# 2002–03 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.
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
    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
| England | France | Ireland | Italy | Romania | Scotland | Spain | 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.

### Round 1

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Saracens | 238–11 | Dinamo București | 87–11 | 151–0 |
| Stade Français | 145–26 | Rovigo | | |
| Pontypridd | 143–26 | Rugby Roma | | |
| Colomiers | 133–19 | L'Aquila | | |
| Borders | 150–37 | UC Madrid | | |
| Bath | 97–22 | Gran Parma | | |
| London Wasps | 82–24 | Overmach Parma | | |
| Harlequins | 104–47 | Caerphilly | | |
| Leeds Tykes | 81–36 | Petrarca Padova | | |
| Narbonne | 75–37 | Rugby Silea | | |
| Connacht | 73–41 | Mont de Marsan | | |
| Benetton Treviso | 55–26 | Castres | | |
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 70–46 | La Moraleja | | |
| Newcastle Falcons | 52–29 | Grenoble | | |
| Montauban | 45–36 | Ebbw Vale | | |
| Bridgend | 33–27 | Pau | | |

#### First leg

* 11 October 2002 19:00
| Gran Parma | 3–40 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 1,200
* 11 October 2002 19:15
| Ebbw Vale | 20–16 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* Eugene Cross Park Attendance: 1,500
* 12 October 2002 14:30
| Caerphilly | 20–73 | Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Virginia Park Attendance: 1,500
* 12 October 2002 14:30
| Dinamo București | 11–87 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Complexul Cultural Sportiv Attendance: 400
* 12 October 2002 14:30
| Rugby Roma | 18–60 | Pontypridd |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tre Fontane Attendance: 400
* 12 October 2002 15:00
| Benetton Treviso | 22–9 | Castres Olympique |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 3,000
* 12 October 2002 15:00
| L'Aquila | 14–58 | Colomiers |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tommaso Fattori Attendance: 500
* 12 October 2002 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 23–29 | Leeds Tykes |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 2,000
* 12 October 2002 16:00
| UC Madrid | 22–73 | Borders |
| | Report | |
* Ciudad Universitaria Attendance: 1,000
* 12 October 2002 18:00
| La Moraleja | 31–37 | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| | Report | |
* Pol. Municipal de Alcobendas Attendance: 550
* 12 October 2002 19:00
| Overmach Parma | 24–40 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 1,500
* 12 October 2002 19:30
| Grenoble | 12–19 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Stade Lesdiguières Attendance: 4,500
* 12 October 2002 19:30
| Mont de Marsan | 12–26 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Stade Guy Boniface Attendance: 1,204
* 12 October 2002 19:30
| Pau | 18–6 | Bridgend |
| | Report | |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 5,000
* 13 October 2002 15:00
| Rovigo | 6–64 | Stade Français |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini Attendance: 1,500
* 13 October 2002 15:00
| Rugby Silea | 23–34 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 400

#### Second leg

* 18 October 2002 19:30
| Borders | 77–15 | UC Madrid |
| | Report | |
* Netherdale Attendance: 7,840
* 19 October 2002 14:15
| Bath | 57–19 | Gran Parma |
| | Report | |
* The Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,840
* 19 October 2002 14:30
| Pontypridd | 83–8 | Rugby Roma |
| | Report | |
* Sardis Road Attendance: 2,000
* 19 October 2002 15:00
| Connacht | 47–29 | Mont de Marsan |
| | Report | |
* The Sportsground Attendance: 1,000
* 19 October 2002 15:00
| Harlequins | 31–27 | Caerphilly |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 4,250
* 19 October 2002 17:30
| Bridgend | 27–9 | Pau |
| | Report | |
* Brewery Field Attendance: 2,500
* 19 October 2002 18:00
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 33–15 | La Moraleja |
| | Report | |
* Stade André Moga Attendance: 2,000
* 19 October 2002 18:00
| Stade Français | 81–20 | Rovigo |
| | Report | |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 3,000
* 19 October 2002 19:30
| Castres Olympique | 17–33 | Benetton Treviso |
| | Report | |
* Stade Pierre-Antoine
* 19 October 2002 19:30
| Colomiers | 75–5 | L'Aquila |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 2,500
* 19 October 2002 19:30
| Montauban | 29–16 | Ebbw Vale |
| | Report | |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 2,800
* 19 October 2002 19:30
| Narbonne | 41–14 | Rugby Silea |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 2,300
* 20 October 2002 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 52–13 | Petrarca Padova |
| | Report | |
* Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,665
* 20 October 2002 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 33–17 | Grenoble |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,599
* 20 October 2002 15:00
| London Wasps | 42–0 | Overmach Parma |
| | Report | |
* Adams Park Attendance: 3,980
* 20 October 2002 15:00
| Saracens | 151–0 | Dinamo București |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 2,052

### Round 2

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 |
| London Wasps | 72–29 | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| Stade Français | 55–12 | Harlequins |
| Saracens | 46–25 | Colomiers |
| Montauban | 31–22 | Borders |
| Pontypridd | 56–42 | Leeds Tykes |
| Bath | 64–38 | Bridgend |
| Newcastle Falcons | 43–32 | Benetton Treviso |
| Connacht | 50–49 | Narbonne |

#### First leg

* 6 December 2002 19:30
| Bridgend | 28–26 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Brewery Field Attendance: 3,500
* 7 December 2002 14:30
| Benetton Treviso | 27–8 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 3,500
* 7 December 2002 15:00
| Harlequins | 0–26 | Stade Français |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 5,323
* 7 December 2002 17:30
| Pontypridd | 37–23 | Leeds Tykes |
| | Report | |
* Sardis Road Attendance: 4,500
* 7 December 2002 19:30
| Montauban | 19–16 | Borders |
| | Report | |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 3,000
* 7 December 2002 19:30
| Narbonne | 42–27 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 2,000
* 8 December 2002 15:00
| London Wasps | 43–6 | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| | Report | |
* Adams Park Attendance: 3,217
* 8 December 2002 15:00
| Saracens | 16–6 | Colomiers |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 3,561

#### Second leg

* 13 December 2002 19:30
| Borders | 6–12 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* Netherdale Attendance: 1,700
* 14 December 2002 14:15
| Bath | 38–10 | Bridgend |
| | Report | |
* The Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,063
* 14 December 2002 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 19–19 | Pontypridd |
| | Report | |
* Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,062
* 14 December 2002 18:00
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 23–29 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Stade André Moga Attendance: 1,500
* 14 December 2002 18:00
| Stade Français | 29–12 | Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Stade Jean-Bouin Attendance: 7,500
* 14 December 2002 19:30
| Colomiers | 19–30 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 7,000
* 15 December 2002 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 35–5 | Benetton Treviso |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 2,539
* 15 December 2002 15:00
| Connacht | 23–7 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 2,000

### Quarter-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| London Wasps | 62–34 | Stade Français | 35–22 | 27–12 |
| Pontypridd | 47–39 | Connacht | 35–30 | 12–9 |
| Saracens | 60–41 | Newcastle Falcons | 31–10 | 29–31 |
| Bath | 48–45 | Montauban | 24–27 | 24–18 |

#### First leg

* 11 January 2003 17:30
| Connacht | 30–35 | Pontypridd |
| | Report | |
* Dubarry Park, Athlone Attendance: 6,000
* 11 January 2003 19:30
| Montauban | 27–24 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Stade Sapiac, Montauban Attendance: 6,000
* 12 January 2003 13:45
| London Wasps | 35–22 | Stade Français |
| | Report | |
* Adams Park, High Wycombe Attendance: 5,269
* 12 January 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 31–10 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road, Watford Attendance: 3,857

#### Second leg

* 18 January 2003 14:15
| Bath | 24–18 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* Recreation Ground, Bath Attendance: 6,200
* 18 January 2003 17:30
| Pontypridd | 12–9 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Sardis Road, Pontypridd Attendance: 6,000
* 18 January 2003 18:00
| Stade Français | 12–27 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris Attendance: 6,491
* 19 January 2003 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 31–29 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne Attendance: 2,439

### Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| London Wasps | 61–36 | Pontypridd | 34–19 | 27–17 |
| Bath | 57–57 | Saracens | 30–38 | 27–19 |
* ↑ Bath went through on superior try count (6–5).

#### First leg

* 12 April 2003 17:30
| London Wasps | 34–19 | Pontypridd |
| | Report | |
* Adams Park, High Wycombe Attendance: 7,776
* 13 April 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 38–30 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road, Watford Attendance: 6,482

#### Second leg

* 25 April 2003 19:05
| Pontypridd | 17–27 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Sardis Road, Pontypridd Attendance: 6,500
* 26 April 2003 14:15
| Bath | 27–19 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Recreation Ground, Bath Attendance: 8,200

### Final

* 25 May 2003 15:45
| Bath | 30–48 | London Wasps |
| Try: Balshaw Barkley Tindall Scaysbrook Con: Balshaw (1) Barkley (1) Pen: Barkley (2) | Report | Try: Lewsey Waters Wood Greening Logan Leota Con: King (6) Pen: King (2) |
* Madejski Stadium, Reading Attendance: 18,074 Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)