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 | Castres Olympique Montpellier 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 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.
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]
Year | Winner | Score | Runner up | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002–03 | Castres Olympique | 40–12 | Caerphilly | Madejski Stadium, Reading | 3,500 |
2003–04 | Montpellier | 25–19 | Viadana | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma | 2,553 |
2004–05 | Auch | 23–10 | Worcester Warriors | Kassam Stadium, Oxford | 2,823 |
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]
France | Italy | Romania | Spain | Wales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gran Parma |
25 May 2003 13:00 |
Caerphilly | 12–40 | Castres Olympique |
Try: Boobyer El-Abd Con: Thomas (1) | Report | Try: Roque Forment (2) Spanghero Arbo Con: Teulet (3) Pen: Teulet (3) |
Madejski Stadium, Reading, Berkshire Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland) |
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]
England | France | Italy | Portugal | Spain |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gran Parma | ||||
21 May 2004 21:00 |
Montpellier | 25–19 | Viadana |
Try: Buada Arbo Daniell Con: Bortolussi (1) Jouve (1) Pen: Jouve (2) | Report | Try: Steyn (1) Con: Steyn (1) Pen: Steyn (4) |
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Attendance: 2,553 Referee: Dave Pearson (England) |
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]
England | France | Italy | Portugal | Romania | Spain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 May 2005 17:00 |
Worcester Warriors | 10–23 | 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) |
The Ospreys, formerly the Neath–Swansea Ospreys is one of the four professional rugby union teams from Wales. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team formed as a result of Neath RFC and Swansea RFC combining to create a new merged entity, as part of the new regional structure of Welsh rugby, that began in 2003. They are also affiliated with a number of local semi-professional and amateur clubs, including Welsh Premier Division sides Aberavon RFC, Bridgend Ravens, and original founding clubs Neath and Swansea. The regional area represented by the team has widely become known for rugby purposes as 'Ospreylia'.
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Montpellier Hérault Rugby (MHR) is a French professional rugby union club, based in Montpellier, Occitanie and named after the Hérault river. The club competes in the top level of the French league system, the Top 14. They originally played at Stade Sabathé but moved to the Stade Yves-du-Manoir, later known as Altrad Stadium, and since renamed the GGL Stadium, in 2007. They wear white and blue.
Rugby Viadana 1970 is an Italian rugby union club based in Viadana. The club was established in 1970, and has since won the Italian championship in 2002, and the Coppa Italia three times. They also compete in European rugby competitions and were runners-up in the European Shield in 2004. Viadana plays in yellow and black. The club did not compete professionally between 2010 and 2012 as they focused their efforts on Aironi. Aironi was based at Viadana's home ground and represented a number of regional teams in the multi-national Celtic League. The FIR withdrew Aironi's licence to play at the end of the 2012, so Viadana reformed as a professional team will play in Italy's top division, the National championship of Excellence, from the 2012–13 season and currently in the Top12.
The 2001–02 European Challenge Cup was the 6th season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 32 teams participated, representing seven countries.
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The 2010–11 Heineken Cup was the 16th season of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby. It started with three matches on 8 October 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011 with the final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium where Leinster beat Northampton Saints 33 – 22.
The 2010–11 Heineken Cup pool stage was the first stage of the current season of the Heineken Cup, Europe's top competition for rugby union clubs. It involved 24 teams competing for eight quarter-final berths; the quarter-finalists will then participate in a knockout tournament that will ultimately end with the final on 21 May 2011 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The 2002–03 European Challenge Cup was the 7th season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 32 teams participated, representing eight countries.
The 2003–04 European Challenge Cup was the 8th season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 28 teams participated, representing seven countries. This was the first year of the competition following the introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales. With the reduction of Welsh teams from nine to five, and with all teams participating in the 2003-04 Heineken Cup, there were no Welsh teams in the 2003–04 Parker Pen Challenge Cup.
The 2004–05 European Challenge Cup was the ninth season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second-tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 28 teams participated, representing seven countries.
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The 2002–03 European Shield was the 1st season of the European Shield, Europe's third-tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup. A total of 16 teams participated, representing five different countries.
The 2003–04 European Shield was the 2nd season of the European Shield, Europe's third-tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup. A total of 16 teams participated, representing five different countries.
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The European Rugby Champions Cup is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a predominantly European league. Clubs qualify for the Champions Cup via their final positions in their respective national/regional leagues or via winning the second-tier Challenge Cup; those that do not qualify are instead eligible to compete in the second-tier Challenge Cup.
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