2018 Rugby Europe Championship

2018 Rugby Europe Championship
Date 10 February 2018 – 18 March 2018
Countries  Belgium
 Georgia
 Germany
 Romania
 Russia
 Spain
Tournament statistics
Champions  Georgia (11th title)
Grand Slam  Georgia (7th)
Antim Cup  Georgia (11th title)
Matches played 15
Attendance 139,003 (9,267 per match)
Tries scored 109 (7.27 per match)
Top point scorer(s) Russia Yuri Kushnarev (45)
Top try scorer(s) Romania Sione Faka'osilea (3)
Romania Paula Kinikinilau (3)
Georgia (country) Giorgi Kveseladze (3)
Spain Fernando López Pérez (3)
Russia Anton Rudoy (3)
Official website Rugby International Championship
← 2017 (Previous) (Next) 2019 →

The 2018 Rugby Europe Championship is the premier rugby union competition outside of the Six Nations Championship in Europe. This is the second season under its new format, that saw Georgia, Germany, Romania, Russia, Spain and Belgium compete for the title.

This year's edition of the Rugby Europe Championship also served as a key stage of the European region qualification process for the 2019 Rugby World Cup . The team with the best record across the 2017 and 2018 Championships qualified as Europe 1.[1] As Georgia have already secured qualification automatically, results involving that team are discarded for the purposes of Rugby World Cup qualification.

Both the Championship and the Qualification Process were heavily affected by controversial disciplinary issues involving player eligibility and the selection of neutral officials. In respect of matters relating to the eligibility of players, following a full review of the evidence, including statements and submissions from World Rugby, Rugby Europe, Belgium, Romania, Spain and Russia, the independent committee found:

  • Belgium had fielded one or more ineligible players on 7 occasions during the 2017 and 2018 Rugby Europe Championships (of which 6 matches related to Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying);
  • Romania has fielded one ineligible player on 8 occasions during the 2017 and 2018 Rugby Europe Championships (of which 6 matches related to Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying);
  • Spain had fielded one or more ineligible players on 9 occasions during the 2017 and 2018 Rugby Europe Championships (of which 8 matches related to Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying).

In respect of sanctions, pursuant to Regulation 18, the independent committee determined the following:

The deduction of 5 points for any match in which a union fielded an ineligible player. in practice this meant the following

  • 40-point deduction for Spain
  • 30-point deduction for Belgium;
  • 30-point deduction for Romania.

Therefore, based on a re-modelling of the Rugby Europe Championship tables in the context of Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying, Russia would qualify as Europe 1 into Pool A replacing Romania and Germany will replace Spain in the European play-off against Portugal.[2]

Georgia's victory in the 2018 Rugby Europe Championship itself was unaffected. Germany's proposed promotion/relegation play-off with Portugal, however, becomes a Romania-Portugal play-off. Ironically, Germany would now face Portugal in the Rugby World Cup European qualification play-off.

Table

Champions
Advances Promotion/Relegation play-off
Place Nation Games Points Tries
Try
BP		 Losing
BP		 Grand Slam
BP		 Table
points
played won drawn lost for against diff for against diff
1 Georgia550018835+153262+2530124
2 Russia520314284+581912+721011
3 Germany500534359−325355−520000
4 Belgium5203106182−761426−12100-1*
5 Spain530214674+72194+18100-7*
6 Romania530219880+118289+19200-11*
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win – 4 points
Draw – 2 points
At least 3 or more tries than opponent – 1 point
Loss within 7 points – 1 point
Loss greater than 7 points – 0 points
Completing a Grand Slam – 1 points (not counted towards World Cup qualification)[3]
* deducted points [4][5][6]

Fixtures

Week 1

10 February 2018
14:00 GET (UTC+04)
(1 TBP) Georgia  47–0  Belgium
Try: Levan Chilachava 9' c
Shalva Mamukashvili 16' c
Zurab Zhvania 26' c
Beka Tsiklauri 40'+1' c
Giorgi Pruidze 55' m
Alexander Todua 67' c
Anzor Sitchinava 79' c
Con: Beka Tsiklauri (6/7) 10', 17', 27', 40'+2', 68', 79'
Pen: Beka Tsiklauri (0/1)
 Gamesheet
AIA Arena (Kutaisi), Kutaisi
Attendance: 4,900
Referee: Italy Marius Mitrea
10 February 2018
15:00 MSK (UTC+03)
(1 LBP) Russia  13–20  Spain
Try: Dmitri Gerasimov 8' c
Con: Yuri Kushnarev (1/1) 9'
Pen: Yuri Kushnarev (2/2) 29', 63'
 Gamesheet Try: Guillaume Rouet (2) 25' m, 31' c
Pierre Barthère 66' m
Con: Bradley Linklater (1/3) 32'
Pen: Bradley Linklater (1/2) 40'
Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Ireland Frank Murphy
10 February 2018
16:00 EET (UTC+02)
(1 TBP) Romania  85–6  Germany
Try: Sione Faka'osilea (2) 5' c, 60' c
Mihăiţă Lazăr 15' c
Tangimana Fonovai (2) 27' m, 35' c
Mihai Macovei (2) 40' m, 69' m
Stelian Burcea 44' c
Paula Kinikinilau (2) 47' c, 62' c
Ionuț Dumitru 51' c
Alin Coste 73' c
Stephen Shennan 80'
Con: Florin Vlaicu (8/10) 6', 16', 36', 45', 47', 53', 61', 63'
Valentin Calafeteanu (2/3) 75', 80'+1
 Gamesheet Pen: Tim Menzel (2/3) 18', 31'
Cluj Arena, Cluj
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Belgium Max Burlet

Week 2

17 February 2018
15:00 MSK (UTC+03)
(1 TBP) Russia  48–7  Belgium
Try: Mikhail Babaev 7' c
Andrei Garbuzov 24' m
Tagir Gadzhiev 39' c
Evgeny Elgin (2) 56' m, 71' c
Igor Galinovskiy 65' c
Bogdan Fedotko 74' c
Con: Yuri Kushnarev (5/7) 8', 40', 66', 72', 75'
Pen: Yuri Kushnarev (1/1) 52'
 Gamesheet Try: Vincent Hart 47' c
Con: Vincent Hart (1/1) 48'
Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Spain Iñigo Atorrasagasti
17 February 2018
14:30 CET (UTC+01)
Germany  0–64  Georgia (1 TBP)
Gamesheet Try: Giorgi Kveseladze (3) 10' c, 62' c, 76' m
Alexander Todua 15' m
Levan Chilachava 28' c
Anton Peikrishvili 49' c
Mikheil Gachechiladze 59' c
Otar Giorgadze 69' c
Zurab Zhvania 73' m
Lasha Khmaladze 80'+1' c
Con: Beka Tsiklauri (7/10) 11', 29', 50', 60', 64', 70', 80'+2'
Sparda-Bank-Hessen-Stadion, Offenbach am Main
Attendance: 2,150
Referee: Wales Craig Evans
18 February 2018
12:45 CET (UTC+01)
Spain  22–10  Romania
Try: Beñat Auzqui 4' m
Sébastien Ascarat 8' m
Con: Bradley Linklater (0/2)
Pen: Bradley Linklater (4/4) 21', 46', 62', 71'
 Gamesheet Try: Sione Faka'osilea[7] 77' c
Con: Valentin Calafeteanu (1/1) 77'
Pen: Florin Vlaicu (1/1) 13'
Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: France Thomas Charabas

Week 3

3 March 2018
18:00 GET (UTC+04)
Georgia  23-10  Spain
Try: Penalty Try 54'
Giorgi Melikidze 80'+7' c
Con: Soso Matiashvili (1/1) 80'+8'
Pen: Soso Matiashvili (3/4) 10', 28', 40'
 Gamesheet Try: Lionel Tauli 80'+4' c
Con: Mathieu Peluchon (1/1) 80'+5'
Pen: Mathieu Peluchon (1/2) 34'
Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Wales Ian Davies
3 March 2018
16:00 EET (UTC+02)
Romania  25-15  Russia
Try: Penalty Try 6'
Stephen Shennan 49' m
Paula Kinikinilau 74' m
Eugen Căpățână 79' m
Con: Valentin Calafeteanu (0/1)
Florin Vlaicu (0/2)
Pen: Valentin Calafeteanu (1/1) 38'
 Gamesheet Try: Dmitri Gerasimov 30' m
Ramil Gaisin 69' c
Con: Yuri Kushnarev (0/1)
Ramil Gaisin (1/1) 70'
Pen: Yuri Kushnarev (1/1) 35'
Cluj Arena, Cluj
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: France Alexandre Ruiz
3 March 2018
16:00 CET (UTC+01)
(1 TBP) Belgium  69-15  Germany
Try: Charles Reynaert (2) 2' m, 79' c
Julien Berger 8' c
Penalty Try 14'
Alan Williams 17' m
Maxime Jadot 21' m
Guillaume Piron (2) 26' c, 54' m
Gillian Benoy 31' c
Vincent Hart 50' c
Sven d'Hooghe 67' c
Con: Alan Williams (6/10) 8', 27', 32', 51', 68', 89'
 Gamesheet Try: Jens Listmann 65' m
Sam Harris 76' c
Con: Wynston Cameron-Dow (1/2) 77'
Pen: Wynston Cameron-Dow (1/1) 6'
Nelson Mandela Sports Centre, Brussels
Attendance: 1,600
Referee: France Pierre Brousset

Week 4

10 March 2018
13:00 EET (UTC+02)
(1 TBP) Romania  62-12  Belgium
Try: Penalty Try (3) 11', 43', 74'
Jack Umaga 17' m
Stelian Burcea 23' c
Kuselo Moyake (2) 28' c, 51' c
Ionuț Dumitru 54' m
Ionel Badiu 64' c
Con: Valentin Calafeteanu (2/3) 24', 30'
Cătălin Fercu (1/2) 52'
Florin Vlaicu (1/1) 64'
Pen: Valentin Calafeteanu 40'
 Gamesheet Try: Benjamin Cocu 37' m
Ervin Muric 75' c
Con: Sebastien Guns (0/1)
Antoine Vassart (1/1) 76'
Stadionul Municipal, Buzău
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Scotland Sam Grove-White
10 March 2018
15:00 MSK (UTC+03)
Russia  9-29  Georgia (1 TBP)
Pen: Yuri Kushnarev (3/3) 17', 30', 39'
 Gamesheet Try: Anton Peikrishvili 25' c
Karlen Asieshvili 66' c
Mikheil Gachechiladze 72' c
Merab Kvirikashvili 76' m
Con: Soso Matiashvili (3/3) 26', 67', 73'
Merab Kvirikashvili (0/1)
Pen: Soso Matiashvili (1/1) 48'
Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: England Anthony Woodthorpe
11 March 2018
12:30 CET (UTC+01)
(1 TBP) Spain  84-10  Germany
Try: Pierre Barthère 13' c
Ignacio Contardi Medina 17' c
Penalty Try 20'
Anibal Bonán (2) 27' m, 64' m
Thibaut Álvarez 33' c
Gautier Gibouin 41'
Fernando López Pérez (2) 49' c, 68' c
Thibaut Visensang 55' c
Sébastien Ascarat 76' m
Bradley Linklater 80'+4'
Con: Mathieu Peluchon (6/7) 13', 18', 33', 41', 49', 55'
Bradley Linklater (2/4) 68', 80'+4'
Pen: Mathieu Peluchon (2/2) 3', 7'
 Gamesheet Try: Zinzan Hees 60' c
Con: Daniel Koch (1/1) 60'
Pen: Daniel Koch (1/1) 52'

Week 5

18 March 2018
16:00 GET (UTC+04)
Georgia  25-16  Romania
Try: Lasha Lomidze 20' c
Anzor Sitchinava 42' c
Karlen Asieshvili 69' m
Con: Soso Matiashvili (2/3) 21', 43'
Pen: Soso Matiashvili (2/2) 8', 47'
 Gamesheet Try: Andrei Rădoi 78' c
Con: Florin Vlaicu (1/1) 78'
Pen: Florin Vlaicu (3/3) 11', 37', 60'
Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi
Attendance: 38,000
Referee: France Ludovic Cayre
18 March 2018
13:00 CET (UTC+01)
Germany  3-57  Russia (1 TBP)
Pen: Manuel Müller 6'
 Gamesheet Try: Valery Tsnobiladze (2) 10' c, 18' m
Anton Rudoy (3) 26' c, 29' c, 80'+1' m
Dmitri Krotov 32' c
Alexander Budychenko 49'
Alexey Mikhaltsov (2) 57' c, 75' m
Con: Yuri Kushnarev (6/7) 11', 26', 30', 34', 50', 58'
Alexander Budychenko (0/2)
Sportpark Höhenberg, Köln
Attendance: 2,600
Referee: England Ian Tempest
18 March 2018
13:00 CET (UTC+01)
Belgium  18-10  Spain
Pen: Vincent Hart (6/7) 20', 24', 29', 37', 49', 76'
 Gamesheet Try: Fernando López Pérez 70' c
Con: Mathieu Peluchon (1/1) 70'
Pen: Bradley Linklater (0/2)
Mathieu Peluchon (1/1) 74'
King Baudouin Stadium – Annex 2, Brussels
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Romania Vlad Iordăchescu

Relegation/Promotion Play-Off

03 November 2018
16:00 EET (UTC+02)
Romania  v  Portugal
TBA

Attendances (2017–2018)

Top 5

SeasonGameHome teamVisitorAttendanceSources
1 20174  Georgia  Russia 52,000
2 20185  Georgia  Romania 38,000
3 20183  Georgia  Spain 30,000
4 20184  Spain  Germany 15,753
5 20182  Spain  Romania 15,000

Average home attendances

PosTeamGP Total High Low Average
1  Georgia 5 128,20052,0003,300 25,640
2  Spain 5 53,55315,7537,000 10,711
3  Russia 5 25,00011,5002,000 5,000
4  Romania 5 16,7507,5001,500 3,350
5  Germany 5 16,3764,5002,150 3,275
6  Belgium 5 14,1004,0001,600 2,820

See also

References

  1. ↑ rugbyworldcup.com. "Rugby World Cup 2019". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Release, Press (15 May 2018). "Independent Judicial and Disputes Committee decision: Rugby World Cup 2019 European qualification tournament". World Rugby. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "{title}" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Judicial Committee judgement" (PDF). Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  5. ↑ https://pulse-static-files.s3.amazonaws.com/worldrugby/document/2018/06/06/1a671241-08fe-4060-bfb9-3696cfe3cff0/180606-Appeal-Committee-Decision-RWC-2019-Qualifier-Dispute-FINAL-.pdf
  6. ↑ https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/final-ranking-rec-2018
  7. ↑ Though rugbyeurope names Paula Kinikinilau, he did not score the try against Spain. Though he is mentioned on the gamesheet as try scorer with the shirt number 13, video footage clearly shows Sione Fakaosilea with the shirt number 12 as the true try scroer
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.