2002–03 Parker Pen Challenge Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2002–03 Parker Pen Challenge Cup was the seventh year of the European Challenge Cup
, the second tier rugby union
cup competition below the Heineken Cup
. The tournament was held between October 2002 and May 2003. Unlike previous seasons, the structure of the competition was changed to a knockout format. 32 teams from 8 countries competed on a home and away basis over two rounds to determine qualification for the quarter finals.
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
, the second tier rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
cup competition below the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. The tournament was held between October 2002 and May 2003. Unlike previous seasons, the structure of the competition was changed to a knockout format. 32 teams from 8 countries competed on a home and away basis over two rounds to determine qualification for the quarter finals.