Treaty of Paris (1815) notably Prussia, initially demanded that France cede significant territory in the East, rivalry among the powers and the general desire to secure the Bourbon restoration made the peace settlement less onerous than it might have been. The treaty was signed for Great Britain by Lord Castlereagh and the Duke of Wellington and by the duc de Richelieu for France; parallel treaties with France were signed by Austria, Russia, and Prussia, forming in effect the first confederation of Europe. The Quadruple Alliance was reinstated in a separate treaty also signed 20 November 1815, introducing a new concept in European diplomacy, the
European Rugby Continental Shield across Europe and to give both emerging and established clubs in different territories the opportunity to qualify for the Challenge Cup. The Continental Shield, which was won for the second time by Enisei-STM in Bilbao last season, is organised by EPCR in conjunction with Rugby Europe and the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR). European Rugby Continental Shield The European Rugby Continental Shield (formerly the European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition) is a rugby union competition, organised by European Professional Club Rugby, Rugby Europe and the Federazione Italiana Rugby, for entry into the European Rugby Challenge Cup. The Qualifying Competition was first