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2002–03 Parker Pen 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)
Top try scorer(s) Tom Shanklin (Saracens)
(8 tries)
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.

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.

The allocation of teams was as follows:

All kickoff times are local to the match location.


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