The 2002–03 European Challenge Cup (known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for

sponsorship Sponsoring something (or someone) is the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. The individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor, is kn ...

reasons) was the 7th season of the

European Challenge Cup The EPCR Challenge Cup is an annual rugby union competition organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the second-tier competition for clubs based in European leagues behind the European Rugby Champions Cup. From its inception i ...

, Europe's second tier club

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competition below the

Heineken Cup The European Rugby Champions Cup (known as the Heineken Champions Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a pre ...

. A total of 32 teams participated, representing eight countries. The competition began when

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hosted Bath and

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hosted

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on 11 October 2002 and culminated in the final at the

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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. The defending champions,

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, did not have a chance to defend their crown because they qualified to play in the

. 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 :Ireland: 1 team – the Irish team from the

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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

that did not play in the Heineken Cup :Spain: 2 teams – drawn from the

División de Honor de Rugby The División de Honor de Rugby is Spain's top level professional men's rugby union competition. The División de Honor de Rugby Championship is organised by the Federación Española de Rugby ( Spanish Rugby Federation) and currently consists of 1 ...

:Wales: 4 teams – all the teams from the

that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup

Matches

All kickoff times are local to the match location.

Round 1

First leg

Second leg

Round 2

First leg

Second leg

Quarter-finals

First leg

Second leg

Semi-finals

First leg

Second leg

Final

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:European Challenge Cup 2002–03 rugby union tournaments for clubs 2002-03 2002–03 in European rugby union 2002–03 in English rugby union 2002–03 in French rugby union 2002–03 in Irish rugby union 2002–03 in Italian rugby union 2002–03 in Romanian rugby union 2002–03 in Welsh rugby union 2002–03 in Spanish rugby union 2002–03 in Scottish rugby union

Teams

Matches

Round 1

First leg

Second leg

Round 2

First leg

Second leg

Quarter-finals

First leg

Second leg

Semi-finals

First leg

Second leg

Final

See also

References