| 2004-05 European Challenge Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Countries |  England France Ireland Italy Portugal Scotland Spain |
| Tournament format(s) | Knockout |
| Date | 23 October 2004 – 21 May 2005 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Teams | 28 |
| Matches played | 57 |
| Attendance | 177,521 (3,114 per match) |
| Tries scored | 360 (6.32 per match) |
| Top point scorer(s) | Paul Warwick (Connacht) (97 points)[1] |
| Top try scorer(s) | Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks) (9 tries)[2] |
| Final | |
| Venue | Kassam Stadium,Oxford |
| Attendance | 7,230 |
| Champions | Sale Sharks (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Pau |
The2004–05 European Challenge Cup (known as theParker Pen Challenge Cup forsponsorship reasons) was the ninth season of theEuropean Challenge Cup, Europe's second-tier clubrugby union competition below theHeineken Cup. A total of 28 teams participated, representing seven countries.
The competition began with a series of matches on 23 October 2004 and culminated in the final at theKassam Stadium inOxford on 21 May 2005.
As in the previous two seasons, the competition was organised in a 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. This was the final season with a pure knockout format; in subsequent seasons the competition reverted to a pool stage followed by a knockout.
For the third and final time, a third tier tournament was held - theEuropean Shield. This was contested between the first round losers from the European Challenge Cup.[3] As there were only 28 teams involved, the 2 "best" 1st Round losers were reprieved and proceeded to the 2nd Round.
The defending champions,England'sNEC Harlequins, did not have a chance to defend their crown because they qualified to play in theHeineken Cup.Sale Sharks claimed a comfortable victory overPau in the final and picked up their second piece of European Club silverware.
The allocation of teams was as follows:
| England | France | Ireland | Italy | Portugal | Scotland | Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All kickoff times are local to the match location.[4]
| 14 winners and 2 best losers advance to 2nd Round. | |
| 12 other teams to Shield. |
| Winners | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Losers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borders | 4 – 0 | 205 – 6 | 199 | AA Coimbra |
| Viadana | 4 – 0 | 147 – 10 | 137 | Valladolid RAC |
| Clermont Auvergne | 4 – 0 | 116 – 6 | 110 | Leonessa |
| Montpellier | 4 – 0 | 110 – 10 | 100 | Rovigo |
| Béziers | 4 – 0 | 126 – 42 | 84 | Petrarca Padova |
| Agen | 4 – 0 | 109 – 48 | 61 | L'Aquila |
| Sale Sharks | 4 – 0 | 81 – 25 | 56 | Catania |
| Pau | 4 – 0 | 66 – 37 | 29 | Bayonne |
| Saracens | 4 – 0 | 60 – 31 | 29 | Gran Parma |
| London Irish | 4 – 0 | 62 – 36 | 26 | Auch |
| Grenoble | 3 – 1 | 27 – 26 | 1 | Leeds Tykes |
| Brive | 2 – 2 | 55 – 39 | 16 | Worcester Warriors |
| Connacht | 2 – 2 | 51 – 46 | 5 | Narbonne |
| Overmach Parma | 2 – 2 | 48 – 46 | 2 | El Salvador |
| Proceed to Quarter-final | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Eliminated from competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brive | 4 – 0 | 102 – 29 | 73 | El Salvador |
| Clermont Auvergne | 4 – 0 | 78 – 37 | 41 | Borders |
| Sale Sharks | 4 – 0 | 58 – 25 | 33 | Narbonne |
| Grenoble | 4 – 0 | 65 – 38 | 27 | Béziers |
| Connacht | 2 – 2 | 70 – 22 | 48 | Montpellier |
| Saracens | 2 – 2 | 70 – 25 | 45 | Overmach Parma |
| Pau | 2 – 2 | 41 – 38 | 3 | London Irish |
| Agen | 2 – 2 | 40 – 37 | 3 | Viadana |
| Proceed to Semi-final | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Eliminated from competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connacht | 4 – 0 | 45 – 24 | 21 | Grenoble |
| Sale Sharks | 2 – 2 | 49 – 35 | 14 | Agen |
| Pau | 2 – 2 | 50 – 47 | 3 | Clermont Auvergne |
| Brive | 2 – 2 | 37 – 35 | 2 | Saracens |
| Proceed to Final | Match points | Aggregate score | Points margin | Eliminated from competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sale Sharks | 4 – 0 | 84 – 27 | 57 | Connacht |
| Pau | 2 – 2 | 50 – 43 | 7 | Brive |
| 21 May 2005 12:45 |
| Sale Sharks | 27 – 3 | Pau |
| Try:Hodgson (2) 24' c, 68' m Titterrell 36' c Cueto 56' m Con:Hodgson (2/4) Pen:Hodgson (1) 3' | Report | Pen:Beauxis (1) 30' |
| Kassam Stadium,Oxford Attendance: 7,230 Referee:Alan Lewis (Ireland) |