# 2001–02 European Challenge Cup pool stage

The 2001–02 European Challenge Cup pool stage (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons) was the opening stage of the sixth season of the European Challenge Cup, the second-tier competition for European rugby union clubs. It began when Connacht hosted Narbonne on 28 September 2001 and ended with four matches on 13 January 2002.
Thirty two teams participated in this phase of the competition; they were divided into eight pools of four teams each, with each team playing the others home and away. Competition points were award for games won (2 points) and drawn (1 point). There were no points for losing, nor were there bonus points as in the more modern bonus point system. The eight pool winners advanced to the knockout stage. These teams then competed in a single-elimination tournament that ended with the final at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on 26 May 2002.

## Results

All kickoff times are local to the match location.
    Key to colours   Winner of each pool, advance to quarterfinals. Seed # in parentheses

### Pool 1

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Ebbw Vale (7) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 153 | 90 | 63 | 8 |
| Agen | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 199 | 119 | 80 | 8 |
| Montauban | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 146 | 123 | 23 | 8 |
| Rovigo | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 32 | −24 | 78 | 244 | −166 | 0 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
| Ebbw Vale, Agen and Montauban finished on the same Competition Points. In head-to-head matches Ebbw Vale beat Agen 68–30 on aggregate, having won one game and lost the other Ebbw Vale beat Montauban 31–24 on aggregate, having won one game and lost the other Agen beat Montauban 60–41 on aggregate, having won one game and lost the other hence Ebbw Vale top the table ||||||||||||
* 29 September 2001 19:30
| Agen | 20 - 9 | Ebbw Vale |
| | Report | |
* Stade Armandie Attendance: 2,000
* 30 September 2001 15:00
| Rovigo | 23 - 41 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini
* 6 October 2001 19:30
| Ebbw Vale | 28 - 26 | Rovigo |
| | Report | |
* Eugene Cross Park Attendance: 1,500
* 6 October 2001 19:30
| Montauban | 28 - 26 | Agen |
| | Report | |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 5,000
* 26 October 2001 19:30
| Ebbw Vale | 16 - 5 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* Eugene Cross Park Attendance: 2,500
* 28 October 2001 15:00
| Rovigo | 3 - 43 | Agen |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini Attendance: 1,000
* 3 November 2001 19:30
| Agen | 66 - 7 | Rovigo |
| | Report | |
* Stade Armandie Attendance: 2,500
* 3 November 2001 19:30
| Montauban | 19 - 15 | Ebbw Vale |
| | Report | |
* Stade Sapiac
* 4 January 2002 19:30
| Agen | 34 - 13 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* Stade Armandie Attendance: 3,000
* 6 January 2002 14:30
| Rovigo | 10 - 26 | Ebbw Vale |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini Attendance: 600
* 12 January 2002 15:00
| Ebbw Vale | 59 - 10 | Agen |
| | Report | |
* Eugene Cross Park Attendance: 1,800
* 12 January 2002 19:30
| Montauban | 40 - 9 | Rovigo |
| | Report | |
* Stade Sapiac Attendance: 3,000

### Pool 2

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Pau (4) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 24 | 217 | 63 | 154 | 12 |
| Colomiers | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 9 | 23 | 259 | 105 | 154 | 8 |
| Petrarca Padova | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 26 | −12 | 114 | 223 | −109 | 4 |
| UC Madrid | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 43 | −35 | 90 | 289 | −199 | 0 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
* 29 September 2001 19:30
| Pau | 35 - 0 | Petrarca Padova |
| | Report | |
* Stade du Hameau
* 30 September 2001 12:30
| UC Madrid | 16 - 36 | Colomiers |
| | Report | |
* Complejo Deportivo Sur Attendance: 800
* 6 October 2001 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 41 - 12 | UC Madrid |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 1,000
* 6 October 2001 19:00
| Colomiers | 12 - 18 | Pau |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 4,000
* 27 October 2001 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 12 - 74 | Colomiers |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 1,000
* 27 October 2001 19:30
| Pau | 66 - 10 | UC Madrid |
| | Report | |
* Stade du Hameau
* 3 November 2001 19:00
| Colomiers | 45 - 6 | Petrarca Padova |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 3,200
* 4 November 2001
| UC Madrid | 10 - 30 | Pau |
| | Report | |
* Complejo Deportivo Sur Attendance: 300
* 5 January 2002 12:30
| UC Madrid | 29 - 36 | Petrarca Padova |
| | Report | |
* Complejo Deportivo Sur Attendance: 300
* 5 January 2002 19:30
| Pau | 40 - 12 | Colomiers |
| | Report | |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 4,265
* 12 January 2002 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 19 - 28 | Pau |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 1,000
* 12 January 2002 19:00
| Colomiers | 80 - 13 | UC Madrid |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 3,100

### Pool 3

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Pontypridd (8) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 139 | 87 | 52 | 8 |
| Leeds Tykes | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 188 | 154 | 34 | 8 |
| Béziers | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 136 | 187 | −51 | 4 |
| Overmach Parma | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 18 | −7 | 127 | 162 | −35 | 4 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
| Pontypridd and Leeds finished on the same Competition Points. In head-to-head matches, Pontypridd beat Leeds 55–46 on aggregate, having won one game and lost the other. ||||||||||||
| Béziers and Overmach Parma finished on the same Competition Points. In head-to-head matches, Béziers beat Overmach Parma 63–60 on aggregate, having won one game and lost the other. ||||||||||||
* 29 September 2001 15:00
| Béziers | 23 - 12 | Pontypridd |
| | Report | |
* Stade de la Méditerranée Attendance: 4,000
* 29 September 2001 19:30
| Overmach Parma | 41 - 10 | Leeds Tykes |
| | Report | |
* Stadio de Rugby
* 6 October 2001 14:30
| Pontypridd | 31 - 10 | Overmach Parma |
| | Report | |
* Sardis Road Attendance: 2,500
* 7 October 2001 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 48 - 17 | Béziers |
| | Report | |
* Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,229
* 27 October 2001 15:00
| Overmach Parma | 41 - 29 | Béziers |
| | Report | |
* Stadio de Rugby
* 28 October 2001 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 30 - 27 | Pontypridd |
| | Report | |
* Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,642
* 3 November 2001 15:00
| Béziers | 34 - 19 | Overmach Parma |
| | Report | |
* Stade de la Méditerranée
* 3 November 2001 17:30
| Pontypridd | 28 - 16 | Leeds Tykes |
| | Report | |
* Sardis Road Attendance: 4,200
* 5 January 2002 15:00
| Béziers | 25 - 26 | Leeds Tykes |
| | Report | |
* Stade de la Méditerranée Attendance: 3,500
* 6 January 2002 14:30
| Overmach Parma | P - P | Pontypridd |
| | Report | |
* Stadio de Rugby
* Parma refused to travel. Pontypridd were awarded the match points.
* 12 January 2002 17:30
| Pontypridd | 41 - 8 | Béziers |
| | Report | |
* Sardis Road Attendance: 3,000
* 13 January 2002 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 58 - 16 | Overmach Parma |
| | Report | |
* Headingley Stadium Attendance: 1,431

### Pool 4

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Sale Sharks (3) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 7 | 33 | 286 | 79 | 207 | 12 |
| Connacht | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 157 | 140 | 17 | 6 |
| Narbonne | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 128 | 111 | 17 | 6 |
| Rugby Roma | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 42 | −35 | 57 | 298 | −241 | 0 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
* 28 September 2001 19:00
| Connacht | 18 - 6 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Ericsson Park, Athlone Attendance: 1,500
* 29 September 2001 15:00
| Sale Sharks | 93 - 0 | Rugby Roma |
| | Report | |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 2,807
* 6 October 2001 14:30
| Rugby Roma | 10 - 20 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tre Fontane Attendance: 800
* 6 October 2001 19:30
| Narbonne | 10 - 13 | Sale Sharks |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 3,500
* 27 October 2001 14:30
| Connacht | 30 - 33 | Sale Sharks |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 1,200
* 27 October 2001 19:30
| Narbonne | 40 - 0 | Rugby Roma |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié Attendance: 2,504
* 3 November 2001 14:30
| Rugby Roma | 17 - 22 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tre Fontane Attendance: 2,800
* 3 November 2001 15:00
| Sale Sharks | 44 - 6 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 1,000
* 4 January 2002 20:00
| Sale Sharks | 41 - 16 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 2,561
* 5 January 2002 14:30
| Connacht | 61 - 13 | Rugby Roma |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds
* 12 January 2002 14:30
| Rugby Roma | 17 - 62 | Sale Sharks |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tre Fontane
* 12 January 2002 19:30
| Narbonne | 34 - 22 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié

### Pool 5

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Bristol Shoguns (6) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 189 | 115 | 74 | 10 |
| Neath | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 160 | 131 | 29 | 8 |
| Viadana | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 25 | −12 | 120 | 210 | −90 | 4 |
| Bourgoin | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 160 | 173 | −13 | 2 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
* 29 September 2001 14:30
| Neath | 41 - 14 | Viadana |
| | Report | |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 3,000
* 30 September 2001 15:00
| Bourgoin | 28 - 34 | Bristol Shoguns |
| | Report | |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 4,000
* 7 October 2001 14:30
| Viadana | 26 - 10 | Bourgoin |
| | Report | |
* Via Learco Guerra Attendance: 1,000
* 7 October 2001 15:00
| Bristol Shoguns | 10 - 6 | Neath |
| | Report | |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,006
* 27 October 2001 14:30
| Neath | 27 - 20 | Bourgoin |
| | Report | |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 3,000
* 28 October 2001 14:30
| Viadana | 16 - 42 | Bristol Shoguns |
| | Report | |
* Via Learco Guerra Attendance: 1,100
* 4 November 2001 15:00
| Bourgoin | 25 - 27 | Neath |
| | Report | |
* Stade Pierre Rajon
* 4 November 2001 15:00
| Bristol Shoguns | 31 - 15 | Viadana |
| | Report | |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,543
* 5 January 2002 14:30
| Neath | 33 - 29 | Bristol Shoguns |
| | Report | |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 4,500
* 5 January 2002 15:00
| Bourgoin | 60 - 16 | Viadana |
| | Report | |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 1,500
* 12 January 2002 14:30
| Viadana | 33 - 26 | Neath |
| | Report | |
* Via Learco Guerra
* 13 January 2002 15:00
| Bristol Shoguns | 43 - 17 | Bourgoin |
| | Report | |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,695

### Pool 6

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| London Irish (5) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 8 | 29 | 284 | 85 | 199 | 11 |
| Dax | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 9 | 33 | 306 | 119 | 187 | 9 |
| L'Aquila | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 34 | −23 | 107 | 239 | −132 | 4 |
| Valladolid RAC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 46 | −39 | 53 | 307 | −254 | 0 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
* 29 September 2001 15:00
| L'Aquila | 25 - 14 | Valladolid RAC |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tommaso Fattori
* 29 September 2001 19:30
| Dax | 22 - 29 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 4,000
* 7 October 2001 12:30
| Valladolid RAC | 11 - 26 | Dax |
| | Report | |
* Estadio Pepe Rojo Attendance: 1,600
* 7 October 2001 15:00
| London Irish | 48 - 12 | L'Aquila |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 2,200
* 27 October 2001 15:00
| L'Aquila | 29 - 41 | Dax |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tommaso Fattori
* 28 October 2001 12:30
| Valladolid RAC | 5 - 71 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* Ciudad Universitaria Attendance: 2,800
* 4 November 2001 15:00
| Dax | 94 - 19 | L'Aquila |
| | Report | |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 1,337
* 4 November 2001 15:00
| London Irish | 76 - 10 | Valladolid RAC |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 2,414
* 4 January 2002 19:00
| L'Aquila | 8 - 32 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tommaso Fattori Attendance: 400
* 6 January 2002 15:00
| Dax | 95 - 3 | Valladolid RAC |
| | Report | |
* Stade Maurice Boyau Attendance: 4,000
* 13 January 2002 12:30
| Valladolid RAC | 10 - 14 | L'Aquila |
| | Report | |
* Ciudad Universitaria Attendance: 1,300
* 13 January 2002 15:00
| London Irish | 28 - 28 | Dax |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 3,240

### Pool 7

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Gloucester (2) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 9 | 38 | 362 | 62 | 300 | 12 |
| La Rochelle | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 161 | 177 | −16 | 8 |
| Caerphilly | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 38 | −20 | 170 | 281 | −111 | 4 |
| Gran Parma | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 36 | −25 | 104 | 277 | −173 | 0 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
* 29 September 2001 14:30
| Caerphilly | 41 - 30 | Gran Parma |
| | Report | |
* Virginia Park Attendance: 1,000
* 29 September 2001 15:00
| Gloucester | 34 - 15 | La Rochelle |
| | Report | |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 7,000
* 6 October 2001 15:00
| Gran Parma | 5 - 48 | Gloucester |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 1,000
* 6 October 2001 19:30
| La Rochelle | 44 - 39 | Caerphilly |
| | Report | |
* Stade Marcel-Deflandre
* 27 October 2001 15:00
| Gloucester | 98 - 14 | Caerphilly |
| | Report | |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 7,336
* 27 October 2001 17:00
| La Rochelle | 28 - 14 | Gran Parma |
| | Report | |
* Stade Marcel-Deflandre Attendance: 2,000
* 3 November 2001 14:30
| Caerphilly | 16 - 47 | Gloucester |
| | Report | |
* Virginia Park Attendance: 3,500
* 3 November 2001 18:00
| Gran Parma | 25 - 30 | La Rochelle |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 600
* 5 January 2002 14:30
| Caerphilly | 29 - 32 | La Rochelle |
| | Report | |
* Virginia Park
* 5 January 2002 15:00
| Gloucester | 99 - 0 | Gran Parma |
| | Report | |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 6,567
* 12 January 2002 14:30
| Gran Parma | 30 - 31 | Caerphilly |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 1,000
* 12 January 2002 19:30
| La Rochelle | 12 - 36 | Gloucester |
| | Report | |
* Stade Marcel-Deflandre Attendance: 5,000

### Pool 8

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Saracens (1) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 7 | 57 | 435 | 66 | 369 | 12 |
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 53 | 15 | 38 | 354 | 117 | 237 | 8 |
| Dinamo București | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 58 | −43 | 102 | 403 | −301 | 2 |
| Bologna | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 61 | −52 | 93 | 398 | −305 | 2 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Points breakdown: *2 points for a win *1 point for a draw ||||||||||||
* 29 September 2001 14:00
| Dinamo București | 49 - 17 | Bologna |
| | Report | |
* Complexul Cultural Sportiv Attendance: 500
* 29 September 2001 14:00
| Saracens | 34 - 14 | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,381
* 6 October 2001 14:00
| Dinamo București | 12 - 75 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Complexul Cultural Sportiv Attendance: 2,000
* 6 October 2001 19:00
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 89 - 11 | Bologna |
| | Report | |
* Stade André Moga
* 28 October 2001 15:00
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 82 - 23 | Dinamo București |
| | Report | |
* Stade André Moga Attendance: 5,473
* 28 October 2001 15:00
| Saracens | 113 - 3 | Bologna |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 1,000
* 3 November 2001 14:00
| Dinamo București | 5 - 83 | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| | Report | |
* Complexul Cultural Sportiv Attendance: 650
* 3 November 2001 15:00
| Bologna | 10 - 75 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Arcoveggio Attendance: 1,200
* 5 January 2002 15:00
| Bologna | 19 - 62 | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Arcoveggio Attendance: 150
* 6 January 2002 15:00
| Saracens | 113 - 3 | Dinamo București |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 3,582
* 12 January 2002 15:00
| Bologna | 33 - 10 | Dinamo București |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Arcoveggio
* 12 January 2002 19:00
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 24 - 25 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Stade André Moga