Key Tournament Rules

The Tournament will be played under the IRB Laws of the Game and in accordance with the IRB Regulations relating to the Game

1(a) Rounds 1 and 2, Quarter-finals and Semi-finals
Two points for a win, one point for a draw. The winner of each tie shall be decided by reference to the following criteria, taken in turn until they provide a winner:
(i) the Club with the highest number of Match Points (two for a win, one for a draw) over the two Matches (ii) if Match Points over the two Matches are equal, the Club with the best aggregate points difference from the two Matches (points scored for less points scored against on the actual field of play)
(iii) if aggregate points difference from the two Matches is equal, the Club that has scored the greater number of tries in the two Matches
(iv) if number of tries in the two Matches is equal, then extra time shall be played, consisting of two periods of 10 minutes each, with a one minute break in between, and the winner shall be the Club that scores the most points on the field of play in that period of extra time of 20 minutes
(v) if points on the field of play in extra time are equal, the winner shall be determined by a place-kick competition

1(b) Finals
The Finals of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and Parker Pen Shield will be played at venues designated by ERC

In the event of a tie at full-time of either Final, the winner shall be determined by reference to the following rules:
(i) extra time of 20 minutes (consisting of two periods of 10 minutes each way, with a one minute break in between) will be played and the Club that scores the most points in such extra time shall be deemed the winner of that Match
(ii) if the scores are tied after extra time, then the Club that has scored the most tries in that Match (including extra time) will be deemed the winner of that Match
(iii) if the Clubs scored the same number of tries in that Match (including extra time), then the winner of the Match will be determined by a place kick competition

2 Eligibility of Players
(i) each club shall nominate a squad of up to 34 players. A minimum of six of the first 30 players nominated by the club must be capable of playing in front row forward positions. In addition any further players nominated up to the maximum of 34 must also be front row players. All players must, from 13^th November 2003, be fully and properly registered with their club and Union. ADDITIONAL CLAUSE RWC 2003: If a player is involved in the knock-out stages (quarter-finals, semi-finals, play-off or final) of 2003 Rugby World Cup and is signed by a club, he must, from 28^th November, 2003, be fully and properly registered with his respective club and Union.
(ii) a club may nominate a maximum of 22 players and a minimum of 19 players for each match. Included amongst such players must be a minimum of five players who can play in front row forward positions and who are suitably trained and experienced
(iii) the four clubs involved in the semi-finals of both tournaments may nominate two additional players, in any position, and replace one of their front row players with a another player who is qualified to play in a front row position. These additional players must be fully and properly registered by 19 March, 2004.Clubs must ensure that these players have not been nominated in a match squad with another club for the Heineken Cup, Parker Pen Challenge Cup or Parker Pen Shield tournaments during the current season. The Front Row Player being replaced may not after such replacement participate again in the Tournaments during the current season
(iv) no player may participate in the tournament whilst serving a disciplinary sanction
(v) each club is permitted a maximum of two "foreign" players in any one match squad

3. Club Colours
In the event of a colour clash, the away club will change jerseys, (or, in the case of a match played at neither club's "home" venue the club selected to change jersey by toss of a coin)

4. Drug Testing
Players will be subject to drug testing under ERC procedures or as otherwise notified by ERC

5. Discipline
(i) the case of any player sent off shall be adjudicated upon by a Match Commissioner
(ii) where a player is cited by either of the clubs competing in the match, his case shall be immediately referred to the Disciplinary Officer. The citing must be submitted in writing and received by the Disciplinary Officer within 50 hours of the start of the match
(iii) a Player ordered off or cited may not take part in or be selected for any further match until his case has been dealt with

6. Abandonment / Postponements
(i) decisions on whether matches abandoned should be replayed or whether the result should stand will be made by the ERC Board
(ii) postponed matches should be played the following day unless not reasonably practicable, in which case ERC shall select a rearranged date and kick-off time (and where necessary, an alternative venue) for the postponed match to be played

PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP &
PARKER PEN SHIELD 2003 / 2004

Seven things you must know...

1. The Parker Pen Challenge Cup and Parker Pen Shield are knock-out tournaments - with 32 teams from seven nations ultimately taking part
2. Round 1 of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup consists of the 14 seeded teams - five each from France and 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 5 / 6 / 7 December (Leg One, unseeded teams at home) and 12 / 13 / 14 December (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 Parker Pen 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 two or more clubs are equal on match points the criteria will be:
a) The lowest negative 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 tries in the home match
e) The greater number of points scored in the two matches
f) The greater number of points scored in the away match
g) The greater number of points scored in the home matchh) 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 Parker Pen Shield. All these matches will be played on the weekends of 9 / 10 / 11 and 16 / 17 / 18 January, 2004, with a Parker Pen 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. 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
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 Parker Pen Challenge Cup will automatically qualify for the Heineken Cup 2004 / 2005 tournament. The winner of the Parker Pen Shield will automatically be seeded for the 2004 / 2005 Parker Pen Challenge Cup
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 Parker Pen Challenge Cup will automatically qualify for the Heineken Cup 2004 / 2005 tournament. The winner of the Parker Pen Shield will automatically be seeded for the 2004 / 2005 Parker Pen Challenge Cup