The Rugby Europe Championship deserves your attention
In the shadows of the Guiness Six Nations this weekend also marks the opening of the Rugby Europe Championship. The on-field drama and excitement of the second best international Rugby competition in the northern hemisphere might not exactly rival what’s on display at the Six Nations.
However, it most definitely deserves more attention and will have many insights to offer, especially in a World Cup year and with three of its participants also competing in the global rugby showpiece this Autumn in France.
The format of Rugby Europe’s premier competition has changed significantly for 2023 and no longer mirrors that of the Six Nations. Up until last year, five rounds of fixtures were played parallel to the Six Nations, with each of the six REC participants facing all other competitors once, while home-field advantage alternated year after year.
Now the competition is merely held on the same weekends, as the Six Nations, but has been entirely revamped with now eight participating national teams divided into two pools of four. After three round robin matches, the top two teams of each pool will determine the winner in two rounds of knock-out games, culminating in the grand final at a neutral venue on March 18th.
Meanwhile the bottom two sides of each pool will play two rounds of knock-out fixtures for fifth place. The three newly promoted teams are Belgium, Poland and Germany. They will face a tough proposition against the more established nations, while Russia remains shunned, due to the country’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
'We are not talking that we need the place of Italy or Wales. We don’t need that. We need more good games'
It's a miracle Levan Maisashvili is alive. He tells @heagneyl ??? he's now desperate for @GeorgianRugby to get more games ahead of the #RWC2023 https://t.co/5nbZqEsJQ3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 29, 2023
The current make-up of the league will be kept until the end of the 2024 championship when the worst-performing side of the combined 2023 / 2024 table will be relegated to Rugby Europe’s second-tier tournament called the Trophy.
Rugby Europe’s efforts to transform its most popular competition and broaden its appeal were met with a mixed reception amongst players, fans and officials.
While Spain prop Jon Zabala welcomes the “positive change”, some of the mainstays of the competition voiced their dissatisfaction off the record about the reduced number of pre-scheduled fixtures and the neutral venue for the grand final.
All participants agree that planning the final two fixtures on very short notice ends up being more of a logistical challenge. Ticketing revenues might be jeopardised due to the short notice of the semi-final fixtures, while the natural final venue also equals less gate receipts for the two top teams.
Georgia’s captain Merab Sharikadze, the vastly experienced centre who captained his team to a historic win in Cardiff last November, does not mind Rugby Europe shaking the format up, but is critical of the scheduling: “The disappointing part is that the final venue is already set and it won’t be in Georgia, which will upset our supporters.“
Manuel Wilhelm, High Performance Director & CEO of the German Rugby Union acknowledges that “for teams like Germany this format is more attractive, as it gives us the chance to gradually improve towards the level of the top teams“.
However, the former international second-row forward also cautions that the short run-up ahead of the semi-final will pose a significant financial strain on top of being a logistical challenge to all participants, except for the well-funded and staffed Georgian union.
Belgium’s new forwards coach Mouritz Botha, who once again teams up with Mike Ford for the Black Devils, sees the format changes in a positive light: “It’s great that the competition has expanded slightly. This will make European Rugby stronger. Eight teams will now be able to play very competitive rugby and develop as a result.”
Despite the changes implemented, from a sporting point of view Georgia remain the team to beat in the competition. That does not come as a surprise, given that they bagged eleven Championship titles over the last twelve seasons. The Lelos are looking to defend their title with one eye on the World Cup later this year, where they will face Wales, Australia, Fiji and Portugal.
Lelos captain Merab Sharikadze insists that Georgia can improve once more this year and sets out the goal of more than just retaining the title for the REC: “The main objective in this tournament is to concentrate on ourselves, keeping the standards high and even improve, compared to how we were playing in November.“
Missing out on a match-up with northern neighbour Russia, traditionally the biggest rival for Georgia, will be a disappointment for the Lelos’ fans, as centre Sharikadze explains. “The Russia game was always the biggest part for the Georgia supporters and one hundred percent they will miss that adrenaline, but Georgian fans are also hoping for us to participate in bigger tournaments and hopefully one day we can achieve that!“
Spain, Georgia’s closest rival over the last couple of seasons, are starting from scratch yet again after their world cup qualification hopes were crushed for a second time, after being handed a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player.
Ironically it was South-African born hooker Gavin van den Berg, who played just over 30 minutes against the Netherlands in a match that Spain comfortably won by 43:0 in the 2022 edition of the tournament, as well as his involvement in the corresponding fixture the year before, despite not fulfilling the residency criteria, which cost Spain a rendezvous with van den Berg’s native South Africa.
Leaving behind the disappointment of failing to qualify for the world cup in neighbouring France, los Leones are now looking to re-build. Prop Zabala sees this year’s Rugby Europe Championship as an opportunity to integrate some younger players coming through. Overall Spanish rugby is geared towards a second appearance at the Rugby World Cup after 1999.
Romania meanwhile profited from Spain’s misfortune and will face off with the Springboks, Ireland, Scotland and Tonga in France later this year. Captain Mihai Macovei, who became Romania’s fifth test centurion last year, says that his team can win the competition.
Georgia are a serious threat to the rugby world ? pic.twitter.com/9zH4snoYa8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 21, 2022
In 2017 Romania became the last team other than Georgia to win the REC and the vastly experienced flanker Macovei wants to once again accomplish that feat. Being the veteran of two world cups he knows what competing in the global showcase of the sport entails.
But the majority of the oaks squad has not had the privilege, as Romania missed out on qualification for the very first time in 2019. Hence the 36-year-old sees this year’s tournament as the perfect preparation for the even bigger task.
Portugal are proof that the vast gap in quality between Rugby Europe’s premier competition and the feeder league called the Trophy can be bridged. In 2019 Os Lobos paved their way into the Championship by beating Germany in the promotion-relegation match by a single score and having to defend on their own try line with the clock in the red.
In a 2020 competition rendered chaotic due to the impact of the global pandemic, Portugal managed to stay up by edging out a home win against Belgium and surprising everyone by defeating Romania.
In 2022 the side coached by former France winger Patrice Lagisquet remained competitive and pulled off a massive upset by securing a draw versus Georgia away, but just fell short of beating Romania and Spain away.
These results would have meant that Portugal just missed out on qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. But due to Spain’s self-inflicted misfortune, Portugal proceeded to the Repechage, where a last-gasp win against the USA Eagles guided them to their second World Cup appearance.
Winger Tomás Appleton now insists that Portugal are “eager to prove our value and show once again that our spot at the World Cup is well deserved“. This year will also be important to raise the game’s status in football-mad Portugal.
Belgium won promotion last year by topping the Rugby Europe Trophy ahead of Poland and Germany and should be the strongest of the newly promoted sides.
The Black Devils start their campaign with an entirely new coaching set-up. Former England defence and Bath head coach Mike Ford once again teams up with former Saracens and England lock Mouritz Botha – as they did in 2018 and 2019 for Germany.
Botha as the forwards coach is well aware of the demands, as he knows the league well. “It will be a step up from the trophy, but we see ourselves as a team that belong in this league and we want to prove that.”
Botha emphasises that he sees “a lot of potential“ in Belgian Rugby and in conjunction with the union’s forward-thinking board this just might be the “recipe for success“.
Germany meanwhile originally missed out on promotion by a whisker. Being even on points with Poland and with the better points difference to their name, the Black Eagles were bound to fall short on their goal of returning to the Championship, due to having lost the head-to-head on a bitterly cold November night in Gdynia on the Polish Baltic Sea coast.
However, with Russia being disqualified, the Germans were a late addition to the Championship. Once again playing the likes of Georgia, Spain and Romania will be “an adventure“, as coach Mark Kuhlmann explains.
This time the Germans will have to make do without the substantial backing of Hans-Peter Wild. The billionaire owner of Capri Sun had bankrolled German rugby until a fallout with the Union in 2018. These days the Heidelberg native turned Swiss resident prefers to put his money into the Top 14 club Stade Français.
German forwards coach Kehoma Brenner, also a native of the southwestern university town of Heidelberg, says the Black Eagles have to “get creative“ to make up for the shortfalls of being a mostly amateur nation. “Will, hard work and toughness“ are the keys to Germany staying up, according to the former Eagles’ flanker.
Poland and the Netherlands find themselves in a similar situation to the Germans. Drawing their squad mostly from the amateur domestic leagues, with some foreign-based professionals propping up the squad.
The Netherlands already gained promotion to the Rugby Europe Championship in 2020, but failed to win a single fixture since. Therefore Dutch flanker Spike Salman explains: “We want to – and will – show that we belong in this competition and that we can compete in it.“
While the battle at the top is all about who can beat Georgia, the battle to avoid relegation seems more open. The three new additions to the league, as well as the Netherlands, seem on a similar footing. Only by staying in the Rugby Europe Championship can these teams can dream of making the next step – Qualifying for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments