2003–04 European Shield

The 2003–04 European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons)[1] 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.

2003-04 European Shield
Tournament details
Countries England
 France
 Italy
 Portugal
 Spain
Tournament format(s)Knockout
Date10 January 2004 - 21 May 2004
Tournament statistics
Teams16
Matches played29
Attendance27,489 (948 per match)
Tries scored176 (6.07 per match)
Final
VenueStadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
Attendance2,553
ChampionsFrance Montpellier (1st title)
Runners-upItaly Viadana
← 2002–03 (Previous)
(Next) 2004–05 →

This competition was contested between 12 first round losers from the 2003–04 European Challenge Cup[2] plus 4 other Clubs entering directly into the 1st Round. 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 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.

Teams

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This competition was contested between 12 first round losers from the 2003–04 European Challenge Cup, plus 4 other Clubs that joined directly at the 1st Round of the Shield.[3]

  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

Matches

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Round 1

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

1st leg

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10 January 2004
14:30
Clube Rugby Lisboa  25 – 13  Leonessa
Report
Estádio Universitário de Lisboa
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
10 January 2004
15:00
AA Coimbra  0 – 45  Petrarca Padova
Report
Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)
10 January 2004
15:00
L'Aquila  36 – 22  UE Santboiana
Report
Stadio Tommaso Fattori
Attendance: 500
Referee: Sean Davy (England)
10 January 2004
15:00
Rovigo  48 – 13  El Salvador
Report
Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini
Attendance: 300
Referee: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
10 January 2004
16:00
UC Madrid  27 – 60  Viadana
Report
Ciudad Universitaria
Attendance: 500
Referee: Andy Ireland (Scotland)
10 January 2004
19:30
Montpellier  46 – 10  Rugby Roma
Report
Stade Sabathé
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
11 January 2004
12:30
Valladolid RAC  9 – 15  Overmach Parma
Report
Estadio Pepe Rojo
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Neil Ballard (Wales)
11 January 2004
14:30
Gran Parma  41 – 33  Rotherham
Report
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 300
Referee: Franck Maciello (France)

2nd leg

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17 January 2004
14:30
Overmach Parma  27 – 10  Valladolid RAC
Report
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 400
Referee: Franck Maciello (France)
17 January 2004
14:30
Viadana  43 – 3  UC Madrid
Report
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Attendance: 500
Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
17 January 2004
15:00
Petrarca Padova  83 – 3  AA Coimbra
Report
Stadio Plebiscito
Attendance: 500
Referee: Sean Davy (England)
17 January 2004
17:00
Leonessa  42 – 18  Clube Rugby Lisboa
Report
Campo Comunale di Rugby
Attendance: 800
Referee: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
18 January 2004
12:30
El Salvador  40 – 24  Rovigo
Report
Estadio Pepe Rojo
Attendance: 1,100
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
18 January 2004
12:30
UE Santboiana  26 – 8  L'Aquila
Report
Estadi Baldiri Aleu
Attendance: 1,600
Referee: Andy Ireland (Scotland)
18 January 2004
13:00
Rotherham  42 – 17  Gran Parma
Report
Millmoor
Attendance: 1,183
Referee: Phil Fear (Wales)
18 January 2004
14:30
Rugby Roma  10 – 22  Montpellier
Report
Stadio Tre Fontane
Attendance: 100
Referee: David Rose (England)

Aggregate Results

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Proceed to Quarter-final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competition
Petrarca Padova   4 – 2 128 – 3 125   AA Coimbra
Viadana   4 – 2 103 – 30 73   UC Madrid
Montpellier   4 – 2 68 – 20 48   Rugby Roma
Overmach Parma   4 – 2 42 – 19 23   Valladolid RAC
Rovigo   2 – 2 72 – 53 19   El Salvador
Rotherham   2 – 2 75 – 58 17   Gran Parma
Leonessa   2 – 2 55 – 43 12   Clube Rugby Lisboa
UE Santboiana   2 – 2 48 – 44 4   L'Aquila

Quarter-finals

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1st leg

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All kickoff times are local to the match location.[5]

24 January 2004
14:30
Overmach Parma  29 – 10  Rovigo
Report
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 500
Referee: Franck Maciello (France)
24 January 2004
14:30
Viadana  32 – 30  Rotherham
Report
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: R McDowell (Ireland)
24 January 2004
15:00
UE Santboiana  19 – 27  Leonessa
Report
Estadi Baldiri Aleu
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Jean Matheu (France)
24 January 2004
19:30
Montpellier  34 – 6  Petrarca Padova
Report
Stade Sabathé
Attendance: 2,300
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)

2nd leg

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All kickoff times are local to the match location.[6]

31 January 2004
15:00
Petrarca Padova  18 – 9  Montpellier
Report
Stadio Plebiscito
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
31 January 2004
15:00
Rotherham  22 – 21  Viadana
Report
Millmoor
Attendance: 1,153
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
31 January 2004
15:00
Rovigo  24 – 20  Overmach Parma
Report
Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini
Attendance: 800
Referee: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
31 January 2004
17:00
Leonessa  28 – 10  UE Santboiana
Report
Campo Comunale di Rugby
Attendance: 800
Referee: David Keane (Ireland)

Aggregate Results

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Proceed to Semifinal Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competition
Leonessa   4 – 2 55 – 29 26   UE Santboiana
Montpellier   2 – 2 43 – 24 19   Petrarca Padova
Overmach Parma   2 – 2 49 – 34 15   Rovigo
Viadana   2 – 2 53 – 52 1   Rotherham

Semifinals

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All kickoff times are local to the match location.[7]

1st leg

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9 April 2004
19:30
Montpellier  45 – 12  Leonessa
Report
Stade Sabathé
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Sean Davey (England)
10 April 2004
15:00
Overmach Parma  32 – 42  Viadana
Report
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 500
Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)

2nd leg

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24 April 2004
15:00
Leonessa  23 – 26  Montpellier
Report
Campo Comunale di Rugby
Attendance: 500
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)
25 April 2004
15:05
Viadana  33 – 27  Overmach Parma
Report
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)

Aggregate Results

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Proceed to Final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competition
Montpellier   4 – 2 71 – 35 36   Leonessa
Viadana   4 – 2 75 – 59 16   Overmach Parma

Final

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21 May 2004
21:00
Montpellier  25 – 19  Viadana
Try: Buada
Arbo
Daniell
Con: Bortolussi (1)
Jouve (1)
Pen: Jouve (2)
ReportTry: Steyn (1)
Con: Steyn (1)
Pen: Steyn (4)
Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
Attendance: 2,553
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "European Shield History". ERC. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup European Champions". ERC. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Parker Pen Shield News". ERC. 14 December 2003. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Parker Pen Shield Round 1 Fixtures". ERC. 23 December 2003. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Parker Pen Shield Lineups". ERC. 23 January 2004. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Parker Pen Shield Lineups". ERC. 29 January 2004. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Parker Pen Shield Final To Be Played In Italy". ERC. 6 April 2004. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.