Tournament format(s) Knockout Matches played 27 | Teams 16 | |
Countries England
France
Italy
Portugal
Romania
Spain Date 4 December 2004 - 21 May 2005 Attendance 38,717 (1,434 per match) | ||
The 2004–05 European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons) was the 3rd, and final, season of the European Shield, Europe's third tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup. A total of 15 teams participated, representing six different countries.
Contents
This competition was intended to be contested between 12 first round losers from the 2004–05 European Challenge Cup 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 4 December 2004 and culminated in the final at Kassam Stadium in Oxford on 21 May 2005. Auch secured a victory over Worcester Warriors in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.
After this season, the European Challenge Cup reverted to its previous "pool and knockout" format and the European Shield was discontinued.
Teams
This competition was intended to be contested between 12 first round losers from the 2004–05 European Challenge Cup, plus 4 other Clubs that joined directly at the 1st Round of the Shield. AA Coimbra subsequently declined to play in the competition.
Semi finals
All kick off times are local.