2025 Rugby Europe Championship
| 2025 Rugby Europe Championship | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 31 January – 16 March 2025 | ||
| Countries | |||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Matches played | 8 | ||
| Attendance | 31,500 (3,938 per match) | ||
| Tries scored | 72 (9 per match) | ||
| |||
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 31 January 2025 – 15 March 2025 |
| No. of nations | 8 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 8 |
← 2023 2031 → | |
The 2025 Rugby Europe Championship, which doubled as the qualifying process for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup for Europe, is the ongoing, ninth Rugby Europe Championship, the annual rugby union competition for the top European national teams outside the Six Nations Championship, and the 54th edition of the competition (including all its previous incarnations as the FIRA Tournament, Rugby Union European Cup, FIRA Nations Cup, FIRA Trophy, and European Nations Cup).[1]
Eight teams took part in the 2024 championship. The championship was contested by Belgium, Georgia, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Poland.[2] Georgia won the previous championship after defeating Portugal in the final, claiming their 16th title. Poland were relegated. After winning the 2023-24 Rugby Europe Trophy, Switzerland were promoted to the Championship for the 2025 season. This is the first time in their history that they are in the top division.[citation needed]
The serpentine system was applied to allocate each team to their respective groups.[3] Each team plays a total of five games (three round robin group matches to determine the team's path and two play-off matches).[3] Seeding (for a group) and relegation are calculated over a two-year cycle, as is the promotion from the Trophy competition.[3]
This year's edition of the Rugby Europe Championship doubles as the year of the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifiers for the European region.[4] The top two sides from each pool will qualify for the Rugby World Cup, with the final & bronze final acting as seeding matches to seed the team Europe 1–4. The Ranking Finals will then act as the play-off to determine Europe 5, who will advance to the final qualification tournament.
Participants
[edit]| Nation | Stadium | Head coach | Captain | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home stadium | Capacity | Location | |||
 Belgium
|
Stade Charles Tondreau | 8,000 | Mons |  Laurent Dossat
|
Jens Torfs |
 Georgia
|
Avchala Stadium | 3,500 | Tbilisi |  Richard Cockerill
|
Vasil Lobzhanidze |
 Germany
|
Auestadion | 18,737 | Kassel | Mark Kuhlmann
|
Jörn Schröder |
 Netherlands
|
NRCA Stadium | 7,000 | Amsterdam |  Lyn Jones
|
Hugo Langelaan |
 Portugal
|
Estádio do Restelo Estádio Nacional |
19,856 37,593 |
Lisbon |  Simon Mannix
|
Tomás Appleton |
 Romania
|
Stadionul Arcul de Triumf Botoșani Municipal Stadium |
8,207 7,782 |
Bucharest Botoșani |
David Gérard
|
Ovidiu Cojocaru |
 Spain
|
Estadio Nacional Complutense | 12,400 | Madrid |  Pablo Bouza
|
Jon Zabala |
 Switzerland
|
Stade Municipal Yverdon | 6,600 | Yverdon-les-Bains | Olivier Nier
|
Cyril Lin |
World Cup qualification
[edit]| Nation | Rank | Began play | Qualifying status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium |
27 | 1 February 2025 | |
| England |
4 | N/A | Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2023 World Cup |
| France |
3 | N/A | Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2023 World Cup |
| Georgia |
12 | 1 February 2025 | Qualified on 9 February 2025[5][6] |
| Germany |
32 | 31 January 2025 | |
 Ireland |
7 | N/A | Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2023 World Cup |
 Italy |
15 | N/A | Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2023 World Cup |
| Netherlands |
26 | 2 February 2025 | |
| Portugal |
15 | 1 February 2025 | Qualified on 9 February 2025[7] |
| Romania |
20 | 31 January 2025 | Qualified on 9 February 2025[7] |
 Scotland |
8 | N/A | Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2023 World Cup |
| Spain |
18 | 2 February 2025 | Qualified on 9 February 2025[5][8] |
| Switzerland |
28 | 1 February 2025 | |
| Wales |
5 | N/A | Qualified with Top 12 finish at 2023 World Cup |
Tables and fixtures
[edit]Pool A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia (Q)
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 7 | +143 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | Advances to the Grand Finals Semi-Finals |
| 2 | Spain (Q)
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 37 | +59 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | |
| 3 | Netherlands (Q)
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 93 | −62 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advances to the Ranking Finals Semi-Finals |
| 4 | Switzerland (Q)
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 153 | −140 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 9 February 2025. Source: Rugby Europe[9]
Rules for classification:
If two teams have the same number of points the best ranked will be: 1) match points in the games played between the tied Unions; 2) tries in the games played between the tied Unions; 3) match points difference in all pool games; 4) tries for in all pool games; 5) match points for in all pool games.
If three or more teams have same number of points, the best ranked will be:1) match points difference in all pool games; 2) tries for in all pool games; 4) match points for in all pool games.
Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points, Draw – 2 points, At least 3 more tries than opponent – 1 point, Loss within 7 points – 1 point[10]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Rules for classification:
If two teams have the same number of points the best ranked will be: 1) match points in the games played between the tied Unions; 2) tries in the games played between the tied Unions; 3) match points difference in all pool games; 4) tries for in all pool games; 5) match points for in all pool games.
If three or more teams have same number of points, the best ranked will be:1) match points difference in all pool games; 2) tries for in all pool games; 4) match points for in all pool games.
Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points, Draw – 2 points, At least 3 more tries than opponent – 1 point, Loss within 7 points – 1 point[10]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Week 1
[edit]| 1 February 2025 16:00 GET (UTC+4) |
| (1 TBP) Georgia | 110–0 | Switzerland |
| Report |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Luis Fernandez (Spain) |
| 2 February 2025 12:45 CET (UTC+1) |
| (1 TBP) Spain | 53–24 | Netherlands |
| Report |
| Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) |
Week 2
[edit]| 8 February 2025 15:00 GET (UTC+4) |
| (1 TBP) Georgia | 40–7 | Netherlands |
| Report |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France) |
| 9 February 2025 14:00 CET (UTC+1) |
| Switzerland | 13–43 | Spain (1 TBP) |
| Report |
| Stade Municipal, Yverdon-les-Bains Attendance: 3,800 Referee: Nicolae Fratila (Romania) |
Week 3
[edit]
Pool B
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal (Q)
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 44 | +52 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | Advances to the Grand Finals Semi-Finals |
| 2 | Romania (Q)
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 24 | +55 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |
| 3 | Belgium (Q)
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 71 | −27 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advances to the Ranking Finals Semi-Finals |
| 4 | Germany (Q)
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 104 | −80 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2025. Source: Rugby Europe[9]
Rules for classification:
If two teams have the same number of points the best ranked will be: 1) match points in the games played between the tied Unions; 2) tries in the games played between the tied Unions; 3) match points difference in all pool games; 4) tries difference for in all pool games; 5) match points for in all pool games.
If three or more teams have same number of points, the best ranked will be:1) match points difference in all pool games; 2) tries for in all pool games; 4) match points for in all pool games.
Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points, Draw – 2 points, At least 3 more tries than opponent – 1 point, Loss within 7 points – 1 point[10]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Rules for classification:
If two teams have the same number of points the best ranked will be: 1) match points in the games played between the tied Unions; 2) tries in the games played between the tied Unions; 3) match points difference in all pool games; 4) tries difference for in all pool games; 5) match points for in all pool games.
If three or more teams have same number of points, the best ranked will be:1) match points difference in all pool games; 2) tries for in all pool games; 4) match points for in all pool games.
Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win – 4 points, Draw – 2 points, At least 3 more tries than opponent – 1 point, Loss within 7 points – 1 point[10]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Week 1
[edit]| 31 January 2025 18:00 EET (UTC+2) |
| (1TBP) Romania | 48–10 | Germany |
| Report |
| Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest Attendance: 4,200 Referee: Franco Rosella (Italy) |
| 1 February 2025 19:30 WET (UTC+0) |
| (1 TBP) Portugal | 40–30 | Belgium |
| Report |
| Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Shota Tevzadze (Georgia) |
Week 2
[edit]| 8 February 2025 20:00 CET (UTC+1) |
| Belgium | 14–31 | Romania |
| Stade Charles Tondreau, Mons Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) |
| 9 February 2025 17:15 WET (UTC+0) |
| (1 TBP) Portugal | 56–14 | Germany |
| Report |
| Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Keane Davison (Ireland) |
Week 3
[edit]Ranking Finals
[edit]| Semi-finals | Fifth-place Final | |||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| Seventh-place Final | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
Semi-finals
[edit]Seventh-place final
[edit]| 15/16 March TBA |
| TBA | v | TBA |
| TBA Referee: TBA |
Fifth-place final
[edit]| 15/16 March TBA |
| TBA | v | TBA |
| TBA Referee: TBA |
Grand Finals
[edit]| Semi-finals | Cup Final | |||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| Bronze Final | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
| TBD | ||||||
Semi-finals
[edit]Bronze Final
[edit]| 15/16 March TBA |
| TBA | v | TBA |
| TBA Referee: TBA |
Cup Final
[edit]| 15/16 March TBA |
| TBA | v | TBA |
| TBA Referee: TBA |
Final standings
[edit]| Pos. | Team | Points | 2027 RWC qualification | WRNC Division 2 qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TBA | 10 | Qualified as Europe 1 | Qualified as Europe 1 |
| 2 | TBA | 8 | Qualified as Europe 2 | Qualified as Europe 2 |
| 3 | TBA | 6 | Qualified as Europe 3 | Qualified as Europe 3 |
| 4 | TBA | 5 | Qualified as Europe 4 | Qualified as Europe 4 |
| 5 | TBA | 4 | Advances to FQT as Europe 5 | |
| 6 | TBA | 3 | ||
| 7 | TBA | 2 | ||
| 8 | TBA | 1 |
International broadcasters
[edit]| Country | Broadcaster[11] | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium
|
VRT LN24 |
Belgium games shown live via VRT and LN24. |
| Georgia
|
Rugby TV Imedi TV |
Georgia games shown live via Rugby TV and Imedi TV. Also Georgia games are streamed and free on Rugby TV Facebook page. |
| Germany
|
ProSieben Maxx Joyn Ran |
Germany games shown live via ProSieben Maxx, other games are streamed and free on Joyn and Ran. |
| Netherlands
|
Ziggo | Selected games live on Ziggo Sport. |
| Portugal
|
Sport TV | Portugal games shown live on Sport TV. |
| Romania
|
TVR1 TVR Sport |
Romania games shown live via TVR1 and TVR Sport. |
| Spain
|
Teledeporte RTVE Play |
Spain games shown live via Teledeporte and .RTVE Play digital platform. |
| Switzerland
|
RTS 2 SRI digital |
Switzerland games shown live via RTS 2 channel and SRI digital platforms. |
| North America | FloRugby | All games available through streaming via FloSports. |
| Rest of the World | Rugby Europe | All games available through streaming via Rugby Europe (registration required). Some games are streamed and free on Rugby Europe Youtube channel |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "EPCR announces venues for 2025 and 2026 Finals Weekends | European Professional Club Rugby". www.epcrugby.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "2024 World Rugby Participants". September 2024.
- ^ a b c "New Format for Rugby Europe Championship". Rugby Europe. 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "2025 Rugby Europe Championship Calendar Confirmed". 18 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Georgia and Spain secure Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification". World Rugby. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ "Georgia Book Spot in Seventh Consecutive Rugby World Cup". Americas Rugby News. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Romania and Portugal qualify for Men's Rugby World Cup Australia 2027". World Rugby. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ "Georgia, Spain qualify for 2027 Rugby World Cup". SuperSport. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Rugby Europe Men's Championship 2025". Rugby Europe.
- ^ a b "September 2024 Edition (2024-2025 season v1) RUGBY EUROPE INTERNATIONAL XV CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN & WOMEN 2024-2025 TOURNAMENT MANUAL" (PDF). Rugby Europe. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Unprecedented Coverage for 2025 Men's Rugby Europe Championship". Rugby Europe.
Categories:
- Rugby Europe Championship
- 2024–25 Rugby Europe International Championships
- 2025 rugby union tournaments for national teams
- 2024–25 in European rugby union
- 2025 in Belgian sport
- 2025 in Dutch sport
- 2025 in Georgian sport
- 2025 in German sport
- 2024 in Polish sport
- 2024 in Portuguese sport
- February 2025 sports events in Europe
- March 2025 sports events in Europe
- 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup qualification
- Rugby World Cup European qualifiers
- Current sports events