Tier 2 & 3 Rugby News

sydneybound

Encouraging news for some lower ranked nations.

Hong Kong Rugby Union officially announced the creation of their own Nations Cup.

In the first draw of the tournament teams will play Russia, Portugal, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong. Competitions will be held in one round. Matches take place on 13, 17 and 21 November.

http://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/1812130/rising-russia-join-portugal-and-zimbabwe-hong-kong-cup-nations

No doubt World Rugby are paying for part of this tournament, probably travel expenses and the Hong Kong Union arranging the rest, it's great these nations are getting more international matches. Hopefully Georgia and Romania get some more Tier 1 fixtures after the World Cup.

In the last week Kenya defeated Portugal 41 - 15 which bodes well for African rugby. By all accounts funding for rugby is increasing so hopefully they can build on that.

George Hook

Is there a list of all the competitions tier 2 and 3 ranked teams play in? Other than world cup qualifying matches I don't know any. I hope the Scandinavian countries play in some sort of Viking cup..

Edit: and yes, that's excellent news!

The Lost Sheep

Try tier2 rugby forum though world rugby has a list of a lot of tournaments http://www.worldrugby.org/search?s=2015&toggle=tournament
Consur Cup, Nacra Cup etc

George Hook

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Try tier2 rugby forum though world rugby has a list of a lot of tournaments http://www.worldrugby.org/search?s=2015&toggle=tournament
Consur Cup, Nacra Cup etc

Oh nice one, thanks for the link!

The Lost Sheep

Looks like the 8 sides for the third tier European competition will be:

Fiamme Oro, Rovigo, Mogliano, Valladolid, Direito, Heidelberg, Timisoara and a Belgian side

Shame no Georgian or Russian sides will be competing. 3 Italian, 1 Spanish, German, Belgian, Romanian and a Portugese sides.

croket

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Looks like the 8 sides for the third tier European competition will be:

Fiamme Oro, Rovigo, Mogliano, Valladolid, Direito, Heidelberg, Timisoara and a Belgian side

Shame no Georgian or Russian sides will be competing. 3 Italian, 1 Spanish, German, Belgian, Romanian and a Portugese sides.

Yes, a shame, russian side Krasny Yar really wanted play this third competition but the russian federation is so incompetent!

According to rugbyonline.ru, the other russian side, Enisey-STM, who will play the Challenge Cup will sign foreign players.

From the third tier competition, Timisoara Saracens looks the strongest team on the paper. 9 of their players are currently at the RWC (8 romanians and the fijian tighthead prop Saulo), they signed during the summer 3 more players, hooker Andrei Radoi from england championship team Ealing Trailfinders, tongan centre Tevita Manumua who was on trial for Saracens and australian winger Sam Cox who played for Brumbies

sydneybound

The Americas Six Nations will kick off next February. Here is a link with some info with Brazil's fixtures:

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/09/04/americas-six-nations-start-february/

sydneybound

Good news for the Japan super rugby team has been included in Super Rugby official draw. They will also play four SA teams in Singapore along with their regular home games in Tokyo.

Both the Japan and Argentina Super Rugby teams will be unveiled after the World Cup.

All in all expansion is a difficult thing to do but I take my hat off to Super Rugby for embracing these two new countries. Europe really needs to do more.

Cosmo Kramer

sydneybound wrote: »

The Americas Six Nations will kick off next February. Here is a link with some info with Brazil's fixtures:

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/09/04/americas-six-nations-start-february/

Do Argentina really need to be involved in this, if they have their UAR signed players they will probably win every game comfortably? Hopefully this competition doesn't affect the Pacific Nations Cup which has six fairly evenly matched teams playing each other?

The Lost Sheep

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Do Argentina really need to be involved in this, if they have their UAR signed players they will probably win every game comfortably? Hopefully this competition doesn't affect the Pacific Nations Cup which has six fairly evenly matched teams playing each other?

Super Rugby season starts end of February so none of Argentinian players involved in that wont be playing in this and I think they should be involved

sydneybound

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Do Argentina really need to be involved in this, if they have their UAR signed players they will probably win every game comfortably? Hopefully this competition doesn't affect the Pacific Nations Cup which has six fairly evenly matched teams playing each other?

This will be played by the Argentina second side or youth players. The UAR see this as a tool to progress rugby in the Americas and maybe in 5 - 10 years time it might be a big tournament.

LeinsterDub

sydneybound wrote: »

Good news for the Japan super rugby team has been included in Super Rugby official draw. They will also play four SA teams in Singapore along with their regular home games in Tokyo.

Both the Japan and Argentina Super Rugby teams will be unveiled after the World Cup.

All in all expansion is a difficult thing to do but I take my hat off to Super Rugby for embracing these two new countries. Europe really needs to do more.

This might be one too many expansions. The travel time is off the wall. The Aussies and nz unions cosying up to each other might decide that a 12 team Australian and New Zealand league with home and away fixtures makes more sense or then plus Japan.

sydneybound

LeinsterDub wrote: »

This might be one too many expansions. The travel time is off the wall. The Aussies and nz unions cosying up to each other might decide that a 12 team Australian and New Zealand league with home and away fixtures makes more sense or then plus Japan.

I don't think it's one expansion too many. I think in time this expansion embracing more countries and bigger populations will in fact save Super Rugby. I'm sure that will be laughed at at the moment.

Argentina can sustain one SR team and really should have two. They'll have another in 3-5 years in Mendoza possibly. After Japan beat Sputh Africa they had nearly 20 million viewers for their game against Scotland, pity they didn't deliver, but with the 2019 World Cup there is huge potential to get into the Asian market. Last but not least the Kings. SA are constantly trying to engage the black population in townships who were less inclined to play rugby but finally are making good inroads. This is not seen in the national team at the moment but more and more black players are playing in the currie cup and tiers below. Again this is another major sector that needs to be increased. Any rugby expansion is good news in my book as we've been and still are a closed shop for too long.

None of this will happen overnight but in the long road will help Super Rugby in years to come. Next year the Argentina teams will challenge quite well, one kiwi team will win but watch out for the Stomers who I thing will get to the final. They have a really good fixture list, not playing in NZ, and have Eddie Jones coming in as coach. SA teams along with Japan will be the weakest, hopefully the Melbourne Rebels can build on last years success. We really need Australian rugby to do better for itself.

croket

Krasny Yar won the russian championship last week after their win over Enisei-STM 18-13 (on aggregate 36-34)

Krasny Yar : 15-Ryabov 14-Galinovsky 13-Artemyev 12-Apikotoa 11-Otrokov 10-Paea 9-Yagudin
1-Fukofuka 2-V Tsnobiladze 3-Sakalia 4-V Arhip 5-Khudyakov 6-Garbuzov 7-Prepelita 8-Gresev
replacements : G Tsnobiladze, Rudenko, Gotovtsev, Kondakov
notable absence : Mataele (injured)

Enisei-STM : 15-Kushnarev 14-Baranovs 13-Gerasimov 12-Simonov 11-Kurashov 10-Gaisin 9-Shcherban
1-Novoselov 2-Selsky 3-Zykov 4-Sautile 5-Krasilnikov 6-Temnov 7-Butenko 8-Orlov
bench : Polivalov, Gasanov, Pronenko, Serkov, Krotov, Kuzmenko Novikov, Simplikevich
notable absences : Kacharava (RWC), Rudoy (injured)

Krasny Yar : 2 tries Apikotoa, Otrokov. 1 conversion Ryabov. 1 penalty Ryabov. 1 drop-goal Apikitoa
Enisei-STM : 1 try Simonov. 1 conversion Kushnarev. 2 penalties Kushnarev



So, the russian league is now ended. Next game for Enisei-STM will be against Connacht, in the Challenge Cup. Rumours says Enisei may sign some foreign players to strenght the team.

LeinsterDub

croket wrote: »

So, the russian league is now ended. Next game for Enisei-STM will be against Connacht, in the Challenge Cup. Rumours says Enisei may sign some foreign players to strenght the team.

Attendance?

croket

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Attendance?

No idea

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Looks like the 8 sides for the third tier European competition will be:

Fiamme Oro, Rovigo, Mogliano, Valladolid, Direito, Heidelberg, Timisoara and a Belgian side

Shame no Georgian or Russian sides will be competing. 3 Italian, 1 Spanish, German, Belgian, Romanian and a Portugese sides.

Yes a shame! The russian champions (Krasny Yar) really wanted play this competition! The georgians haven't the money for...

Here is Timisoara's current squad to play the third tier competition

croket

This is how World Rugby thinks developing rugby around the world :


https://twitter.com/T2Rugby/status/650662859236593664

aimee1

croket wrote: »

This is how World Rugby thinks developing rugby around the world :


https://twitter.com/T2Rugby/status/650662859236593664

if thats correct its a disgrace

sydneybound

Fiji coach John McKee and assistant coach Frans Ludeke are expected to move to Japan as the head coach/assistant coach of the Sunwolves and Cherryblossoms.

He's done a decent job with Fiji so a fair appointment really, their scrum has come on heaps compared to Fiji times of the past. You can't always get people of the calibre of Eddie Jones all the time.

Also it's rumored that Panasonic are heavily backing the Sunwolves.

LeinsterDub

Source for tier 2 http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/72629996/Unfair-funding-model-prompts-Rugby-World-Cup-strike-talk-from-Island-nations

Ceadog

Very good bit of business there for the Sunwolves. McKee is a very sharp coach and hopefully he'll do as much for Japanese rugby as he has for Fiji.

croket

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Looks like the 8 sides for the third tier European competition will be:

Fiamme Oro, Rovigo, Mogliano, Valladolid, Direito, Heidelberg, Timisoara and a Belgian side

Shame no Georgian or Russian sides will be competing. 3 Italian, 1 Spanish, German, Belgian, Romanian and a Portugese sides.

Finally confirmed on Valladolid's website
8 teams :
Fiamme Oro Roma (Italy)
Rovigo (Italy)
Mogliano (Italy)
Timisoara Saracens (Romania)
Valladolid RAC (Spain)
GD Direito (Portugal)
Heidelberg RK (Germany)
Royal Kituro (Belgium)

Im a bit gutted for the russians and the georgians BTW


The format is surprising. No pools but each team will play 4 games (2 home - 2 away)

Here is the schedule :

Sábado 14 de Noviembre

Rovigo (ITA) vs Direito (POR)
Kituro (BEL) vs Roma (ITA)

Sábado 21 de Noviembre

VRAC vs Timisoara (RUM)

Kituro (BEL) vs Rovigo (ITA)
Direito (POR) vs Heidelberger (ALE)
Roma (ITA) vs Mogliano (ITA)

Sábado 12 de Diciembre

Roma (ITA) vs Direito (POR)
Timisoara (RUM) vs Rovigo (ITA)
Mogliano (ITA) vs Heidelberger (ALE)
VRAC (ESP) vs Kituro (BEL)


Sábado 19 de diciembre

Heidelberger (ALE) vs Kituro (BEL)
Timisoara (RUM) vs Roma (ITA)
Mogliano (ITA) vs VRAC (ESP)


Sábado 9 de enero

Direito (POR) vs VRAC (ESP)


Sábado 16 de enero

Heidelberger (ALE) vs Timisoara (RUM)
Rovigo (ITA) vs Mogliano (ITA)

http://www.valladolidrac.com/contenido.php?art_id=6809

Muligatawney

It's been a mixed World Cup for Tier 2 nations. Japan obviously doing great but the Pacific Islands not showing up. It got me thinking though of how good a XV made up from Tier 2 nations would be

1. Tonga'uiha (Tonga)
2. Horie (Japan)
3. Ziratkashvili (Georgia)
4. Nakarawa (Fiji)
5. Manoa (USA)
6. Leitch (Japan)
7. Burger (Namibia)
8. Gorgodze (Georgia)
9. Fotuali'i (Samoa)
10. Pisi (Samoa)
11. Nadolo (Fiji)
12. Palamo (USA)
13. Goneva (Fiji)
14. van der Merwe (Canada)
15. Nanai-Williams (Samoa)

If you can pretend that they would all gel that would be a really fun team. Could be a good addition to a Lions tour!

croket

Muligatawney wrote: »

It's been a mixed World Cup for Tier 2 nations. Japan obviously doing great but the Pacific Islands not showing up. It got me thinking though of how good a XV made up from Tier 2 nations would be

1. Tonga'uiha (Tonga)
2. Horie (Japan)
3. Ziratkashvili (Georgia)
4. Nakarawa (Fiji)
5. Manoa (USA)
6. Leitch (Japan)
7. Burger (Namibia)
8. Gorgodze (Georgia)
9. Fotuali'i (Samoa)
10. Pisi (Samoa)
11. Nadolo (Fiji)
12. Palamo (USA)
13. Goneva (Fiji)
14. van der Merwe (Canada)
15. Nanai-Williams (Samoa)

If you can pretend that they would all gel that would be a really fun team. Could be a good addition to a Lions tour!

mine :

1. Nariashvili (Georgia)
2. Horie (Japan)
3. Zirakashvili (Georgia)
4. Nakarawa (Fiji)
5. Manoa (USA)
6. Leitch (Japan)
7. Burger (Namibia)
8. Gorgodze (Georgia)
9. Tanaka (Japan)
10. Pisi (Samoa)
11. Nadolo (Fiji)
12. Botia (Fiji)
13. Goneva (Fiji)
14. van der Merwe (Canada)
15. Nanai-Williams (Samoa)

sydneybound

Rugby in Germany has seen a massive lift during this World Cup. Viewing figures have risen significantly so much so they are running rugby for dummies ads.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/72923219/germany-making-rapid-rise-up-the-sevens-ranks-with-olympic-goals-in-mind

Certainly helps when you've a billionaire backing your academy and national development. DHL seem to be behind German rugby too from what I can gather.

By all account during the recent Germany V Georgia football match the commentators spoke about rugby. While in the next year the German rugby body with the help of government aid are building 12 new rugby stadiums.

World Rugby should have a leg of the sevens World Series in Germany from 2016 onwards.

sydneybound

Uruguay 2nd 15 to play in the upcoming Argentina National Championship. Important step up for these players.

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/10/21/uruguay-prepare-for-argentine-provincial-championship/

Argentina are one of the good guys when it comes to rugby development.

croket

Challenge Cup qualifying competition now official :

http://www.epcrugby.com/news/31194.php#.VijSV9LhC9J

The aim of the Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition is to widen the footprint of club rugby across Europe and to give both emerging and established clubs in different territories the opportunity to secure two valuable places in the 2016/17 Challenge Cup.

This season's competition features clubs who have qualified from the domestic leagues of Rugby Europe member unions, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Belgium, as well three representatives from the Italian Eccellenza.

The eight participating clubs will compete in two pools with each club in Pool A playing once against each club in Pool B.

The two pool winners will then go through to a finals stage of the Qualifying Competition where they will play off against Rugby Calvisano or a nominated representative of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), and against Enisei-STM or a nominated representative of the Russian Union, on a home and away basis.

At the conclusion of the play-offs, two clubs will qualify for the 2016/17 Challenge Cup.

The Qualifying Competition is organised by Rugby Europe in conjunction with EPCR and the FIR.


Pool A
Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo (Italy)
Valladolid Rugby (Spain)
Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma (Italy)
Heidelberger Ruderklub (Germany)

Pool B
Timisoara Saracens (Romania)
Mogliano Rugby (Italy)
GD Direito (Portugal)
Royal Kituro (Belgium)


Pool fixtures

Saturday 14 November
Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo v GD Direito, Stadio Mario Battaglini (15.00)
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Royal Kituro v Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma, Plaine Wahis, Brussels (15.00)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

Saturday 21 November
Valladolid Rugby v Timisoara Saracens, Campos de Pepe Rojo, Valladolid (16.00)
Referee: Elia Rizzo (Italy)

GD Direito v Heidelberger Ruderklub, Campo de Monsanto, Lisbon (15.00)
Referee: Inigo Atorrasagasti (Spain)

Royal Kituro v Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo, Plaine Wahis (15.00)
Referee: Graham Wells (Scotland)

Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma v Mogliano Rugby, Caserma Stefano Gelsomini (15.00)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Saturday 12 December
Timisoara Saracens v Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo, Gheorghe Rascanu Stadium, Timisoara (13.30)

Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma v GD Direito, Caserma Stefano Gelsomini (15.00)

Mogliano Rugby v Heidelberger Ruderkclub, Stadio Quaggia (15.00)

Valladolid Rugby v Royal Kituro, Campos de Pepe Rojo (16.00)

Saturday 19 December
Timisoara Saracens v Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma, Gheorghe Rascanu Stadium (13.30)

Heidelberger Ruderklub v Royal Kituro, Heidelberger RK, Heidleberg (14.00)

Mogliano Rugby v Valladolid Rugby, Stadio Quaggia (15.00)

Saturday 9 January 2016
GD Direito v Valladolid Rugby, Campo de Monsanto (15.00)

Saturday 16 January 2016
Heidelberger Ruderklub v Timisoara Saracens, Heidelberger RK (14.00)

Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo v Mogliano Rugby, Stadio Mario Battaglini (15.00)

duckysauce

Samoa Rugby Union to lodge complaint over World Cup treatment

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-23/samoa-rugby-union-to-lodge-complaint-over-world/6878842

croket

Lovely try from Timisoara Saracens in the Romania Cup :
http://www.tubechop.com/watch/7062725

croket

Enisei-STM squad for Challenge Cup announced.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enisey-STM#Effectif_2015-2016

Enisei signed NZ fullback Robbie Malneek :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUvV2BhfJeU

They also signed 2 south african props, George Marich from Free State Cheetahs (also played for Narbonne and Castres) and Lawrence Cleminson (capped by Zimbabwe)
centre/winger Mikhail Babaev (57 caps) and flanker Mikhail Sidorov (5 caps) also joined the team.

The squad include Kazakhstan's number8 Anton Rudoy, who scored 24 international tries in 28 caps, and centre Davit Kacharava (87 caps), who started all 2015 RWC games with Georgia (gif below)

sydneybound

sydneybound wrote: »

Uruguay 2nd 15 to play in the upcoming Argentina National Championship. Important step up for these players.

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/10/21/uruguay-prepare-for-argentine-provincial-championship/

Argentina are one of the good guys when it comes to rugby development.

UruguayXV mark their debut in Argentina's provincial championship with a big win, defeating Lagos del Sur 35-12.

Extremely encouraging start for them.

sydneybound

Big news on the way about on the way about a Pro Rugby in the US.

By all account US rugby and their coporate arm have been working away quietly and got investors along with other companies onboard. Could start as early as Spring 2016 but Spring 2017 would probably be better giving the, more time to get everything sorted. Should be interesting.

https://www.facebook.com/prorugby

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

sydneybound wrote: »

Big news on the way about on the way about a Pro Rugby in the US.

By all account US rugby and their coporate arm have been working away quietly and got investors along with other companies onboard. Could start as early as Spring 2016 but Spring 2017 would probably be better giving the, more time to get everything sorted. Should be interesting.

https://www.facebook.com/prorugby

Interesting.

I remember reading something about the growth of rugby in the US and it pretty much implied that financial backing was no issue for them. It was all about getting the interest.

Interesting to see if it's done like other US Sports where it's all franchises and they can be picked up and moved at the drop of a hat.

LeinsterDub

sydneybound wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/prorugby

What we don't need is to have two pro leagues

thebaz

sydneybound wrote: »

Big news on the way about on the way about a Pro Rugby in the US.

By all account US rugby and their coporate arm have been working away quietly and got investors along with other companies onboard. Could start as early as Spring 2016 but Spring 2017 would probably be better giving the, more time to get everything sorted. Should be interesting.

https://www.facebook.com/prorugby

really a Franchise in the Super XV would be much more viable - similar to Japan and Argentina - I played over there and they have the physical bulk to be a serious force , surprised its taken them so long to develop - A franchise in San Fran , incorporating the Blues, with all the wealth floating around the Bay Are , plus its on the Pacific , would be the way to go , I'd invest if I had money

sydneybound

LeinsterDub wrote: »

What we don't need is to have two pro leagues

Which other pro league are you referring to? If it's the American football combine one that'll never get off the ground. Those fellas tried to launch a game crusaders V a type of USA all stars but it had to be called off. US Rugby have nothing to do with them.

US Rugby are being the Pro Rugby league and have TV partners and marketing companies onboard.

The Lost Sheep

thebaz wrote: »

really a Franchise in the Super XV would be much more viable - similar to Japan and Argentina - I played over there and they have the physical bulk to be a serious force, surprised its taken them so long to develop - A franchise in San Fran, incorporating the Blues, with all the wealth floating around the Bay Are, plus its on the Pacific, would be the way to go, I'd invest if I had money

It is really? DO we really need to have basically any other side not in Europe to progress playing in super rugby??? I don't think that's good for the game. Build up a league in the US and the country has enough of a market to last on its own. Keep it stand alone

LeinsterDub

sydneybound wrote: »

Which other pro league are you referring to? If it's the American football combine one that'll never get off the ground. Those fellas tried to launch a game crusaders V a type of USA all stars but it had to be called off. US Rugby have nothing to do with them.

US Rugby are being the Pro Rugby league and have TV partners and marketing companies onboard.

Yeah those guys
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rugby_Football_League

sydneybound

Good result for Poland the other night beating Moldova 18-14.

Just under 5,000 turned up for the game. There was epic defending at the end and the polish players and fans went wild when they held out for the win.

Granted you have to watch a 30 second advert but this 6 minute clip of the game is worth watching, decent try scored by Poland too.

http://www.polsatsport.pl/Film/Polska---Moldawia-1814-Skrot-Meczu-Rugby_6340291/index.html

This victory will certainly help the sport of rugby in Poland.

sydneybound

If this article is correct it could be very good news for tier 2 nations, the prospect of playing two tier 1 nations every year.

http://www.fbc.com.fj/sports/35408/fiji-to-face-england-in-2016-northern-tour

Looks like Fiji got a great 2016 autumn in England, France and Romania.

Will be interesting to see who other teams get.

croket

Challenge Cup
Enisei-STM (RUS) 10-7 Brive (FRA) highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKEkWp4cYzA

Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition
Timisoara (ROM) 45-13 Rovigo (ITA) highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrg2hYbH4TE

The Lost Sheep

Gabriel Fulcher new Head Coach for the BC Bears, team in Canadas premier club competition.

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/01/08/fulcher-named-bc-bears-head-coach/

The Lost Sheep

Romanian squad for ENC/6 Nations 'B' named...

http://frr.ro/2016/01/12/lotul-romaniei-pentru-meciul-cu-portugalia-din-rugby-europe-championship-2016/

croket

Challenge Cup Qualifying play off

First leg :

Timisoara Saracens (Romania) 36-23 Calvisano (Italy).
Timisoara : 4 tries Shennan, Kinikinilau, Tangimana, Umaga. 2 conversions + 4 penalties Calafeteanu
Calvisano : 3 tries De Santis, Susio (x2). 1 conversions + 2 penalties Vlaicu
The score was 33-6 at the 60'

Rugby Rovigo (Italy) 0-31 Enisei-STM (Russia)
Enisei : 5 tries Baranovs, Orlov, Gaisin (x2), Temnov. 3 conversions Kushnarev

Second leg on 23 April

errlloyd

There was some chat in the other thread about Germany's great result at the weekend. I'm due to move there soon, so I had randomly done some research a little while ago.

A few years ago, the guy who runs Capri Sun put some money in to establish an academy for the national team in Heidleberg. There are two professional (although probably semi pro) teams in Germany, one in Heidleberg and one in Hannover. These cities are the two where Rugby is sort of thing in Germany.

Their win over Romania is a huge result, particularly from 18 points down with half an hour to play. They also beat Uruguay in November. The reason it is important is because these seasons of ENC rugby count as their qualifying competition. Matches against Georgia won't count because they are already qualified. So Romania really would be second favourites. If Germany can get results against Spain, Russia and Belgium home and away over the next two years they'll be in decent shape. But that is unlikely.

Side note. Germany got absolutely screwed by the ENC BP rules. They scored 5 tries and don't get a TBP because I believe it uses the French system. **** buzz.

The Lost Sheep

errlloyd wrote: »

There was some chat in the other thread about Germany's great result at the weekend. I'm due to move there soon, so I had randomly done some research a little while ago.

A few years ago, the guy who runs Capri Sun put some money in to establish an academy for the national team in Heidleberg. There are two professional (although probably semi pro) teams in Germany, one in Heidleberg and one in Hannover. These cities are the two where Rugby is sort of thing in Germany.

Their win over Romania is a huge result, particularly from 18 points down with half an hour to play. They also beat Uruguay in November. The reason it is important is because these seasons of ENC rugby count as their qualifying competition. Matches against Georgia won't count because they are already qualified. So Romania really would be second favourites. If Germany can get results against Spain, Russia and Belgium home and away over the next two years they'll be in decent shape. But that is unlikely.

Side note. Germany got absolutely screwed by the ENC BP rules. They scored 5 tries and don't get a TBP because I believe it uses the French system. **** buzz.

A german national side, more like their A team not full international side, played the Connacht Eagles in Galway about this time two years ago. And Eagles won by 50 points.
Germany got screwed by the BP rules.....:rolleyes:. They didn't.

errlloyd

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Germany got screwed by the BP rules.....:rolleyes:. They didn't.

Well not quite, but I did find it funny that the ENC had a TBP, and that it was different from the 6N Tbp.

To be fair, they also got mullered by Russia, Romania and Georgia last year. (Average of 52 points conceded per game). It'd be nice if they kick on though.

sydthebeat

errlloyd wrote: »

Well not quite, but I did find it funny that the ENC had a TBP, and that it was different from the 6N Tbp.

To be fair, they also got mullered by Russia, Romania and Georgia last year. (Average of 52 points conceded per game). It'd be nice if they kick on though.

personally i absolutely prefer the "3 tries better" than your opponent bonus system

pickarooney

I see Marcell Coetzee has been moonlighting with the Germans during his recovery.

The Lost Sheep

errlloyd wrote: »

Well not quite, but I did find it funny that the ENC had a TBP, and that it was different from the 6N Tbp.

To be fair, they also got mullered by Russia, Romania and Georgia last year. (Average of 52 points conceded per game). It'd be nice if they kick on though.

Why is it funny ENC had BP? 6Ns was only comp to not use them and ENC is ran by rugby Europe/FIRA which has heavy French influence so them using the French system of BPs makes sense,

errlloyd

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Why is it funny ENC had BP? 6Ns was only comp to not use them and ENC is ran by rugby Europe/FIRA which has heavy French influence so them using the French system of BPs makes sense,

I didn't know Fira was so heavily influenced by the French tbh. Until recently the Top14 was the only league that had the "alternative" BP system. Super Rugby (till last season) Champions Cup, Pro12, World Cup, etc etc all had the standard 4 try and lose by 7 rule.