European Shield

For the competition in the sport of rugby league football, see Rugby League European Shield. For the qualification competition from 2016 for the European Rugby Challenge Cup, see European Rugby Continental Shield.

European Shield
Competition logo
SportRugby union
Instituted2002
Inaugural season2002–03
Number of teams16
Nations England
 France
 Italy
 Portugal
 Romania
 Spain
 Wales
HoldersAuch (2004–05)
Most titlesFrance Castres Olympique
France Montpellier
France Auch (1 title)
WebsiteOfficial site
Related competitionHeineken 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]

  1. ^ a b "European Shield History". ERC. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup European Champions". ERC. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2013.