Sport

Shield is revamped

SPORTS DIGEST/RUGBY: European rugby bosses have revamped the continent's second-tier competition, the Parker Pen Shield, ahead…

Thu Jun 27 2002 - 01:00

SPORTS DIGEST/RUGBY: European rugby bosses have revamped the continent's second-tier competition, the Parker Pen Shield, ahead of next season.

The 32 participating teams, including Connacht, will now compete for the Parker Pen Challenge Cup in a straight knock-out competition with rounds of two legs.

Every club will still be guaranteed four games, as all first-round losers will be entered straight into the new Parker Pen Shield, effectively a third tier of continental competition.

There are 16 seeded teams who will all play an unseeded team in the first round on the weekends of October 11th-13th and 18th-20th. Connacht, who are seeded, have been drawn against Mont de Marsan. All rounds until the final will be played over two legs, with the winner earning automatic entry into the following year's European Cup.

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First round draw (seeded teams in bold): Grenoble v Newcastle, Treviso v Castres, Pol Rugby L'Aquila v Colomiers, Dinamo Bucharest v Saracens, Ebbw Vale v Montauban, Madrid 2012 v Scottish Borders, G.R.A.N. Rugby Parma v Bath, Pau v Bridgend, Parma v Wasps, La Moraleja Alcobendas v Bordeaux-Begles, Caerphilly v Harlequins, Rovigo v Stade Francais, Silea v Narbonne, Mont de Marsan v Connacht, Petrarca Padova v Leeds, Roma v Pontypridd. Fixtures reversed for second leg.

RUGBY: France have made six changes to their side for Saturday's second Test against world champions Australia.

Hooker Raphael Ibanez returns after playing as a replacement for Olivier Azam in last week's 29-17 loss in the first test in Melbourne.

Flanker Olivier Magne has been replaced by Sebastien Chabal and Olivier Brouzet has taken over from Christophe Porcu at lock.

Prop Arnaud Martinez has been replaced by Jean-Jacques Crenca. Pepito Elhorga moves from fullback to the wing shirt for injured winger Nicolas Jeanjean, while Nicolas Brusque from Biarritz comes into the side as full back.

Gerald Merceron takes over from Francois Gelez at outhalf after Stephen Larkham scored a classy try and was a damaging player for the Wallabies last week.

France: Brusque; Rougerie, Marsh, Traille, Elhorga; Merceron, Michalak; I Harinordoquy, Chabal, Betsen, Brouzet, Pelous, Marconnet, Ibanez (capt), Crenca. Replacements: Azam, Poux, Porcu, Magne, Mignoni, Jauzion, Heymans

CRICKET: In a repeat of last season's final, YMCA have been drawn away to CYM in the Leinster Senior Conqueror Cup.

In the other semi-final, Merrion were drawn at home at Anglesea Road to North County; both semi-finals will be played on Saturday week, July 6th.

CYCLING: Finglas Ravens rider Graham Thomas was the winner of the Stephen Roche Grand Prix in Meadowmount, Dundrum, last night, outsprinting Tim Ahern (UCD) to take his first victory in two years.

Stephen Roche Grand Prix: 1, G Thomas (Finglas Ravens); 2, T Ahern (UCD); 3, E Roche (Navan Avonmore); 4, S O'Sullivan (unattached); 5, G Loughnane (McNally Swords); 6, B Taafe (Dublin Wheelers) First Senior 2: Roche; First junior: Andrew McQuaid (Emerald); First veteran: Jim Cassidy (DPC First Legal)