2002–03 European Challenge Cup
The 2002–03 European Challenge Cup (known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 7th season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 32 teams participated, representing eight countries.
| 2002-03 European Challenge Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Countries | England France Ireland Italy Romania Scotland Spain Wales |
| Tournament format(s) | Knockout |
| Date | 11 October 2002 - 25 May 2003 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Teams | 32 |
| Matches played | 61 |
| Attendance | 225,733 (3,701 per match) |
| Tries scored | 384 (6.3 per match) |
| Top point scorer(s) | Olly Barkley (Bath) (118 points) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Tom Shanklin (Saracens) (8 tries) |
| Final | |
| Venue | Madejski Stadium, Reading |
| Attendance | 18,074 |
| Champions | London Wasps (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Bath Rugby |
The competition began with Gran Parma hosting Bath and Ebbw Vale hosting Montauban on 11 October 2002. It culminated with the final at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on 25 May 2003.
Unlike previous seasons, the structure of the competition was changed to a purely 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 that first time, a third tier tournament was created - the European Shield. This was contested between the first-round losers from the European Challenge Cup.
The defending champions, England's Sale Sharks, did not have a chance to defend their crown because they qualified to play in the Heineken Cup. London Wasps claimed a victory over Bath in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.