European Rugby Continental Shield

Last updated
European Rugby Continental Shield
European Rugby Continental Shield Logo.jpg
Sport Rugby union
Inaugural season2014–15 (as Qualifying Competition)
2016–17 (as Continental Shield)
Organisers EPCR
Rugby Europe
FIR
Number of teams10 (8 (pools) + 2 (play-off))
CountryFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Holders Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM (2 titles) (2018–19)
Website European Rugby Continental Shield Website
Rugby Europe Website
Related competitions

The European Rugby Continental Shield (formerly the European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition) was a rugby union competition, organised by European Professional Club Rugby, Rugby Europe and the Federazione Italiana Rugby, for entry into the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Contents

The Qualifying Competition was first announced in April 2014, at the same time as the announcement of the creation of the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions. The tournament featured teams from non-EPCR countries, such as Spain, Germany, Belgium, Romania, Georgia, Russia and Portugal, as well as select Italian Eccellenza clubs. In 2016–17, the qualification competition also became a European Rugby competition in its own right, the third tier European Rugby Continental Shield, with both successful play-off teams meeting in a final as a part of European Rugby Finals weekend.

Both editions of the Shield final were won by Russian club Enisey-STM. [1]

The competition is the first third-tier European tournament since the suspension of the Parker Pen Shield in 2005. [2]

The competition was discontinued after the 2018–19 edition. [3]

Format

Under the Heads of Agreement announced on 10 April 2014, there were two places available in the European Rugby Challenge Cup through the Qualifying Competition. [4]

For the 2014–15 season, given the time constraints in filling the competition, this was a reduced competition the form of 2 two-legged play-off matches, with the aggregate winners of each taking one of the two Rugby Europe spots in the draw, and it involved the 2 best teams from Italy's National Championship of Excellence, plus a Romanian and Georgian selection. [5]

An expanded format was announced on 22 December 2014, [6] the expanded format includes clubs from non-EPCR Unions Russia, Spain and Portugal alongside representatives from the Italian Eccellenza.

The 6 teams in the Qualifying Competition are split into 2 pools of 3 teams each. Each team will play the other teams in their pool once, before the two pool winners compete in a two-legged play-off against the teams currently competing in the Challenge Cup from the previous Qualifying Competition.

The winners, on aggregate, of these two play-offs will take up the Qualifying Competition places in the Challenge Cup. [6]

In 2017, the competition was rebranded as the European Rugby Continental Shield, and it was announced that the two qualifiers would play each other as part of the EPCR's finals weekend, [7] a practice which was discontinued for 2018–19.

Summary of results

Continental Shield Finals

SeasonCountryWinnersScoreRunners-upCountryVenue
2016–17 Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Enisey-STM 36–8 Krasny Yar Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Murrayfield Complex, Edinburgh
2017–18 Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Enisey-STM 24–20 Heidelberger RK Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Campos Deportivos de Fadura, Getxo, Biscay

Qualifying play-off results

SeasonPlay-off 1Play-off 2Qualify for
WinnersScoreRunners-upWinnersScoreRunners-up
2013–14 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta 46–39 Flag of Georgia.svg Tbilisi Caucasians Flag of Romania.svg București Wolves 28–26 Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup
SeasonPlay-off 1Play-off 2Qualify for
Challenge Cup SideScoreContinental Shield SideChallenge Cup SideScoreContinental Shield Side
2014–15 Flag of Romania.svg CSM Baia Mare 32–63 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta 24–52 Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup
2015–16 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM 70–5 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 40–64 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup
2016–17 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM 97–7 Flag of Italy.svg Mogliano Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens 35–39 Flag of Russia.svg Krasny Yar 2017–18 European Rugby Challenge Cup
SeasonPlay-off from Challenge CupPlay-off from Continental ShieldQualify for
Challenge Side 1ScoreChallenge Side 2C. Shield Side 1ScoreC. Shield Side 2
2017–18 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM 74–48 Flag of Russia.svg Krasny Yar Flag of Germany.svg Heidelberger RK 47–41 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup
2018–19 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM 58–52 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 57–43 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup
Key    Winners qualified to the European Rugby Challenge Cup    Winners continue in the European Rugby Challenge Cup    Winners advance to the European Rugby Challenge Cup    Runners-up advanced to the European Rugby Challenge Cup (winners ineligible)

Tournaments

2014

The reduced format for the inaugural Qualifying Competition included two Italian Clubs, a Romanian and a Georgian side. Sides were paired up and competed in two matches, home and away. The winners, on aggregate, of these two games received one of the two places in the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Pool 1Pool 2
Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta Flag of Romania.svg București Wolves
Flag of Georgia.svg Tbilisi Caucasians Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano

Rugby Europe 1 play-off

20 September 2014
16:00 CEST
Rovigo Delta Flag of Italy.svg 22–18 Flag of Georgia.svg Tbilisi Caucasians
Stadio Mario Battaglini
Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)
27 September 2014
17:00 GET
Tbilisi Caucasians Flag of Georgia.svg 21–24 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta
Vake Stadium, aka Meskhi
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Rugby Europe 2 play-off

20 September 2014
21:00 EEST
București Wolves Flag of Romania.svg 18–13 Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano
Stadium Arcul de Triumf
Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU)
27 September 2014
19:30 CEST
Calvisano Flag of Italy.svg 13–10 Flag of Romania.svg București Wolves
Peroni Stadium
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (FFR)

2015

The expanded competition for entry into the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup features six teams, in two pools of three. Russia is represented in European competition for the first time. [8] Matches are scheduled for the same weekends as the 2014–15 Challenge Cup, beginning with the 5th Round of the Challenge Cup.

Pool 1Pool 2
Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM
Flag of Italy.svg Viadana Flag of Portugal.svg Centro Desportivo Universitário de Lisboa
Flag of Spain.svg El Salvador Flag of Italy.svg Mogliano

Pool 1

Advances to Qualifying play-offs
PWDLPFPADiffTFTATBLBPts
Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 22009615+811322010
Flag of Italy.svg Viadana 21013941–265105
Flag of Spain.svg El Salvador 20021998–79315000

Qualifying play-off

18 April 2015
Rovigo Delta Flag of Italy.svg 17 – 17 Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano
2 May 2015
Calvisano Flag of Italy.svg 35 – 7 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta

Pool 2

Advances to Qualifying play-offs
PWDLPFPADiffTFTATBLBPts
Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM 22004715+3252109
Flag of Italy.svg Mogliano 21016019+4164116
Flag of Portugal.svg Centro Desportivo Universitário de Lisboa 20021773–56310000

Qualifying play-off

18 April 2015
CSM Baia Mare Flag of Romania.svg 20 – 30 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM
2 May 2015
Enisey-STM Flag of Russia.svg 33 – 12 Flag of Romania.svg CSM Baia Mare

2015–16

The Qualifying Competition was once again expanded, this time featuring 8 teams in two pools of four. Each team will play the teams in the other pool once. Belgium and Germany are represented in pan-European Rugby competition for the first time, through Royal Kituro and Heidelberger RK respectively.

Advances to Qualifying play-offs
Pool APWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo 430113677593015
Flag of Germany.svg Heidelberger RK 430110971382115
Flag of Italy.svg Fiamme Oro 43017451230012
Flag of Spain.svg Valladolid RAC 42021146846109
Pool BPWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens 440012648783019
Flag of Portugal.svg GD Direito 41037282–10026
Flag of Italy.svg Mogliano 400449105–56112
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Kituro 400420198–178000

Fixtures

Qualifying play-offs

9 April 2016
Rovigo Flag of Italy.svg 0 – 31 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM
Stadio Mario Battaglini
9 April 2016
Timișoara Saracens Flag of Romania.svg 36 – 23 Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano
Dan Paltinisanu Stadium
23 April 2016
Enisey-STM Flag of Russia.svg 39 – 5 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo
Trud Stadium, Krasnodar
23 April 2016
Calvisano Flag of Italy.svg 17 – 28 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens
Peroni Stadium

2016–17

The format of the Qualifying Competition remains similar to the previous season. As before, two places in the next year's Challenge Cup will be available for teams in the Qualifying Competition.

This season's competition features clubs from the domestic leagues of non-EPCR unions Russia, Spain, Germany and Belgium, as well as four representatives from the Italian Eccellenza.

The eight participating clubs will compete in two pools with each club in Pool A playing once against each club in Pool B.

The two pool winners will then play off against Timișoara Saracens of Romania and Russia's Enisei-STM on a home and away basis to decide which two clubs will qualify for the 2017–18 Challenge Cup.

Mid-season it was announced the competition would become the European Rugby Continental Shield and the two qualifiers will play a final match as part of EPCR's 2017 Edinburgh Finals weekend. [7]

Advances to Qualifying play-offs
Pool APWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Russia.svg Krasny Yar 4400172611114020
Flag of Italy.svg Petrarca 4400149451043019
Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 430113492423015
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dendermondse RC 400450167–117000
Pool BPWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Italy.svg Mogliano 420212912674012
Flag of Spain.svg El Salvador 410384105–21116
Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo 41037295–23116
Flag of Germany.svg Heidelberger RK 410380181–101105

Fixtures

Qualifying play-offs

EPCR will determine about one open question: If it was like the past years, according to the rating, Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk would meet with the Romanian Timișoara. But Krasny Yar received a letter that EPCR will hold a meeting on the final round of qualifying Challenge Cup, which will be determined the opponents. [11] On February 14, at the office of RK "Yenisei-STM" received a letter signed by the coordinator of the qualifying competitions EPCR Vincent Prebande. Mr. Prebande reports that, like last year, the second stage of Qualifying teams will play in accordance with the principle of sport. The two-legged confrontation "Yenisei-STM" will meet the Italian club "Mogliano" and "Krasny Yar" - with the Romanian club "Timișoara Saracens". [12]

1 April 2017
Mogliano Flag of Italy.svg 0 – 46 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM
Stadio Maurizio Quaggia
1 April 2017
Krasny Yar Flag of Russia.svg 12 – 17 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens
Rustavi Arena, Georgia
22 April 2017
Enisey-STM Flag of Russia.svg 51 – 7 Flag of Italy.svg Mogliano
Slava Stadium, Moscow
22 April 2017
Timișoara Saracens Flag of Romania.svg 18 – 27 Flag of Russia.svg Krasny Yar
Stadionul Dan Păltinișanu

Continental Shield Final

2017–18

The format of the Qualifying Competition remains similar to the previous season. As before, two places in the next year's Challenge Cup will be available for teams in the Continental Shield. Clubs from six countries will compete in the 2017–18 Continental Shield.

Four representatives from the Italian Eccellenza – Pataro Rugby Calvisano, Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo, Rugby Petrarca and Rugby Viadana – will be joined by Romania's Timișoara Saracens, RC Batumi from Georgia, Heidelberger RK of Germany and Portugal's Centro Desportivo Universitario de Lisboa (CDUL Rugby) competing in two pools of four.

Following the pool stage matches, the winners of Pool A will play the runners-up in Pool B, and the winners of Pool B will play the runners-up in Pool A on a home and away basis.

The two clubs which advance will then play each other home and away with the winners securing a place in the Continental Shield final in Bilbao next May and also qualifying for the 2018–19 Challenge Cup.

The other Continental Shield finalist will be decided by a home and away play-off between Russia's Enisei-STM and Krasny Yar who have both received a bye into the knockout stage of the competition due to their participation in this season's Challenge Cup and to their success in last season's Continental Shield.

The winners of the Enisei-STM v Krasny Yar play-offs will go through to the Continental Shield final in Bilbao and will also qualify for the 2018–19 Challenge Cup.

The aim of the Continental Shield is to widen the footprint of club rugby across Europe and to give both emerging and established clubs in different territories the opportunity to qualify for the Challenge Cup.

Advances to Pool play-offs
Pool APWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens 430110668+381114
Flag of Germany.svg Heidelberger RK 43019674+221013
Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo 42028986+32111
Flag of Italy.svg Viadana 410366128–62116
Pool BPWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 420210752+552212
Flag of Georgia.svg Batumi 420210795+122212
Flag of Italy.svg Petrarca 42029968+311211
Flag of Portugal.svg CDUL 410343142–99004

Fixtures

Pool play-offs

13 January 2018
15:00
Batumi Flag of Georgia.svg 6 – 11 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens
Rugby Arena, Batumi
13 January 2018
15:00
Heidelberger RK Flag of Germany.svg 34 – 29 Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano
Sportzentrum Süd, Heidelberg
20 January 2018
14:00
Timișoara Saracens Flag of Romania.svg 21 – 12 Flag of Georgia.svg Batumi
Cluj Arena, Cluj
20 January 2018
15:00
Calvisano Flag of Italy.svg 13 – 17 Flag of Germany.svg Heidelberger RK
Centro Sportivo San Michele, Calvisano

Qualifying play-offs

31 March 2018
15:00
Enisey-STM Flag of Russia.svg 47 – 22 Flag of Russia.svg Krasny Yar
Trud Stadium, Krasnodar
31 March 2018
14:00
Timișoara Saracens Flag of Romania.svg 26 – 20 Flag of Germany.svg Heidelberger RK
Dan Paltinisanu Stadium, Timișoara
21 April 2018
15:00
Krasny Yar Flag of Russia.svg 26 – 27 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM
Krasny Yar Stadium, Krasnoyarsk
21 April 2018
15:00
Heidelberger RK Flag of Germany.svg 27 – 15 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens
Sportzentrum Süd, Heidelberg

Despite Heidelberger RK defeating Timișoara Saracens with the aggregate score of 47-41 and going into the Challenge Cup for the first time, Heidelberger RK have been disqualified from the Challenge Cup so Timișoara Saracens will replace them.

Continental Shield Final

2018–19

Clubs from Italy, Georgia and Belgium competed in the 2018/19 Continental Shield with a place in the Challenge Cup up for grabs.

Four sides from the Italian Eccellenza – Argos Rugby Petrarca, Pataro Calvisano, Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo Delta and GS Fiamme Oro Rugby – were joined by Georgia's RC Locomotive Tbilisi and Belgian representatives, Belgium Rugby Barbarians XV, competing in two pools of three.

Locomotive Tbilisi, Calvisano and Fiamme Oro from Rome were drawn in Pool A while Pool B was made up of Petrarca, Belgium Rugby Barbarians XV and Rovigo. Clubs in the same pool played one another on a home and away basis and the two pool winners played off over two legs to decide which club qualified for the 2019/20 Challenge Cup.

A further place in the 2019/20 Challenge Cup was decided by a home and away play-off between Russia's Enisei-STM and Timișoara Saracens of Romania who are both competing in this season's Challenge Cup.

The aim of the Continental Shield is to widen the footprint of club rugby across Europe and to give both emerging and established clubs in different territories the opportunity to qualify for the Challenge Cup.

The Continental Shield, which was won for the second time by Enisei-STM in Bilbao in 2017–18, is organised by EPCR in conjunction with Rugby Europe and the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).

Pool APool B
Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano Flag of Italy.svg Petrarca
Flag of Italy.svg Fiamme Oro Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta
Flag of Georgia.svg RC Locomotive Tbilisi Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium Rugby Barbarians XV  [ fr ]
Advances to Pool play-offs
Pool APWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano 43019856+422115
Flag of Georgia.svg RC Locomotive Tbilisi 430110262+402014
Flag of Italy.svg Fiamme Oro 400462144-82011
Pool BPWDLPFPADiffTBLBPts
Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta 431021873+1452016
Flag of Italy.svg Petrarca 421112187+343114
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium Barbarians XV 400445224-179000

Fixtures

Qualifying play-offs

30 March 2019
14:00 (CET)
Timișoara Saracens Flag of Romania.svg 20–18 Flag of Russia.svg Enisey-STM
Dan Paltinisanu Stadium, Timișoara
30 March 2019
15:00 (CET)
Calvisano Flag of Italy.svg 29–13 Flag of Italy.svg Rovigo Delta
Pata Stadium, Calvisano
20 April 2019
10:00 (CEST)
Enisey-STM Flag of Russia.svg 40–32 Flag of Romania.svg Timișoara Saracens
Avangard Stadium, Krasnoyarsk
20 April 2019
15:00 (CEST)
Rovigo Delta Flag of Italy.svg 30–28 Flag of Italy.svg Calvisano
Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "European Shield".
  2. ↑ European Shield at Rugbyarchive.net
  3. ↑ "La LNR propone a la FER gestionar la División de Honor". 11 October 2019.
  4. ↑ http://www.epcrugby.com/news/28828.php New Tournament Formats Agreed, EPCRugby.com, 10 April 2014
  5. ↑ "Two places up for grabs in Challenge Cup : European Professional Club Rugby | Official website". Archived from the original on 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
  6. 1 2 Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition Expanded
  7. 1 2 "New identity for the Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition". epcrugby.com.
  8. ↑ "News".
  9. ↑ "Match Appointments for November 2015". Welsh Rugby Union . Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "COUPE D'EUROPE: KITURO v ROVIGO MATCH ANNULE" (in French). En raison du passage au niveau d'alerte 4 et en accord avec EPCR, FBRB et les autorités communales le match de ce samedi est annulé. Retrieved 23 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ↑ "Игорь Николайчук: "EPCR на заседании определит нашего соперника"" (in Russian). EPCR will determined the opponents. Retrieved 21 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. ↑ "СПОРТИВНЫЙ ПРИНЦИП ВОСТОРЖЕСТВОВАЛ" (in Russian). Sports principle prevail. Retrieved 14 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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