# 2003–04 European Challenge Cup

The 2003–04 European Challenge Cup (known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 8th season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second-tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 28 teams participated, representing seven countries. This was the first year of the competition following the introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales. With the reduction of Welsh teams from nine to five, and with all teams participating in the 2003-04 Heineken Cup, there were no Welsh teams in the 2003–04 Parker Pen Challenge Cup.
The competition began when Rotherham hosted Narbonne and Leonessa hosted Montferrand on 5 December 2003 and culminated in the final at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on 22 May 2004.
As in the previous season, the competition was organised in a 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 the second time, a third tier tournament was held - the European Shield. This was contested between the first round losers from the European Challenge Cup. As there were only 28 teams involved, the 2 "best" 1st Round losers were reprieved and proceeded to the 2nd Round.
The defending champions, England's London Wasps, did not have a chance to defend their crown because they qualified to play in the Heineken Cup. NEC Harlequins claimed the narrowest of victories over Montferrand in the final and picked up their second 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 2003–04 Heineken Cup
    France: 10 teams — all teams from the Top 16 that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup
    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
    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
| England | France | Ireland | Italy | Scotland | Spain |
| Bath NEC Harlequins London Irish Newcastle Falcons Rotherham Saracens | Béziers Brive Castres Olympique Colomiers Grenoble Montauban Montferrand Montpellier Narbonne Pau | Connacht | Gran Parma L'Aquila Leonessa Overmach Parma Petrarca Padova Rugby Roma Rovigo Viadana | Glasgow | El Salvador Valladolid RAC |

## Matches

All kickoff times are local to the match location.

### Round 1
#### 1st leg

* 5 December 2003 19:45
| Rotherham | 10 – 17 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Millmoor Attendance: 1,327
* 5 December 2003 20:00
| Leonessa | 0 – 55 | Montferrand |
| | Report | |
* Campo Comunale di Rugby Attendance: 500
* 6 December 2003 12:30
| Valladolid RAC | 10 – 71 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Estadio Pepe Rojo Attendance: 3,000
* 6 December 2003 14:30
| Rugby Roma | 13 – 45 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Tre Fontane Attendance: 512
* 6 December 2003 15:00
| Gran Parma | 10 – 35 | Grenoble |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 800
* 6 December 2003 15:00
| L'Aquila | 11 – 75 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Stade Tommaso Fattori Attendance: 2,000
* 6 December 2003 15:00
| Rovigo | 14 – 53 | Castres Olympique |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini Attendance: 300
* 6 December 2003 18:00
| Colomiers | 37 – 12 | Petrarca Padova |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 2,500
* 6 December 2003 18:00
| Montpellier | 11 – 30 | Glasgow |
| | Report | |
* Stade Sabathé Attendance: 500
* 6 December 2003 19:30
| Brive | 39 – 3 | Viadana |
| | Report | |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 3,000
* 7 December 2003 12:30
| El Salvador | 18 – 31 | NEC Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Estadio Pepe Rojo Attendance: 2,800
* 7 December 2003 13:30
| Montauban | 30 – 26 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* North Power Stadium Attendance: 1,600
* 7 December 2003 14:30
| Overmach Parma | 28 – 33 | Pau |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 350
* 7 December 2003 15:00
| Béziers | 10 – 18 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Stade de la Méditerranée Attendance: 4,543

#### 2nd leg

* 12 December 2003 19:30
| Glasgow | 38 – 13 | Montpellier |
| | Report | |
* Hughenden Stadium Attendance: 1,622
* 12 December 2003 19:45
| Narbonne | 35 – 13 | Rotherham |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 1,500
* 13 December 2003 14:00
| Connacht | 11 – 13 | Béziers |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 2,500
* 13 December 2003 14:15
| Bath | 50 – 0 | L'Aquila |
| | Report | |
* The Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,707
* 13 December 2003 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 63 – 3 | El Salvador |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 6,341
* 13 December 2003 15:00
| Petrarca Padova | 20 – 38 | Colomiers |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 1,200
* 13 December 2003 17:00
| Montferrand | 58 – 3 | Leonessa |
| | Report | |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 7,941
* 13 December 2003 18:00
| Castres Olympique | 75 – 10 | Rovigo |
| | Report | |
* Stade Pierre-Antoine Attendance: 2,500
* 13 December 2003 19:00
| Pau | 25 – 6 | Overmach Parma |
| | Report | |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 3,500
* 13 December 2003 19:30
| Grenoble | 41 – 6 | Gran Parma |
| | Report | |
* Stade Lesdiguières Attendance: 4,087
* 14 December 2003 13:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 66 – 27 | Valladolid RAC |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 6,012
* 14 December 2003 14:30
| Viadana | 38 – 22 | Brive |
| | Report | |
* Stradey Park Attendance: 1,000
* 14 December 2003 15:00
| London Irish | 36 – 24 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,265
* 14 December 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 82 – 5 | Rugby Roma |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,181

#### Aggregate Results

    Key to colours   14 winners and 2 best losers advance to 2nd Round.   12 other teams to Shield.
| Winners | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Losers |
| Bath | 4 – 0 | 125 – 11 | 114 | L'Aquila |
| Montferrand | 4 – 0 | 113 – 3 | 110 | Leonessa |
| Saracens | 4 – 0 | 127 – 18 | 109 | Rugby Roma |
| Castres Olympique | 4 – 0 | 128 – 24 | 104 | Rovigo |
| Newcastle Falcons | 4 – 0 | 137 – 37 | 100 | Valladolid RAC |
| NEC Harlequins | 4 – 0 | 94 – 21 | 73 | El Salvador |
| Grenoble | 4 – 0 | 76 – 16 | 60 | Gran Parma |
| Glasgow | 4 – 0 | 68 – 24 | 44 | Montpellier |
| Colomiers | 4 – 0 | 75 – 32 | 43 | Petrarca Padova |
| Narbonne | 4 – 0 | 52 – 23 | 29 | Rotherham |
| Pau | 4 – 0 | 58 – 34 | 24 | Overmach Parma |
| Brive | 2 – 2 | 61 – 41 | 20 | Viadana |
| London Irish | 2 – 2 | 62 – 54 | 8 | Montauban |
| Connacht | 2 – 2 | 29 – 23 | 6 | Béziers |

### Round 2
#### 1st leg

* 10 January 2004 14:00
| Connacht | 29 – 7 | Pau |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 2,000
* 10 January 2004 19:30
| Montauban | 8 – 43 | NEC Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance: 3,000
* 11 January 2004 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 10 – 3 | Montferrand |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,950
* 11 January 2004 15:00
| Brive | 30 – 17 | Castres Olympique |
| | Report | |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 4,000
* 11 January 2004 15:00
| Colomiers | 25 – 32 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 4,500
* 11 January 2004 15:00
| Grenoble | 15 – 19 | Béziers |
| | Report | |
* Stade Lesdiguières Attendance: 4,500
* 11 January 2004 15:00
| London Irish | 20 – 13 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 4,525
* 11 January 2004 15:00
| Saracens | 37 – 6 | Glasgow |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 3,653

#### 2nd leg

* 16 January 2004 19:30
| Glasgow | 33 – 5 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Hughenden Stadium Attendance: 2,645
* 17 January 2004 14:15
| Bath | 26 – 17 | Colomiers |
| | Report | |
* The Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,980
* 17 January 2004 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 36 – 17 | Montauban |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 5,011
* 17 January 2004 19:00
| Pau | 10 – 6 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Stade du Hameau Attendance: 3,000
* 17 January 2004 19:30
| Béziers | 24 – 8 | Grenoble |
| | Report | |
* Stade de la Méditerranée Attendance: 4,389
* 17 January 2004 19:30
| Narbonne | 29 – 10 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 4,000
* 18 January 2004 15:00
| Montferrand | 25 – 13 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 7,500
* 18 January 2004 15:00
| Castres Olympique | 31 – 28 | Brive |
| | Report | |
* Stade Pierre-Antoine Attendance: 2,500

#### Aggregate Results

| Proceed to Quarter-final | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Eliminated from competition |
| NEC Harlequins | 4 – 0 | 79 – 25 | 54 | Montauban |
| Béziers | 4 – 0 | 43 – 23 | 20 | Grenoble |
| Bath | 4 – 0 | 58 – 42 | 16 | Colomiers |
| Connacht | 2 – 2 | 35 – 17 | 18 | Pau |
| Narbonne | 2 – 2 | 42 – 30 | 12 | London Irish |
| Brive | 2 – 2 | 58 – 48 | 10 | Castres Olympique |
| Montferrand | 2 – 2 | 28 – 23 | 5 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Saracens | 2 – 2 | 42 – 39 | 3 | Glasgow |

### Quarter-finals
#### 1st leg

* 24 January 2004 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 41 – 8 | Brive |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 4,950
* 24 January 2004 19:30
| Béziers | 24 – 19 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Stade de la Méditerranée Attendance: 2,553
* 24 January 2004 19:30
| Narbonne | 18 – 27 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Attendance: 4,000
* 25 January 2004 15:00
| Montferrand | 26 – 10 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 9,444

#### 2nd leg

* 31 January 2004 14:00
| Connacht | 16 – 10 | Narbonne |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 2,000
* 31 January 2004 14:15
| Bath | 26 – 7 | Béziers |
| | Report | |
* The Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,571
* 1 February 2004 15:00
| Brive | 36 – 20 | NEC Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Stade Amédée-Domenech Attendance: 5,000
* 1 February 2004 15:00
| Saracens | 18 – 14 | Montferrand |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,058

#### Aggregate Results

| Proceed to Semifinal | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Eliminated from competition |
| Connacht | 4 – 0 | 43 – 28 | 15 | Narbonne |
| NEC Harlequins | 2 – 2 | 61 – 44 | 17 | Brive |
| Bath | 2 – 2 | 45 – 31 | 14 | Béziers |
| Montferrand | 2 – 2 | 40 – 28 | 12 | Saracens |

### Semi-finals
#### 1st leg

* 10 April 2004 13:00
| Bath | 29 – 15 | Montferrand |
| | Report | |
* The Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,700
* 11 April 2004 13:00
| NEC Harlequins | 31 – 22 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 6,573

#### 2nd leg

* 24 April 2004 14:00
| Montferrand | 38 – 22 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 4,000
* 25 April 2004 13:00
| Connacht | 23 – 18 | NEC Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,000

#### Aggregate Results

| Proceed to Final | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Eliminated from competition |
| NEC Harlequins | 2 – 2 | 49 – 45 | 4 | Connacht |
| Montferrand | 2 – 2 | 53 – 51 | 2 | Bath |

### Final

* 22 May 2004 12:00
| Montferrand | 26 – 27 | NEC Harlequins |
| Try: Azam Mignoni Con: Floch (2) Pen: Floch (3) Drop: Merceron (1) | Report | Try: Duffy Keogh Con: Dunne (1) Pen: Burke (4) Dunne (1) |
* Madejski Stadium, Reading, Berkshire Attendance: 13,123 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)