18 May, 15:44
It's down to the wire now for the five contenders who have been shortlisted for the ultimate individual accolade in northern hemisphere rugby, ERC European Player of the Year 2013.
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14 May, 15:49
With the build-up to the Dublin 2013 European club rugby finals intensifying by the day, the four elite clubs of ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulon, Leinster Rugby and Stade Francais Paris, who are focused on their quest for Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup silverware respectively, won't be the only clubs with Europe on their mind over the weekend of 17 and 18 May.
2 May, 18:59
Benoit August of Biarritz Olympique and Perpignan's Daniel Leo have been suspended for four weeks and two weeks respectively following citing complaints arising from last weekend's Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals.
Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
Latest Heineken Cup News
18 May, 21:07
No sooner had he lifted the Heineken Cup than Jonny Wilkinson switched his focus on to the next task - trying to keep Toulon on course for a European Cup and Top 14 double.
18 May, 20:59
Bernard Laporte celebrated Toulon's 21-year wait for another trophy - but admitted he had had his doubts they would go on and lift the Heineken Cup when ASM Clermont Auvergne went nine points clear with over half an hour to play.
18 May, 19:33
Delon Armitage scored Toulon's match-winning try - but never had a doubt that Jonny Wilkinson would kick the conversion that would give them the lead for the first time with just minutes to spare.
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Amlin Challenge Cup
Amlin Challenge Cup
Latest Amlin Challenge Cup News
18 May, 10:54
This one is for Joe and Isa - that was the tribute Amlin Man of the Match Jonny Sexton paid to his coach and team-mate in the wake of their 34-13 Amlin Challenge Cup final triumph over Stade Francais Paris at the RDS.
17 May, 23:37
There was another dose of European disappointment for Sergio Parisse and his team but the Stade Francais Paris captain paid handsome tribute to Leinster following their 34-13 victory at the RDS.
17 May, 23:15
Now for the elusive double - that was the defiant message from Joe Schmidt after they had lifted the third European title of his reign.
Amlin Challenge Cup Teams
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News
European Challenge Cup & European Shield 2004 / 2005
18 October 2004 13:10pm
By
The European Shield is a highly sought after piece of silverware
Click here to read the key rules for the 2004/5 European Challenge Cup and European Shield.
1. The European Challenge Cup and European Shield are knock-out tournaments - with 32 teams from seven nations ultimately taking part
2. Round 1 of the European Challenge Cup consists of the 14 seeded teams - six from France, four from England, two from Italy and one each from Scotland and Ireland - drawn against the 14 unseeded teams
3. They will play each other home and away on the weekends of 22 / 23 / 24 October (Leg One, unseeded teams at home) and 29 / 30 / 31 October (Leg Two, seeded teams at home). The draw was conducted in such a way that no two teams from any one country could be drawn against each other
4. The 14 aggregate winners and two "lucky losers" will progress to Round 2 of the European Challenge Cup and play home and away. The "lucky losers" will be the two clubs with the highest number of match points from the 14 Round 1 losers. If more than two clubs are equal on match points the criteria will be:
a) The best aggregate points difference
b) The greater number of tries in the two matches
c) The greater number of tries in the away match
d) The greater number of points scored in the two matches
e) The greater number of points scored in the away match
f) The toss of a coin
5. The 12 unsuccessful teams and four new teams will combine in a separate competition run on identical lines, the European Shield. All these matches will be played on the weekends of 3 / 4 / 5 December and 10 / 11 / 12 December, 2004 with a European Shield draw taking place to determine who plays who (with teams from the same country being kept apart, where possible) and the order of home advantage. At the same time a draw will be made to determine first leg home advantage in the quarter-finals
6. A draw has taken place to determine which team will have first leg home advantage in the European Challenge Cup. After the completion of the quarter-finals in both competitions a draw will be conducted to determine first leg home advantage for the semi-finals
7. The finals of both competitions will be staged as one-off matches on the weekend of 21 / 22 / 23 May at a neutral venue or neutral venues. The winner of the European Challenge Cup will automatically qualify for the Heineken Cup 2004 / 2005 tournament. The winner of the European Shield will automatically be seeded for the 2004 / 2005 European Challenge Cup
Latest ERC TV
Latest ERC TV
18 May 13
Get the final words pf both coaches and captains ahead of the biggest club game of their careers. Press Confernce with Toulon and ASM
16 May 13
Finals Edition: Listen to the best guide to the European Rugby Cup Finals weekend in Dublin, which sees Leinster Rugby take on Stade Francais Paris at the RDS on Friday night in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final and then ASM Clermont Auvergne tackle Toulon in an all-French affair at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
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