 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Inaugural season | 2014–15 (as Qualifying Competition) 2016–17 (as Continental Shield) |
| Organisers | EPCR Rugby Europe FIR |
| Number of teams | 10 (8 (pools) + 2 (play-off)) |
| Country |  Italy Georgia Romania Russia Spain Portugal Germany Belgium |
| Holders | Enisey-STM (2 titles) (2018–19) |
| Website | European Rugby Continental Shield Website Rugby Europe Website |
| Related competitions | |
The European Rugby Continental Shield (formerly the European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition) was a rugby union competition, organised by European Professional Club Rugby, Rugby Europe and the Federazione Italiana Rugby, for entry into the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
The Qualifying Competition was first announced in April 2014, at the same time as the announcement of the creation of the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions. The tournament featured teams from non-EPCR countries, such as Spain, Germany, Belgium, Romania, Georgia, Russia and Portugal, as well as select Italian Eccellenza clubs. In 2016–17, the qualification competition also became a European Rugby competition in its own right, the third tier European Rugby Continental Shield, with both successful play-off teams meeting in a final as a part of European Rugby Finals weekend.
Both editions of the Shield final were won by Russian club Enisey-STM.[1]
The competition is the first third-tier European tournament since the suspension of the Parker Pen Shield in 2005.[2]
The competition was discontinued after the 2018–19 edition.[3]
- ^ "European Shield".
- ^ European Shield at Rugbyarchive.net
- ^ "La LNR propone a la FER gestionar la División de Honor". 11 October 2019.