The European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for
sponsorship reasons)
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
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
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.
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.
Winners of the European Shield
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 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.
Teams
Final
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. 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
Montpellier (; ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of France, department of ...
secured a victory over
Viadana in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.
Teams
Final
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.
subsequently declined to play in the competition.
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
Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town.
The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
on 21 May 2005.
Auch secured a victory over
Worcester Warriors in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.
Teams
Final
See also
*
Heineken Cup
*
European Challenge Cup
*
Aviva Premiership
*
National Rugby League (France)
*
Pro14
*
Top12
References
External links
BBC Parker Pen 2002/3 results summaryBBC Parker Pen Cup & Shield 2003/4 results summaryBBC European Challenge Cup & Shield 2004/5 results summaryOfficial siteUnofficial European club rankings
{{European Rugby Challenge Cup
Shield
2002 establishments in Europe
Defunct rugby union competitions in Europe for clubs and provinces
Recurring sporting events established in 2002