The ERC Board of Directors have confirmed the make-up of the European Challenge Cup for next season. There will be 28 teams in the first round, with the unsuccessful teams continuing in the European Shield where they will be joined by four additional sides from Romania, Spain and Portugal.
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP 2004 / 2005
10 French (Seeds: Brive, Beziers, Montferrand, Montpellier, Agen, Pau. Non seeds: Narbonne, Grenoble, Auch, Bayonne)
5 English (Seeds - Sale Sharks, London Irish, Saracens, Leeds Tykes. Non seeds: Worcester)
8 Italian (Seeds: Viadana, Rugby Parma. Non seeds: Rugby Rovigo, Petrarca Padova, GrAN Parma, L'Aquila, Leonessa, Amatori Catania)
1 Irish (Seed: Connacht)
1 Scottish (Seed: The Borders)
2 Spanish (Non seeds: Cetransa El Salvador, UC Madrid)
1 Portugal (Non seeds: RC Coimbra)
Additional teams for the European Shield 2004 / 2005
2 Spain
1 Romania
1 Portugal