inaugural season 2002–03
Number of teams 16
Nations  England
 France
 Italy
 Portugal
 Romania
 Spain
 Wales
Holders Auch (2004–05)
Most titles France Castres Olympique
France Montpellier
France Auch (1 title)
Website Official site
Related competition Heineken Cup
European Challenge Cup

The European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons)[1] was a reprechage 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.

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

Year Winner Score Runner up Venue Attendance
2002–03 Castres Olympique France 40–12 Wales Caerphilly Madejski Stadium, Reading England 3,500
2003–04 Montpellier France 25–19 Italy Viadana Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Italy 2,553
2004–05 Auch France 23–10 England Worcester Warriors Kassam Stadium, Oxford England 2,823

Seasons

2002–03 competition

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

France France Italy Italy Romania Romania Spain Spain Wales Wales

Castres Olympique
Grenoble
Mont de Marsan
Pau

Gran Parma
L'Aquila
Overmach Parma
Petrarca Padova
Rugby Roma
Rovigo
Rugby Silea

Dinamo București

La Moraleja
UC Madrid

Caerphilly
Ebbw Vale

Final

25 May 2003
13:00
Caerphilly Wales 12 – 40 France Castres Olympique
Try: Boobyer
El-Abd
Con: Thomas (1)
 Report Try: Roque
Forment (2)
Spanghero
Arbo
Con: Teulet (3)
Pen: Teulet (3)

2003–04 competition

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 different 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

England England France France Italy Italy Portugal Portugal Spain Spain

Rotherham

Montpellier

Gran Parma
L'Aquila
Leonessa
Overmach Parma
Petrarca Padova
Rugby Roma
Rovigo
Viadana

El Salvador
Valladolid RAC

AA Coimbra
Clube Rugby Lisboa

UC Madrid
UE Santboiana

Final

21 May 2004
21:00
Montpellier France 25 – 19 Italy Viadana
Try: Buada
Arbo
Daniell
Con: Bortolussi (1)
Jouve (1)
Pen: Jouve (2)
 Report Try: Steyn (1)
Con: Steyn (1)
Pen: Steyn (4)

2004–05 competition

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 different 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

England England France France Italy Italy Portugal Portugal Romania Romania Spain Spain

Leeds Tykes
Worcester Warriors

Auch
Bayonne

Catania
Gran Parma
L'Aquila
Leonessa
Petrarca Padova
Rovigo

AA Coimbra

Valladolid RAC

Clube Rugby Lisboa

Bucureşti

Bera Bera
UC Madrid

Final

21 May 2005
17:00
Worcester Warriors England 10 – 23 France 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 2 "European Shield History". ERC. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Challenge Cup European Champions". ERC. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Parker Pen Shield News". ERC. 14 December 2003. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "ERC Press Release: European Shield Draw". ERC. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "ERC Press Release: Coimbra Withdraw". ERC. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
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