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Rugby Europe issue statement after fate of Tier 2 rugby confirmed

By Online Editors
Georgia team line up before November international against Wales in 2017. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Rugby Europe have issued a statement, effectively cancelling all major Tier 2 rugby competitions across the continent for the remainder of the season. A statement reads: “After a thorough consultation process with hosts and Unions, Competition Committee Chairman, President and General Secretary, today the following decisions have been made by the Rugby Europe Board of Directors:

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“To call off the season of Men’s Senior XV Conference1, Conference2, Development and Women’s Trophy divisions. No Champions will be designated. There will be no promotion or relegation this year. The same pools will be kept for the 2020-2021 season.

“To cancel the remaining game of Women’s Senior XV Trophy

“To cancel the Men & Women’s Senior Sevens Conference 1 and 2 tournaments. There will be no promotion nor relegation to and from these divisions this year. The same pools will be kept in place for the 2021 Season.

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“To cancel all U18 games and tournaments in XV and Sevens Rugby. No events will take place in 2020. This includes the XV U18 Championship scheduled in Kaliningrad, Russia.

“To cancel the U20 XV European Championship in Coimbra, Portugal. No event will take place in 2020.

“For the other games and tournaments listed below, Rugby Europe Board of Directors has decided to postpone the events, playing them as soon as the health conditions and readiness of the teams will allow. No immediate announcements will be made on rescheduling at this time.

  • Club Sevens Championship and Beach Rugby competitions.
  • Women’s XV Rugby Europe Championship matches (2 matches remaining).
  • Men’s XV Rugby Europe Championship matches (3 games remaining).
  • Men’s XV Rugby Europe Trophy (6 games remaining), with the understanding that no team will be forced to play and that no sanctions will apply in the case of an inability to play. There will also be no relegation from the Trophy to Conference 1 this year.
  • Men and Women Senior Sevens Championships and Trophy Divisions, with the understanding that no teams will be relegated from the Trophy to Conference 1 this year

The Board of Directors will meet again in a month’s time to reassess the situation of these postponed events and games in light of the evolution of the COVID-19 situation across Europe.

“Rugby Europe will continue to monitor developments with unions, local governments and health authorities and will respect the instructions received in the interests of overall public health in relation to COVID-19.”

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A
Adrian 11 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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