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	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]

Winners of the European Shield

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

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.^[2]

Teams

France	Italy	Romania	Spain	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	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)

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 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	France	Italy	Portugal	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	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)

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 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	France	Italy	Portugal	Romania	Spain
Leeds Tykes Worcester Warriors	Auch Bayonne	Catania Gran Parma L'Aquila Leonessa Petrarca Padova Rovigo	AA Coimbra		Valladolid RAC
			Clube Rugby Lisboa	București	Bera Bera UC Madrid

Final

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)