2002–03 European Shield

2002-03 European Shield
Tournament details
Countries	France  Italy  Romania  Spain  Wales
Tournament format(s)	Knockout
Date	6 December 2002 - 25 May 2003
Tournament statistics
Teams	16
Matches played	29
Attendance	44,380 (1,530 per match)
Tries scored	182 (6.28 per match)
Final
Venue	Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance	4,000
Champions	Castres Olympique (1st title)
Runners-up	Caerphilly
(Next) 2003–04 →

The 2002–03 European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons)^[1] was the 1st 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.

This competition was contested between the first round losers from the 2002–03 European Challenge Cup.^[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 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.

This competition was contested between the 16 first round losers from the 2002–03 European Challenge Cup.

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

All kickoff times are local to the match location.^[3]

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

Proceed to Quarter-final	Match points	Aggregate score	Points margin	Eliminated from competition
Ebbw Vale	4 – 0	75 – 32	43	UC Madrid
Mont de Marsan	4 – 0	49 – 24	25	Rugby Silea
Dinamo București	4 – 0	53 – 48	5	L'Aquila
Castres Olympique	4 – 0	45 – 43	2	Grenoble
Petrarca Padova	3 – 1	52 – 32	20	Rugby Roma
Caerphilly	2 – 2	80 – 43	37	Rovigo
Overmach Parma	2 – 2	45 – 39	6	La Moraleja
Pau	2 – 2	46 – 41	5	Gran Parma

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

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

Proceed to Semifinal	Match points	Aggregate score	Points margin	Eliminated from competition
Castres Olympique	4 – 0	211 – 0	211	Dinamo București
Pau	2 – 2	66 – 46	20	Ebbw Vale
Petrarca Padova	2 – 2	45 – 32	13	Mont de Marsan
Caerphilly	2 – 2	51 – 43	8	Overmach Parma

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

All kickoff times are local to the match location.^[8]

Proceed to Final	Match points	Aggregate score	Points margin	Eliminated from competition
Castres Olympique	2 – 2	78 – 51	27	Pau
Caerphilly	2 – 2	54 – 43	11	Petrarca Padova

• 2002-03 Heineken Cup
• 2002-03 European Challenge Cup
• European Shield

• BBC Parker Pen 2002/3 results summary