European Football League

The European Football League (EFL) is a tournament for European American football teams affiliated to IFAF (International Federation of American Football - Europe). Until 2013, the final game of the EFL was the Eurobowl, which has been held annually since 1986. In 2014, the EFL was replaced as Europe's top-tier club competition by the new BIG6 European Football League and the EFL Bowl was introduced as the new final game of the EFL.

European Football League
SportGridiron football
Founded1986
No. of teams6
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion(s)		Thonon Black Panthers
Most titlesVienna Vikings (5)
Promotion toBIG6 European Football League
Official websiteEurobowl.info

EFL

Under the governance of EFAF, the best American Football teams in Europe participate in annual competitions. Until 2013, the EFL was the first-tier competition for American football clubs in Europe. EFAF determined the relative strength of each of its 17 affiliate leagues and allocated teams to the 4 divisions accordingly, thus not all nations took part. National league champions, runners-up or teams with international success were eligible for the EFL. Teams from 'weaker' leagues could take part in the EFAF Cup. The final game of the EFL was the Eurobowl, which has been held annually since 1986.

In 2014, the BIG6 European Football League was introduced as the new top-tier competition of American football in Europe.[1] The EFL continued to be played as a second-tier competition, with its teams playing for the newly created EFL Bowl trophy.[2] The inaugural EFL Bowl was won by the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of Germany against Spain's Badalona Dracs on 20 July 2014.[3]

From 2017 on, the EFL Bowl winners may play a relegation game against the last placed team of the BIG6, and be promoted to the BIG6 if they win.[4]

Format

Until 2013, Teams were split into 4 divisions of 3 or 2 teams. In a division of 3, teams played 2 matches; once at home to one opponent and the other away to the other opponent. In a division of 2 teams, each team played each other home and away. The division winners then advanced to the play-offs.

The play-off format was changed for the 2008 season. The tournament was expanded to an eight-team competition. The two finalists from the 2007 season, Vienna Vikings and Marburg Mercenaries, earned automatic berths for the next season and the two semi-finalists, Eidsvoll 1814's from Norway and Tirol Raiders from Austria, earned a spot for the national champions of their respective countries. In quarterfinals these teams faced the four winners of the divisional round. In semi-finals teams were paired by the Eurobowl seeding system, with the best-seeded team facing the worst and the second-best facing the second-worst. Winners then advanced to the Eurobowl.

With the start of the Big6 in 2014, the format of the EFL changed again. Six teams played in two divisions of three teams. The winners of the groups advanced to the EFL Bowl.

EFL Bowls

For a list of champions by year before 2014, see Eurobowl.

Game Year Date City Winners Sco Runners-up Attendance MVP
I2014 19 July 2014[5] Kiel, Germany Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 40–00 Badalona Dracs 2,104Garrett Andrews (KBH)
II2015 27 June 2015[6] Kiel, Germany Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 49–28 Allgäu Comets 1,752
III2016 11 June 2016[7] Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt Universe 35–21 Amsterdam Crusaders 6,056[8] Jesse Lewis (FU)
IV2017 10 June 2017[9] Thonon-les-Bains, France Thonon Black Panthers 29–20 Rhinos Milano 2,500[10] Stephen Yepmo (TBP)
V2018 9 June 2018 Sesto San Giovanni, Italy Potsdam Royals 43–42 Seamen Milano 2,500[11] Kahlif Rector (SM)

Records and statistics

By club
Club Won Runner-up Years won† Years runner-up†
Vikings Vienna552004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20132001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012
Swarco Raiders Tirol312008, 2009, 20112013
Bergamo Lions332000, 2001, 20021994, 2004, 2005
Hamburg Blue Devils321996, 1997, 19981999, 2000
Amsterdam Crusaders241991, 19921988, 1989, 1993, 2016
Braunschweig Lions211999, 20032002
London Olympians211993, 19941995
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes202014, 2015
Berlin Adler1220101991, 2011
Legnano Frogs1119891990
Potsdam Royals 102018
Thonon Black Panthers102017
Frankfurt Universe102016
Calanda Broncos102012
Düsseldorf Panther101995
Manchester Spartans101990
Helsinki Roosters101988
Taft Vantaa101986
La Courneuve Flash031998, 2006, 2009
  • † Listed are Eurobowls from 1986 to 2013 and EFL Bowls from 2014 on.

by country
Championships Country Year
11 Germany 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
8 Austria 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
4 Italy 1989, 2000, 2001, 2002
3 United Kingdom 1990, 1993, 1994
2 Netherlands 1991, 1992
2 Finland 1986, 1988
1 France 2017
1 Switzerland 2012

See also

References
  1. BIG6 European Football League starts 2014 www.eurobowl.com, published: 20 November 2013, accessed: 5 December 2013
  2. EFL 2014 teams announced www.efaf.info, published: 11 February 2014, accessed: 8 July 2014
  3. Kiel Baltic Hurricanes win EFL Bowl I! www.efaf.info, published: 20 July 2014, accessed: 14 October 2014
  4. Regulations for Club-Team Competitions eurobowl.efaf.info, published: 15 October 2016, accessed: 2 November 2016
  5. EFL Bowl I am 19.07.2014 in Kiel (in German) www.efaf.info, published: 6 July 2014, accessed: 8 July 2014
  6. EFL Bowl II on June 27, 2015 at Kiel www.efaf.info, published: 3 June 2015, accessed: 21 June 2015
  7. Frankfurt zieht ins Finale ein und richtet EFL-Bowl aus (in German) www.eurobowl.info, published: 29 May 2016, accessed: 30 May 2016
  8. Samsung Frankfurt Universe ist EFL-Champion Archived 2016-12-02 at the Wayback Machine (in German) www.frankfurt-universe.de, published: 11 June 2016, accessed: 23 November 2016
  9. EFL-Bowl: Thonon Black Panthers receive Rhinos Milano www.eurobowl.info, published: 7 June 2017, accessed: 11 June 2017
  10. "Thonon Black Panthers win the EFL Bowl". eurobowl.info. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  11. "EFL Bowl: Dramatic End with a points festival". eurobowl.info. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
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