The European Rugby Continental Shield (formerly the European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition) is 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.
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 features teams from tier 2 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, 2016–17, and 2017–18, have been won by Russian club Yenisey-STM Krasnoyarsk.
The competition is the first third-tier European tournament since the suspension of the Parker Pen Shield in 2005[1]
Under the Heads of Agreement announced on 10 April 2014, there are two places available in the European Rugby Challenge Cup through the Qualifying Competition.[2]
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.[3]
An expanded format was announced on 22 December 2014,[4] the expanded format includes clubs from Rugby Europe member 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.[4]
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.[5]
Summary of results
Continental Shield Finals
Qualifying play-off results
| Key |
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Winners qualified to the European Rugby Challenge Cup |
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Winners continue in the European Rugby Challenge Cup |
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Winners advance to the European Rugby Challenge Cup |
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.
Rugby Europe 1 Play-off
20 September 2014
16:00 CEST |
27 September 2014
17:00 GET |
Vake Stadium, aka MeskhiReferee: Matthew Carley (RFU) |
Rugby Europe 2 Play-off
20 September 2014
21:00 EEST |
27 September 2014
19:30 CEST |
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.[6]
Matches are scheduled for the same weekends as the 2014–15 Challenge Cup, beginning with the 5th Round of the Challenge Cup.
Pool 1
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| Advances to Qualifying Play-offs |
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Qualifying Play-off
Pool 2
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| Advances to Qualifying Play-offs |
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Qualifying Play-off
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
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| Advances to Qualifying Play-offs |
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Fixtures
| Matches |
Campo de MonsantoReferee: Iñigo Atorrasagasti (Spain) |
- In the wake of the Paris attacks, Brussels was placed on a Level 4 Alert. In agreement with EPCR, FBRB and the municipal authorities, this game was postponed.[8]
Stadio GelsominiAttendance: 250 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) |
Stadio GelsominiReferee: Iñigo Atorrasagasti (Spain) |
Stadio Maurizio QuaggiaReferee: Graeme Wells (Scotland) |
Stadio Maurizio QuaggiaAttendance: 500 Referee: Craig Evans (Wales) |
Heidelberger RK, Heidleberg
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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 which have qualified from the domestic leagues of Rugby Europe member 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 Timisoara 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.[5]
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| Advances to Qualifying Play-offs |
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Fixtures
| Matches |
Centro Sportivo Plebiscito, Padua
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales) |
Estadio Pepe Rojo, Valladolid
Referee: Emanuele Tomo (Italy) |
Peroni Stadium, Brescia
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales) |
Monino Stadium, Moscow
Referee: Graeme Wells (Scotland) |
Slava Stadium, Moscow
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England) |
Stadio Mario Battaglini
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland) |
Centro Sportivo Memo Geremia, Padua
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) |
Estadio Pepe Rojo, Valladolid
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland) |
Sportzentrum Sud, Heidelberg
Referee: Elia Rizzo (Italy) |
Stadio Maurizio Quaggia
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales) |
Stadio Mario Battaglini
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) |
Peroni Stadium, Brescia
Referee: Graeme Wells (Scotland) |
Sportzentrum Sud, Heidelberg
Referee: Inigo Atorrasagasti (Spain) |
Stadio Maurizio Quaggia
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland) |
Sportcomplex Sint-Gillis, Dendermonde
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England) |
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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 Timisoara. 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.[9]
In February 14, at the office of RK "Yenisei-STM" received a letter signed by the coordinator of the qualifying competitions EPKR 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".[10]
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 Timisoara 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.
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| Advances to Pool Play-offs |
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Fixtures
| Matches |
Sportzentrum Süd, HeidelbergReferee: Iñigo Atorrasagasti  |
Centro Sportivo Plebiscito, PaduaReferee: Shota Tevzadze  |
Rugby Arena, BatumiReferee: Maxime Burlet .svg.png) |
Sportzentrum Süd, HeidelbergReferee: Andrea Piardi  |
Rugby Arena, BatumiReferee: Keith Allen  |
Impianti Sportivi Memo Geremia, PaduaReferee: Andrea Piardi |
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References
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European Challenge Cup
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European Rugby Challenge Cup
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