2002–03 European Challenge Cup

2002-03 Parker Pen Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Countries  England
 France
 Ireland
 Italy
 Romania
 Scotland
 Spain
 Wales
Tournament format(s) Knockout
Date 11 October 2002 - 25 May 2003
Tournament statistics
Teams 32
Matches played 61
Attendance 225,733 (3,701 per match)
Tries scored 384 (6.3 per match)
Top point scorer(s) Olly Barkley (Bath)
(118 points)[1]
Top try scorer(s) Tom Shanklin (Saracens)
(8 tries)[2]
Final
Venue Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance 18,074
Champions England London Wasps (1st title)
Runner-up England Bath Rugby
Official website http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/
2001–02 (Previous) (Next) 2003–04

The 2002–03 European Challenge Cup (known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) 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 different countries.

The competition began when Gran Parma hosted Bath and Ebbw Vale hosted Montauban on 11 October 2002 and culminated in the final at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on 25 May 2003.

Unlike previous seasons, the structure of the competition was changed to 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. For that first time, a third tier tournament was created - the European Shield. This was contested between the first round losers from the European Challenge Cup.[3]

The defending champions, England's Sale Sharks, did not have a chance to defend their crown because they qualified to play in the Heineken Cup. London Wasps claimed a victory over Bath in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.

Teams

The allocation of teams was as follows:

England: 6 teams — all teams from the Zurich Premiership that did not qualify for the 2002–03 Heineken Cup
France: 9 teams — all teams from the Top 16 that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup
Ireland: 1 team — the Irish team from the Celtic League that did not play in the Heineken Cup
Italy: 8 teams — all the teams from the Super 10 that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup
Romania: 1 team specially created for the competition
Scotland: 1 team — the Scottish team from the Celtic League that did not play in the Heineken Cup
Spain: 2 teams — drawn from the División de Honor de Rugby
Wales: 4 teams — all the teams from the Celtic League that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup
England England France France Ireland Ireland Italy Italy Romania Romania Scotland Scotland Spain Spain Wales Wales
Bath
NEC Harlequins
Leeds Tykes
London Wasps
Newcastle Falcons
Saracens
Bordeaux-Bègles
Castres Olympique
Colomiers
Grenoble
Montauban
Mont de Marsan
Narbonne
Pau
Stade Français
Connacht
Gran Parma
L'Aquila
Overmach Parma
Petrarca Padova
Rugby Roma
Rovigo
Rugby Silea
Benetton Treviso
Dinamo București
Borders
La Moraleja
UC Madrid
Bridgend
Caerphilly
Ebbw Vale
Pontypridd

Matches

All kickoff times are local to the match location.[4]

Round 1

1st Leg

11 October 2002
19:00
Gran Parma Italy 3 40 England Bath
Report
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 1,200
11 October 2002
19:15
Ebbw Vale Wales 20 16 France Montauban
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 1,500
12 October 2002
14:30
Caerphilly Wales 20 73 England NEC Harlequins
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 1,500
12 October 2002
14:30
Dinamo București Romania 11 87 England Saracens
Report
12 October 2002
14:30
Rugby Roma Italy 18 60 Wales Pontypridd
Report
Stadio Tre Fontane
Attendance: 400
12 October 2002
15:00
Benetton Treviso Italy 22 9 France Castres Olympique
Report
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Attendance: 3,000
12 October 2002
15:00
L'Aquila Italy 14 58 France Colomiers
Report
Stadio Tommaso Fattori
Attendance: 500
12 October 2002
15:00
Petrarca Padova Italy 23 29 England Leeds Tykes
Report
Stadio Plebiscito
Attendance: 2,000
12 October 2002
16:00
UC Madrid Spain 22 73 Scotland Borders
Report
Ciuadad Universitaria
Attendance: 1,000
12 October 2002
18:00
La Moraleja Spain 31 37 France Bordeaux-Bègles
Report
Pol. Municipal de Alcobendas
Attendance: 550
12 October 2002
19:00
Overmach Parma Italy 24 40 England London Wasps
Report
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 1,500
12 October 2002
19:30
Grenoble France 12 19 England Newcastle Falcons
Report
Stade Lesdiguières
Attendance: 4,500
12 October 2002
19:30
Mont de Marsan France 12 26 Ireland Connacht
Report
Stade Guy Boniface
Attendance: 1,204
12 October 2002
19:30
Pau France 18 6 Wales Bridgend
Report
Stade du Hameau
Attendance: 5,000
13 October 2002
15:00
Rovigo Italy 6 64 France Stade Français
Report
13 October 2002
15:00
Rugby Silea Italy 23 34 France Narbonne
Report

2nd Leg

18 October 2002
19:30
Borders Scotland 77 15 Spain UC Madrid
Report
Netherdale
Attendance: 7,840
19 October 2002
14:15
Bath England 57 19 Italy Gran Parma
Report
The Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,840
19 October 2002
14:30
Pontypridd Wales 83 8 Italy Rugby Roma
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 2,000
19 October 2002
15:00
Connacht Ireland 47 29 France Mont de Marsan
Report
The Sportsground
Attendance: 1,000
19 October 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins England 31 27 Wales Caerphilly
Report
The Stoop
Attendance: 4,250
19 October 2002
17:30
Bridgend Wales 27 9 France Pau
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 2,500
19 October 2002
18:00
Bordeaux-Bègles France 33 15 Spain La Moraleja
Report
Stade André Moga
Attendance: 2,000
19 October 2002
18:00
Stade Français France 81 20 Italy Rovigo
Report
Stade Jean-Bouin
Attendance: 3,000
19 October 2002
19:30
Colomiers France 75 5 Italy L'Aquila
Report
Stade Selery
Attendance: 2,500
19 October 2002
19:30
Montauban France 29 16 Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
Stade Sapiac
Attendance: 2,800
19 October 2002
19:30
Narbonne France 41 14 Italy Rugby Silea
Report
20 October 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes England 52 13 Italy Petrarca Padova
Report
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 2,665
20 October 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons England 33 17 France Grenoble
Report
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,599
20 October 2002
15:00
London Wasps England 42 0 Italy Overmach Parma
Report
Adams Park
Attendance: 3,980
20 October 2002
15:00
Saracens England 151 0 Romania Dinamo București
Report
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 2,052

Aggregate Results

Proceed to 2nd Round Match points Aggregate score Points margin Proceed to Shield
Saracens England 4 0 238 11 227 Romania Dinamo București
Stade Français France 4 0 145 26 119 Italy Rovigo
Pontypridd Wales 4 0 143 26 117 Italy Rugby Roma
Colomiers France 4 0 133 19 114 Italy L'Aquila
Borders Scotland 4 0 150 37 113 Spain UC Madrid
Bath England 4 0 97 22 75 Italy Gran Parma
London Wasps England 4 0 82 24 58 Italy Overmach Parma
NEC Harlequins England 4 0 104 47 57 Wales Caerphilly
Leeds Tykes England 4 0 81 36 45 Italy Petrarca Padova
Narbonne France 4 0 75 37 38 Italy Rugby Silea
Connacht Ireland 4 0 73 41 32 France Mont de Marsan
Benetton Treviso Italy 4 0 55 26 29 France Castres Olympique
Bordeaux-Bègles France 4 0 70 46 24 Spain La Moraleja
Newcastle Falcons England 4 0 52 29 23 France Grenoble
Montauban France 2 2 45 36 9 Wales Ebbw Vale
Bridgend Wales 2 2 33 27 6 France Pau

Round 2

1st Leg

6 December 2002
19:30
Bridgend Wales 28 26 England Bath
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 3,500
7 December 2002
14:30
Benetton Treviso Italy 27 8 England Newcastle Falcons
Report
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Attendance: 3,500
7 December 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins England 0 26 France Stade Français
Report
The Stoop
Attendance: 5,323
7 December 2002
17:30
Pontypridd Wales 37 23 England Leeds Tykes
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 4,500
7 December 2002
19:30
Montauban France 19 16 Scotland Borders
Report
Stade Sapiac
Attendance: 3,000
7 December 2002
19:30
Narbonne France 42 27 Ireland Connacht
Report
8 December 2002
15:00
London Wasps England 43 6 France Bordeaux-Bègles
Report
Adams Park
Attendance: 3,217
8 December 2002
15:00
Saracens England 16 6 France Colomiers
Report
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 3,561

2nd Leg

13 December 2002
19:30
Borders Scotland 6 12 France Montauban
Report
Netherdale
Attendance: 1,700
14 December 2002
14:15
Bath England 38 10 Wales Bridgend
Report
The Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,063
14 December 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes England 19 19 Wales Pontypridd
Report
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 2,062
14 December 2002
18:00
Bordeaux-Bègles France 23 29 England London Wasps
Report
Stade André Moga
Attendance: 1,500
14 December 2002
18:00
Stade Français France 29 12 England NEC Harlequins
Report
Stade Jean-Bouin
Attendance: 7,500
14 December 2002
19:30
Colomiers France 19 30 England Saracens
Report
Stade Selery
Attendance: 7,000
15 December 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons England 35 5 Italy Benetton Treviso
Report
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,539
15 December 2002
15:00
Connacht Ireland 23 7 France Narbonne
Report
The Sportsground
Attendance: 2,000

Aggregate Results

Proceed to Quarter-final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competition
London Wasps England 4 0 72 29 43 France Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Français France 4 0 55 12 43 England NEC Harlequins
Saracens England 4 0 46 25 21 France Colomiers
Montauban France 4 0 31 22 9 Scotland Borders
Pontypridd Wales 3 1 56 42 14 England Leeds Tykes
Bath England 2 2 64 38 26 Wales Bridgend
Newcastle Falcons England 2 2 43 32 11 Italy Benetton Treviso
Connacht Ireland 2 2 50 49 1 France Narbonne

Quarter finals

1st Leg

11 January 2003
17:30
Connacht Ireland 30 35 Wales Pontypridd
Report
Dubarry Park
Attendance: 6,000
11 January 2003
19:30
Montauban France 27 24 England Bath
Report
Stade Sapiac
Attendance: 6,000
12 January 2003
13:45
London Wasps England 35 22 France Stade Français
Report
Adams Park
Attendance: 5,269
12 January 2003
15:00
Saracens England 31 10 England Newcastle Falcons
Report
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 3,857

2nd Leg

18 January 2003
14:15
Bath England 24 18 France Montauban
Report
The Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,200
18 January 2003
17:30
Pontypridd Wales 12 9 Ireland Connacht
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 6,000
18 January 2003
18:00
Stade Français France 12 27 England London Wasps
Report
Stade Jean-Bouin
Attendance: 6,491
19 January 2003
14:30
Newcastle Falcons England 31 29 England Saracens
Report
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,439

Aggregate Results

Proceed to Semi-final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competition
London Wasps England 4 0 62 34 28 France Stade Français
Pontypridd Wales 4 0 47 39 8 Ireland Connacht
Saracens England 2 2 60 41 19 England Newcastle Falcons
Bath England 2 2 48 45 3 France Montauban

Semi finals

1st Leg

12 April 2003
17:30
London Wasps England 34 19 Wales Pontypridd
Report
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,776
13 April 2003
15:00
Saracens England 38 30 England Bath
Report
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,482

2nd Leg

25 April 2003
19:05
Pontypridd Wales 17 27 England London Wasps
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 6,500
26 April 2003
14:15
Bath England 27 19 England Saracens
Report
The Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200

Aggregate Results

Proceed to Final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competition
London Wasps England 4 0 61 36 25 Wales Pontypridd
Bath England 2 2 57 57 0[n 1] England Saracens
  1. Bath go through on superior try count (6-5).[5]

Final

25 May 2003
15:45
Bath England 30 48 England London Wasps
Try: Balshaw
Barkley
Tindall
Scaysbrook
Con: Balshaw (1)
Barkley (1)
Pen: Barkley (2)
Report Try: Lewsey
Waters
Wood
Greening
Logan
Leota
Con: King (6)
Pen: King (2)
Madejski Stadium, Reading, Berkshire
Attendance: 18,074
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)

See also

References

  1. "Amlin Challenge Cup: Points Scorers". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  2. "Amlin Challenge Cup: Try Scorers". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  3. "Challenge Cup European Champions". ERC. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  4. "Challenge Cup Fixtures". ERC. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  5. "Bath late show stuns Sarries". BBC. 26 April 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
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