2002–03 European Challenge Cup

7th Season of international club rugby union competition 2002-03 European Challenge Cup 100px Official logo EnglandFranceIreland rugby unionItalyRomaniaScotlandSpainWales Knockout 11 October 2002 - 25 May 2003 32 61 {{#expr: + 1200 + 1500 + 1500 + 400 + 400 + 3000 + 500 + 2000 + 1000 + 550 + 1500 + 4500 + 1204 + 5000 + 1500 + 400 + 7840 + 7840 + 2000 + 1000 + 4250 + 2500 + 2000 + 3000 + 0 + 2500 + 2800 + 2300 + 2665 + 3599 + 3980 + 2052 + 3500 + 3500 + 5323 + 4500 + 3000 + 2000 + 3217 + 3561 + 1700 + 7063 + 2062 + 1500 + 7500 + 7000 + 2539 + 2000 + 6000 + 6000 + 5269 + 3857 + 6200 + 6000 + 6491 + 2439 + 7776 + 6482 + 6500 + 8200 + 18074 | tries = {{#expr: + 6 + 3 + 13 + 13 + 10 + 1 + 11 + 6 + 12 + 8 + 7 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 10 + 5 + 13 + 12 + 14 + 9 + 9 + 0 + 5 + 14 + 5 + 12 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 5 + 7 + 23 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 3 + 8 + 6 + 1 + 0 + 5 + 2 + 5 + 2 + 3 + 6 + 3 + 7 + 4 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 0 + 2 + 8 + 5 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 10 }} | top point scorer = Olly Barkley (Bath)(118 points)http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/statistics/index.php?preset871=2002 Amlin Challenge Cup: Points Scorers 26 January 2013 12 December 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191212141032/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/statistics/index.php?preset871=2002 dead | top try scorer = Tom Shanklin (Saracens)(8 tries)http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/statistics/player_records_tries.php?preset882=2002 Amlin Challenge Cup: Try Scorers 26 January 2013 12 December 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191212141036/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/statistics/player_records_tries.php?preset882=2002 dead | venue = Madejski Stadium, Reading | attendance2 = 18,074 | champions = ENG London Wasps | count = 1 | runner-up = ENG Bath Rugby | website = https://web.archive.org/web/20080506141030/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/ | previous year = 2001–02 | previous tournament = 2001–02 European Challenge Cup | next year = 2003–04 | next tournament = 2003–04 European Challenge Cup }} 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 countries. The competition began with Gran Parma hosting Bath and Ebbw Vale hosting Montauban on 11 October 2002. It culminated with 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.http://www.ercrugby.com:80/eng/amlinchallengecup/champions.php https://web.archive.org/web/20080506141030/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/amlinchallengecup/champions.php dead 6 May 2008 Challenge Cup European Champions ERC 26 January 2013 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, and Agen who were banned by ERC http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15360464/agen-banned-euro-comps-two-years Agen banned from Euro comps for two years ESPN 19 December 2016 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 ENG England FRA France Ireland rugby union Ireland ITA Italy ROM Romania SCO Scotland ESP Spain WAL Wales Bath 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.http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/amlin_challenge_cup_fixtures.php?includeref=480&season=2002-2003&round=elimination https://archive.today/20130215234557/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/amlin_challenge_cup_fixtures.php?includeref=480&season=2002-2003&round=elimination dead February 15, 2013 Challenge Cup Fixtures ERC 26 January 2013 Round 1 Saracens ENG 238–11 Dinamo București ROM 87–11 151–0 Stade Français FRA 145–26 Rovigo ITA Pontypridd WAL 143–26 Rugby Roma ITA Colomiers FRA 133–19 L'Aquila ITA Borders SCO 150–37 UC Madrid ESP Bath ENG 97–22 Gran Parma ITA London Wasps ENG 82–24 Overmach Parma ITA Harlequins ENG 104–47 Caerphilly WAL Leeds Tykes ENG 81–36 Petrarca Padova ITA Narbonne FRA 75–37 Rugby Silea ITA Connacht Ireland rugby union 73–41 Mont de Marsan FRA Benetton Treviso ITA 55–26 Castres FRA Bordeaux-Bègles FRA 70–46 La Moraleja ESP Newcastle Falcons ENG 52–29 Grenoble FRA Montauban FRA 45–36 Ebbw Vale WAL Bridgend WAL 33–27 Pau FRA |} First leg 11 October 2002 19:00 Gran Parma ITA 3–40 Report ENG Bath Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 1,200 11 October 2002 19:15 Ebbw Vale WAL 20–16 Report FRA Montauban Eugene Cross Park 1,500 12 October 2002 14:30 Caerphilly WAL 20–73 Report ENG Harlequins Virginia Park 1,500 12 October 2002 14:30 Dinamo București ROM 11–87 Report ENG Saracens Complexul Cultural Sportiv 400 12 October 2002 14:30 Rugby Roma ITA 18–60 Report WAL Pontypridd Stadio Tre Fontane 400 12 October 2002 15:00 Benetton Treviso ITA 22–9 Report FRA Castres Olympique Stadio Comunale di Monigo 3,000 12 October 2002 15:00 L'Aquila ITA 14–58 Report FRA Colomiers Stadio Tommaso Fattori 500 12 October 2002 15:00 Petrarca Padova ITA 23–29 Report ENG Leeds Tykes Stadio Plebiscito 2,000 12 October 2002 16:00 UC Madrid ESP 22–73 Report SCO Borders Ciudad Universitaria 1,000 12 October 2002 18:00 La Moraleja ESP 31–37 Report FRA Bordeaux-Bègles Pol. Municipal de Alcobendas 550 12 October 2002 19:00 Overmach Parma ITA 24–40 Report ENG London Wasps Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 1,500 12 October 2002 19:30 Grenoble FRA 12–19 Report ENG Newcastle Falcons Stade Lesdiguières 4,500 12 October 2002 19:30 Mont de Marsan FRA 12–26 Report Ireland rugby union Connacht Stade Guy Boniface 1,204 12 October 2002 19:30 Pau FRA 18–6 Report WAL Bridgend Stade du Hameau 5,000 13 October 2002 15:00 Rovigo ITA 6–64 Report FRA Stade Français Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini 1,500 13 October 2002 15:00 Rugby Silea ITA 23–34 Report FRA Narbonne Stadio Comunale di Monigo 400 Second leg 18 October 2002 19:30 Borders SCO 77–15 Report ESP UC Madrid Netherdale 7,840 19 October 2002 14:15 Bath ENG 57–19 Report ITA Gran Parma The Recreation Ground 7,840 19 October 2002 14:30 Pontypridd WAL 83–8 Report ITA Rugby Roma Sardis Road 2,000 19 October 2002 15:00 Connacht Ireland rugby union 47–29 Report FRA Mont de Marsan The Sportsground 1,000 19 October 2002 15:00 Harlequins ENG 31–27 Report WAL Caerphilly The Stoop 4,250 19 October 2002 17:30 Bridgend WAL 27–9 Report FRA Pau Brewery Field 2,500 19 October 2002 18:00 Bordeaux-Bègles FRA 33–15 Report ESP La Moraleja Stade André Moga 2,000 19 October 2002 18:00 Stade Français FRA 81–20 Report ITA Rovigo Stade Jean-Bouin 3,000 19 October 2002 19:30 Castres Olympique FRA 17–33 Report ITA Benetton Treviso Stade Pierre-Antoine 19 October 2002 19:30 Colomiers FRA 75–5 Report ITA L'Aquila Stade Selery 2,500 19 October 2002 19:30 Montauban FRA 29–16 Report WAL Ebbw Vale Stade Sapiac 2,800 19 October 2002 19:30 Narbonne FRA 41–14 Report ITA Rugby Silea Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié 2,300 20 October 2002 14:30 Leeds Tykes ENG 52–13 Report ITA Petrarca Padova Headingley Stadium 2,665 20 October 2002 14:30 Newcastle Falcons ENG 33–17 Report FRA Grenoble Kingston Park 3,599 20 October 2002 15:00 London Wasps ENG 42–0 Report ITA Overmach Parma Adams Park 3,980 20 October 2002 15:00 Saracens ENG 151–0 Report ROM Dinamo București Vicarage Road 2,052 Round 2 London Wasps ENG 72–29 Bordeaux-Bègles FRA Stade Français FRA 55–12 Harlequins ENG Saracens ENG 46–25 Colomiers FRA Montauban FRA 31–22 Borders SCO Pontypridd WAL 56–42 Leeds Tykes ENG Bath ENG 64–38 Bridgend WAL Newcastle Falcons ENG 43–32 Benetton Treviso ITA Connacht IRE rugby union 50–49 Narbonne FRA |} First leg 6 December 2002 19:30 Bridgend WAL 28–26 Report ENG Bath Brewery Field 3,500 7 December 2002 14:30 Benetton Treviso ITA 27–8 Report ENG Newcastle Falcons Stadio Comunale di Monigo 3,500 7 December 2002 15:00 Harlequins ENG 0–26 Report FRA Stade Français The Stoop 5,323 7 December 2002 17:30 Pontypridd WAL 37–23 Report ENG Leeds Tykes Sardis Road 4,500 7 December 2002 19:30 Montauban FRA 19–16 Report SCO Borders Stade Sapiac 3,000 7 December 2002 19:30 Narbonne FRA 42–27 Report Ireland rugby union Connacht Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié 2,000 8 December 2002 15:00 London Wasps ENG 43–6 Report FRA Bordeaux-Bègles Adams Park 3,217 8 December 2002 15:00 Saracens ENG 16–6 Report FRA Colomiers Vicarage Road 3,561 Second leg 13 December 2002 19:30 Borders SCO 6–12 Report FRA Montauban Netherdale 1,700 14 December 2002 14:15 Bath ENG 38–10 Report WAL Bridgend The Recreation Ground 7,063 14 December 2002 14:30 Leeds Tykes ENG 19–19 Report WAL Pontypridd Headingley Stadium 2,062 14 December 2002 18:00 Bordeaux-Bègles FRA 23–29 Report ENG London Wasps Stade André Moga 1,500 14 December 2002 18:00 Stade Français FRA 29–12 Report ENG Harlequins Stade Jean-Bouin 7,500 14 December 2002 19:30 Colomiers FRA 19–30 Report ENG Saracens Stade Selery 7,000 15 December 2002 14:30 Newcastle Falcons ENG 35–5 Report ITA Benetton Treviso Kingston Park 2,539 15 December 2002 15:00 Connacht Ireland rugby union 23–7 Report FRA Narbonne Galway Sportsgrounds 2,000 Quarter-finals London Wasps ENG 62–34 Stade Français FRA 35–22 27–12 Pontypridd WAL 47–39 Connacht IRE rugby union 35–30 12–9 Saracens ENG 60–41 Newcastle Falcons ENG 31–10 29–31 Bath ENG 48–45 Montauban FRA 24–27 24–18 |} First leg 11 January 2003 17:30 Connacht Ireland rugby union 30–35 Report WAL Pontypridd Dubarry Park, Athlone 6,000 11 January 2003 19:30 Montauban FRA 27–24 Report ENG Bath Stade Sapiac, Montauban 6,000 12 January 2003 13:45 London Wasps ENG 35–22 Report FRA Stade Français Adams Park, High Wycombe 5,269 12 January 2003 15:00 Saracens ENG 31–10 Report ENG Newcastle Falcons Vicarage Road, Watford 3,857 Second leg 18 January 2003 14:15 Bath ENG 24–18 Report FRA Montauban Recreation Ground, Bath 6,200 18 January 2003 17:30 Pontypridd WAL 12–9 Report Ireland rugby union Connacht Sardis Road, Pontypridd 6,000 18 January 2003 18:00 Stade Français FRA 12–27 Report ENG London Wasps Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris 6,491 19 January 2003 14:30 Newcastle Falcons ENG 31–29 Report ENG Saracens Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne 2,439 Semi-finals London Wasps ENG 61–36 Pontypridd WAL 34–19 27–17 Bath ENG 57–57Bath went through on superior try count (6–5).http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/european/2978013.stm Bath late show stuns Sarries BBC 26 April 2003 29 January 2013 n Bath Saracens ENG 30–38 27–19 |} n First leg 12 April 2003 17:30 London Wasps ENG 34–19 Report WAL Pontypridd Adams Park, High Wycombe 7,776 13 April 2003 15:00 Saracens ENG 38–30 Report ENG Bath Vicarage Road, Watford 6,482 Second leg 25 April 2003 19:05 Pontypridd WAL 17–27 Report ENG London Wasps Sardis Road, Pontypridd 6,500 26 April 2003 14:15 Bath ENG 27–19 Report ENG Saracens Recreation Ground, Bath 8,200 Final 25 May 2003 15:45 Bath ENG 30–48 Report ENG London Wasps BalshawBarkleyTindallScaysbrook Balshaw (1)Barkley (1) Barkley (2) LewseyWatersWoodGreeningLoganLeota King (6) King (2) Madejski Stadium, Reading 18,074 Nigel Williams (Wales) See also 2002-03 Heineken Cup European Challenge Cup 2002–03 European Shield References Category:2002–03 rugby union tournaments for clubs 2002-03 Category:2002–03 in European rugby union Category:2002–03 in English rugby union Category:2002–03 in French rugby union Category:2002–03 in Irish rugby union Category:2002–03 in Italian rugby union Category:2002–03 in Romanian rugby union Category:2002–03 in Welsh rugby union Category:2002–03 in Spanish rugby union Category:2002–03 in Scottish rugby union