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Live blog: Rugby Europe Championship 2024 finals in Paris

By Liam Heagney

269 days ago

Georgia and Portugal in action at the recent Rugby World Cup (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

With the Guinness Six Nations having signed off on Saturday night in Lyon with a classic France versus England encounter, RugbyPass has relocated on Sunday morning by train to Paris for finals day in the Rugby Europe Championship.

For the first time, tournament organisers have decided to stage all the last-round matches at a single venue rather than at scattered locations across the continent and what is in store promises to be a real Test rugby treat.

It all kicks off at midday local time at Stade Jean Bouin, the home of the Top 14 club Stade Francais, with Poland contesting the seventh-place play-off with Belgium, who were 2024 first-round giant-killers when they impressively picked off Rugby World Cup surprise packet Portugal with an epic 10-6 upset at Mons.

Richard Cockerill on facing RWC darlings Portugal

Richard Cockerill on the dangers of facing the attacking threats of Portugal

Richard Cockerill on facing RWC darlings Portugal

Richard Cockerill on the dangers of facing the attacking threats of Portugal

Next on the schedule will be the 2:45pm meeting of neighbours Holland and Germany in the fifth-place play-off. It’s their second faceoff in four weeks as the Dutch won a final round Pool A match 39-13 in Amsterdam on February 18.

The bronze medal match at 6:15pm will feature Romania, a participant at the recent World Cup in France, clashing with Spain, who were unlucky not to reach the Rugby Europe final as they only narrowly lost out 30-33 to Portugal in their semi-final in Lisbon two weeks ago.

?? ?Incoming… #REC24 pic.twitter.com/ohAccEwzpM
— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) March 16, 2024

Finals day then culminates at 9pm with the latest instalment in the increasingly fierce rivalry that is Georgia and Portugal, a decider that can be watched live on RugbyPass TV (click here to stream).

The Portuguese came of age at France 2023, drawing 18-all with the Georgians in Toulouse before returning to the same city 15 days later to upset Fiji.

Georgia, who are now coached by ex-England assistant Richard Cockerill, go into the decider as the six-in-a-row champions and the collision is sure to be explosive.

Follow all the action as it unfolds in Paris on the RugbyPass live blog:

LIVE

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Comments on RugbyPass

Nickers 1 hour ago

'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

On your last point there should be some sort of transfer fee based on how far through the system a player gets and where they entered. If someone goes all the way through school boy and age grade rugby in NZ, NPC, SR they have probably had 100s of thousands invested in them, only for all the benefit to accrue somewhere else.

When entering the NZ Senior Age grade/senior school boys system players should have to sign a deal that would keep them playing in NZ until they were 25 unless someone bought out their contract or some other stand down period if the player emigrated. It would be a financial boon for NZR and all the PIs.

46 Go to comments

Nickers 1 hour ago

'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

Robertson is clutching at straws and it is embarrassing.

He is saying this because his coaching tenure is failing and he is out of ideas to turn it around, and he thinks RM is the silver bullet to change his fortunes.

Hansen and Fozzie can probably both tell him that he isn't a silver bullet. He is an enigma at best, and red herring at worst.

Razor's reasoning is that at 31 Richie is finally going to become Mr. Consistent and actually demand selection for 3 years in a row, while playing in a second class competition where 95% of the players aren't good enough to make the team ranked 13th in the world. Then at 33 lead NZ to WC glory having failed twice previously.

Razor could turn things around, but more signs point to him running this team into the ground. The way Ryan has integrated new forwards, and actually made the ABs pack better this year despite losing so much experience is the only thing that has stopped this ABs team becoming an absolute rabble. I don't know how long he is contracted with NZ rugby but he will have some very healthy offers coming his way. If he leaves before the next WC the wheels could come off completely.

Razor to be replaced after the 2026 Rugby Championship.

46 Go to comments

SK 2 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Its an interesting few points you raise Nick. Rassie has been way bolder than Razor in selection but then again he really has to be as he plots towards 2027. The reality is more than half his squad from 2023 may have to be culled and this includes some of the best players the Boks have ever had on their books. The age profile of his team was such that he needed to blood all these young players and he will do the same next year with even more players as he tries to put together a squad with enough experience to take to 2027. Razor on the other hand has a large number of players that will make 2027. Alot of players will be over 100 caps and these players would have multiple caps together. A large amount of these are starters as well. He is trying to build combinations and a rigid style of play. Razor wants absolute control and you can see it. He wants his players to follow his instructions to the tee. He will not accept anything less. He has included some young guns who he will stick with and older players who have earned his trust. Razor goes with what he knows and appears reluctant to accept quick change. He is the kind of coach who will change incrementally and that may not be a bad thing given his position and the profile of his squad. It also gives the players time to setlle into their roles and to work within his system. Razor has a narrow focus on winning. he wants results now and wont take any risks in selection while he believes the current group can win. He is the most conservative NZ coach in the last 25 years to take the top job. This could stall NZ progress or it could create a team that is unstoppable and ready for anything going into 2027 albeit without the same level of depth as the Boks.

129 Go to comments

johnz 2 hours ago

'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

Exactly, money isn't everything. Players, especially ABs, get extremely good employment conditions in NZ. If you get a decent income in NZ, the lifestyle is good. They're not even required to perform to their peak during SR season. Just ask Julian Savea what happens if you don't perform for your new owner. It's interesting how many NZ players seek to cut their international contracts short and put a call into NZR. Even Mo'unga is rumoured to be in advanced talks to do the same. And the weather is better than many other places, I've lived in Europe and the British Isles, damp grey winters are the norm. At least we get sunshine in NZ, between the storms.

46 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

Mike Phillips has doubled down on his criticism of Warren Gatland

…not quite how it played out when the kiwi walked last time around!

3 Go to comments

Nickers 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

100%. This season he has shown he favours players he knows over unknown entities, even if they are in bad form, underprepared, and/or coming off long injury layoffs.

The expectation was a breakdancing, risk taking visionary, the reality has been a risk averse middle manager scared to make any changes unless he has no choice.

129 Go to comments

GH 3 hours ago

Schalk Burger names his surprise 'worst stadium'

Schalk Burger saying: "It is brutal.” 🤣

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

So you're saying I'm not clever? Or Razor? Or both?

129 Go to comments

Bull Shark 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

SA fans already know this, so posting that there won't help. It's fans like you that need a gentle reminder... Denial and all that.

129 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Where only talking about the context of your article and bringing players through, Rassie specifically didn't need to do that because it had already been done by the previous coach.

News to me and prob most SA supporters. 57-0 doesn't give you too many clues to who's going to make it.

129 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

JW 'Popeye'!

129 Go to comments

BP 3 hours ago

Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2024 | RugbyPass

Funny how Rugbypass call them a "panel of experts"...... should be a bunch of clowns with Ben Smith the head 🤡. List is a joke......

22 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Nick, I felt that Razor’s strategy was, in part, to limit his selections to force the hands of his employers to open selection of overseas based players.

Sounds like an overthink to me Bull. Overthinking is never clever.😲

129 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Bordeaux-Leicester worth a look, top entertainment in good weather!

129 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

The new generation of players is here right now but Razor is clearly not ready for them. Lakai, Love, Proctor, Plummer etc... could all have 5 or so games under their belt. Instead they get 2 minutes at the end of the game to win a "cap" like this is still the 80s.

And none of them are Crusaders either. I wonder if that plays a part too.

129 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Rassie is obv pretty confident about the level of comps like the URC to be able to throw them in too.

129 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Well they had two games v an understrength Munster and Georgia, wasn't that it?

129 Go to comments

NB 3 hours ago

'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'