2014–16 European Nations Cup Third Division

2014–16 European Nations Cup Third Division

Date	2014–2016
Countries	Division 3:  Belarus  Estonia  Greece  Montenegro  Slovakia
Champions	Slovakia (2015)  Estonia (2016)
Tournament statistics
Matches played	8
Tries scored	82 (10.25 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Luke Veebel (72)
Most tries	Luke Veebel (11)
Website	Rugby Europe
← 2012–14 2016–18 →

The 2014–16 European Nations Cup Third Division is the fourth tier of rugby union in Europe behind the Six Nations Championship and the 2014–16 European Nations Cup First Division and the 2014–16 European Nations Cup Second Division.

Slovakia return from the 2012–14 European Nations Cup Third Division, and are joined by the relegated Greece, as well as Belarus, Estonia and Montenegro. 2012–14 champions, Turkey are promoted to ENC 2D, while Azerbaijan have decided not to compete in this tournament.

Belarus played their first international rugby union match; a qualifier against Estonia, who will also be playing in their first ENC tournament. The winner of this match (Estonia) played in a semi final-final format tournament against Montenegro and Slovakia 2014–2015 title. Greece withdrew from the tournament, and was replaced by a Montenegrin President's XV.^[1] The format for the 2015–2016 tournament has yet to be decided.

The best team over the 2014–15 and 2015–16 championships will be promoted to Division 2D of the European Nations Cup for the 2016–2018 cup.^[1][2]

Slovakia won the Third Division in 2015 by beating Montenegro in the final 31–3. Estonia won the title in 2016 by beating Slovakia in the final 36–29.

2014–15

Qualifying play-off

	4 October 2014	Estonia	59–12	Belarus	Kalevi Keskstaadion, Tallinn, Estonia
	14:00	Try: Luke Veebel 3 (4'c, 26'c, 61'c), Jaan Lorens 2 (20', 23'c), Roland Kalso (35'), Marten Martinson (53'c), Mark Zuhhovitski (66'c), Maati Pallas (78'c) Con: David-Sandro Dzidzadze 6, Marten Martinson	Team Sheet	Try: Ilya Shuhayeu (32'), Aliaksandr Varabei (80'c) Con: Dzmitry Shabetsko Cards: Aliaksandr Varabei 55' to 65', Artur Zharkevich 59' to 69'	Attendance: 100 Referee: Alexei Bryzgalin

Finals

The original format included top seeds Greece, second seeds Slovakia, third seeds and hosts Montenegro and qualifiers Estonia. Greece were drawn against Estonia, and Slovakia against Montenegro. However, after the withdrawal of Greece, all teams moved up one seed, with the Montenegrin President's XV taking Greece's place as fourth seed.

	Semi-finals				Final
	11 April 2015
	President XV	0
					14 April 2015
	Slovakia	82
					Slovakia	31
	11 April 2015
					Montenegro	3
	Montenegro	29
	Estonia	27
					Third place
					14 April 2015
					President XV	0
					Estonia	106

Semi Finals

	11 April 2015	President XV	0–82	Slovakia	Bar, Montenegro
		Cards: Bodizar Jonanovic 39' to 49', Nikola Jocic  65'	Team Sheet	Try: Patrick Polenda (3'), Jan Szkely (7'c), Pavel Kozubik (12'), Nicolas Douezi 2 (21'c, 75'), Martin Mihalik (25'c), Petr Kalina (32'c), Sebastian Nase (46'), Tomas Zelinksky (49'), Daniel Puha (54'), Sam Morgan (65'), Michal Mihalik (67'), Theo Fouillade (69'c), Jan Jung (80'c) Con: Daniel Puha 6	Attendance: 150 Referee: Killian O'Brien Anatol Tipa

	11 April 2015	Montenegro	29–27	Estonia	Bar, Montenegro
		Try: Dusan Vucicevic (30'c), Aleksandr Milosavijevic (44'), Marko Andric (47'c), Marko Novakovic (74'c) Con: Srdjan Popovic 3 Pen: Srdjan Popovic (24') Cards: Nikola Vuletic 80' to 80'	Team Sheet	Try: Marten Martinson 2 (8', 20'), Luke Veebel (51'), Kullar Veersalu (54'), Mark Zuhhovitski (58'c) Con: Marten Martinson	Attendance: 250 Referee: Nika Amashukeli Shota Tevzadze

3rd Place Play-Off

	14 April 2015	President XV	0–106	Estonia	Bar, Montenegro
		Cards: Vuk Radulj 48' to 58'	Team Sheet	Try: Kimmo Kokemagi (1') Luke Veebel (3', 14', 27', 50', 80') Jaan Lorens (9') Marten Martinson (12') Mark Zuhhovitski (16') Kullar Veersalu (20', 25', 53') Aivar Lohmus (36', 72') Kristjan Kotkas (42', 61') Taavi Ermel (46') Andre Astre (63') Con: Kullar Veersalu 4 Marten Martinson 4	Referee: Killian O'Brien

Final

	14 April 2015	Montenegro	3–31	Slovakia	Bar, Montenegro
			Team Sheet		Referee: Shota Tevzadze

2015–16

Finals

	Semi-finals				Final
	18 May 2016
	Slovakia	29
					21 May 2016
	Belarus	17
					Slovakia	29
	18 May 2016
					Estonia	36
	Estonia	16
	Montenegro	13
					Third place
					21 May 2016
					Belarus	19
					Montenegro	45

Semi Finals

	18 May 2016	Slovakia	29–17	Belarus
	16:00		Team Sheet		Attendance: 20

	18 May 2016	Estonia	16–13	Montenegro
	18:30		Team Sheet

3rd Place Play-Off

	21 May 2016	Belarus	19–45	Montenegro
	12:00		Team Sheet		Attendance: 50

Final

	21 May 2016	Slovakia	29–36	Estonia
	15:00		Team Sheet		Attendance: 200

See also

• European Nations Cup
• 2014–16 European Nations Cup First Division
• 2014–16 European Nations Cup Second Division

References