2023 Rugby Europe Championship

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2023 Rugby Europe Championship
Date4 February – 19 March 2023
Countries
Tournament statistics
Champions Georgia (15th title)
Antim Cup Georgia (16th title)
Matches played20
Attendance60,619 (3,031 per match)
Tries scored149 (7.45 per match)
Top point scorer(s)Netherlands David Weersma (52 points)
Top try scorer(s)Georgia (country) Aka Tabutsadze (8 tries)
Player of the tournamentPortugal Nuno Sousa Guedes
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The 2023 Rugby Europe Championship was the seventh Rugby Europe Championship, the annual rugby union for the top European national teams outside the Six Nations Championship, and the 53rd edition of the competition (including all its previous incarnations as the FIRA Tournament, Rugby Union European Cup, FIRA Nations Cup, FIRA Trophy and European Nations Cup).

Eight teams took part in the 2023 Championship, up from six in previous tournaments, due to a reorganisation of the various flights of European international competition. The Championship was contested by Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain.

Russia, who competed in the 2022 Championship were relegated as a result of suspension due to their country's 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The remaining five teams (Georgia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Spain) were joined by the top three teams from the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Trophy, which Belgium won.

Georgia entered the tournament as defending champions. They topped the table in the 2022 tournament, claiming their 14th title. The serpentine system was applied to allocate each team to their respective groups.[1] Each team played a total of five games (three round robin group matches to determine the team's path and two play-off matches).[1] Seeding (for a group) and relegation are calculated over a two-year cycle, as is the promotion from the Trophy competition.[1]

Participants[edit]

Nation Stadium Head coach Captain
Home stadium Capacity Location
 Belgium Stade Nelson Mandela 2,100 Brussels England Mike Ford Jens Torfs
 Georgia Avchala Stadium 3,500 Tbilisi Georgia (country) Levan Maisashvili Merab Sharikadze
 Germany Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark 5,000 Heidelberg Germany Mark Kuhlmann Jörn Schröder
 Netherlands NRCA Stadium 7,000 Amsterdam Wales Lyn Jones Hugo Langelaan
 Poland Narodowy Stadion Rugby 2,425 Gdynia Wales Christian Hitt Piotr Zeszutek
 Portugal Estádio Nacional
Estádio do Restelo 		37,593
19,856 		Lisbon France Patrice Lagisquet Tomás Appleton
 Romania Stadionul Arcul de Triumf 8,207 Bucharest Romania Eugen Apjok Mihai Macovei
 Spain Estadio El Malecón
Estadio Nacional Complutense
Estadio Nuevo Vivero 		6,007
12,400
14,898 		Torrelavega
Madrid
Badajoz 		Spain Santiago Santos Jon Zabala

Tables and Fixtures[edit]

Group A[edit]

Advances to the Grand Finals Semi-Finals
Advances to the Ranking Finals Semi-Finals
Pos. Team Games Points Tries TBP LBP Table
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Diff For Against Diff
1  Georgia 3 3 0 0 156 23 +133 24 3 +21 3 0 15
2  Spain 3 2 0 1 63 75 -12 8 10 -2 1 0 9
3  Netherlands 3 1 0 2 61 97 -36 6 12 -6 0 0 4
4  Germany 3 0 0 3 55 140 -85 6 19 -13 0 1 1
Source - [2]
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win – 4 points | Draw – 2 points | At least 3 more tries than opponent – 1 point | Loss within 7 points – 1 point

Week 1[edit]

5 February 2023
13:00 GET (UTC+4)
(1 TBP) Georgia 75–12 Germany
Try: Lashkhi 4' c
Tabutsadze (3) 9' c, 23' c, 32' c
Mikautadze 36' c
Jalaghonia 40' c
Tsutskiridze (3) 53' c, 71' m, 80' c
Alania 58' c
Matkava 67' c
Con: Matkava (10/11) 5', 10', 24', 33', 37', 40+1', 54', 59', 68', 80'		ReportTry: Lammers 48' m
Stella 63' c
Con: Stella (1/2) 64'
Achvala Stadium, Tbilisi
Attendance: 2,960
Referee: Cristian Şerban (Romania)
5 February 2023
12:45 CET (UTC+1)
Spain 28–20 Netherlands
Try: Ferrer 4' c
Ramiro 40' c
Foulds 44' m
Con: Vinuesa (2/3) 23', 41'
Pen: Vinuesa (3/3) 13', 32', 61'		ReportTry: Van Dijk 50' c
Raymond 76' c
Con: Weersma (2/2) 51', 77'
Pen: Fortuin (1/1) 13'
Weersma (1/1) 27'
Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

Week 2[edit]

11 February 2023
13:15 CET (UTC+1)
Netherlands 8–40 Georgia (1 TBP)
Try: Bloemen 62' m
Pen: Weersma (1/1) 14'		ReportTry: Niniashvili 10' c
Chachanidze 19' m
Chkoidze (2) 44' c, 52' c
Gachechiladze (2) 67' c, 75' c
Con: Abzhandadze (3/4) 11', 44', 53'
Matkava (2/2) 68', 76
NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
12 February 2023
14:30 CET (UTC+1)
Germany 14–32 Spain (1 TBP)
Try: Paine 24' m
Con: Stella (0/1)
Pen: Stella (3/3) 20', 40', 65'		ReportTry: Bell 8' c, 12' c
del Hoyo 22' m
Polkowska 67' m
Iriberri 80' m
Con: Guemes (2/5) 8', 12'
Pen: Guemes (1/1) 59'
Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark, Heidelberg
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)

Week 3[edit]

18 February 2023
13:15 CET (UTC+1)
(1 LBP) Germany 29–33 Netherlands
Try: Lammers 18' m
Paine 34' c
Wolf 52' m
Con: Stella (1/3) 35'
Pen: Stella (4/4) 24', 60', 68', 70'		ReportTry: Weersma 11' c
van Dijk 27' c
Penalty try 48'
Con: Weersma (2/2) 12', 28'
Pen: Weersma (4/4) 3', 7', 32', 40'
Fortuin (0/1)
Stadion Pichterich, Neckarsulm
Attendance: 1,350
Referee: Alexandru Ionescu (Romania)
18 February 2023
19:00 CET (UTC+1)
Spain 3–41 Georgia (1 TBP)
Pen: Vinuesa (1/1) 7'ReportTry: Tabutsadze (2) 4' m, 8' m
Gigashvili 25' m
Abzhandadze 38' c
Sharikadze 48' c
Todua 65' m
Niniashvili 68' c
Con: Abzhandadze (2/5) 39', 49'
Matkava (1/2) 69'
Estadio El Malecón, Torrelavega
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Group B[edit]

Advances to the Grand Finals Semi-Finals
Advances to the Ranking Finals Semi-Finals
Pos. Team Games Points Tries TBP LBP Table
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Diff For Against Diff
1  Portugal 3 3 0 0 157 40 +117 24 4 +20 3 0 15
2  Romania 3 2 0 1 143 70 +73 21 9 +12 2 0 10
3  Poland 3 1 0 2 51 147 -96 5 24 -19 0 0 4
4  Belgium 3 0 0 3 37 131 -94 5 18 -13 0 1 1
Source - [2]
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win – 4 points | Draw – 2 points | At least 3 more tries than opponent – 1 point | Loss within 7 points – 1 point

Week 1[edit]

4 February 2023
14:00 EET (UTC+2)
(1 TBP) Romania 67–27 Poland
Try: Simionescu 1' m
Chirică (2) 5' c, 17' c
Butnariu 14' m
Gajion 27' c
Gontineac (2) 32' c, 53' c
Vaovasa 42' c
Macovei 45' m
Irimescu 63' m
Penalty try 71' m
Con: Septar (1/2) 54'
Popoaia (5/7) 6', 18', 28', 33', 44'
Melinte (0/2)		ReportTry: Hudson-Kowalewicz 20' c
Fidler 52' c
Pozniak 78' c
Con: Banaszek (2/2) 21', 53'
Piotrowicz (1/1) 79'
Pen: Banaszek (2/2) 39', 61'
Arcul de Triumph, Bucharest
Attendance: 2,136
Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Georgia)
4 February 2023
19:00 WET (UTC+0)
(1 TBP) Portugal 54–17 Belgium
Try: V. Pinto 5' c
Marta 10' c
Martins 15' c
Lima 20' m
Belo 45' c
Sousa Guedes 48' c
Lucas 60' c
Campergue 62' c
Con: Sousa Guedes (7/8) 6', 11', 21', 46', 49', 61', 63'		ReportTry: Cornez 37' c
Pazgrat 69' c
Con: Remue (2/2) 38', 70'
Pen: Remue (1/1) 31'
Estádio Nacional, Lisbon
Attendance: 3,723
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Week 2[edit]

11 February 2023
11:45 CET (UTC+1)
Poland 3–65 Portugal (1 TBP)
Pen: Piotrowicz (1/1) 10'ReportTry: Marques 2' c
Marta (4) 13' m, 41' m, 46' c, 80' c
Pinto (3) 19' c, 67' m, 71' m
Portela 29' m
Tadjer 39' m
Lima 48' c
Con: Marques (4/4) 2', 19', 47', 48'
Portela (1/1) 80'
Narodowy Stadion Rugby, Gdynia
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Andrew Cole (Ireland)
11 February 2023
18:30 CET (UTC+1)
Belgium 5–56 Romania (1 TBP)
Try: Godsmark 37' mReportTry: Penalty try 7'
Gontineac (3) 13' c, 43' c, 47' c
Savin 33' c
Cojocaru 55' c
Chirică 61' c
Tomane 80' c
Con: Melinte (7/7) 15', 34', 44', 47', 56', 63', 80'
Stade Nelson Mandela, Brussels
Attendance: 2,100
Referee: Mike English (Wales)

Week 3[edit]

18 February 2023
21:15 CET (UTC+1)
Poland 21–15 Belgium (1 LBP)
Try: Szwagrzak 9' m
Zeszutek 49' c
Con: Piotrowicz (1/2) 50'
Pen: Piotrowicz (3/3) 4', 58', 79'		ReportTry: Cornez 74' m
Andre 80' c
Con: Remue (1/2) 80'
Pen: Williams (1/1) 12'
Narodowy Stadion, Gdynia
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Inigo Atorrasagasti (Spain)
19 February 2023
15:00 WET (UTC+0)
(1 TBP) Portugal 38–20 Romania
Try: Bettencourt (2) 5' c, 12' c
Madeira 51' c
Lucas 59' c
Diniz 79' c
Con: Sousa Guedes (5/5) 6', 13', 52', 59', 80'
Pen: Sousa Guedes (1/1) 15'		ReportTry: Gontineac 1' c
Chirică 64' c
Con: Popoaia (1/1) 2'
Melinte (1/1) 64'
Pen: Popoaia (2/2) 9', 45'
Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon
Attendance: 4,250
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Ranking finals[edit]

 
Semi-finalsFifth-place Final
 
      
 
4 March – NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
 
 
 Netherlands31
 
19 March – NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
 
 Belgium19
 
 Netherlands50
 
5 March – Narodowy Stadion, Gdynia
 
 Germany28
 
 Poland18
 
 
 Germany23
 
Seventh-place Final
 
 
19 March – NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
 
 
 Belgium18
 
 
 Poland17

Semi-finals[edit]

4 March 2023
12:15 CET (UTC+1)
Netherlands 31–19 Belgium
Try: Bennie-Coulson (3) 7' c, 43' c, 73' c
Raymond 39' c
Con: Weersma (4/4) 8', 40', 44', 74'
Pen: Weersma (1/1) 80'		ReportTry: Remue 35' c
Mortier 52' m
Baudry 59' c
Con: Remue (2/3) 36', 60'
NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
Attendance: 1,250
Referee: Michael Todd (Scotland)
5 March 2023
20:00 CET (UTC+1)
Poland 18–23 Germany
Try: Halaifuana 14' c
Wójtowicz 76' m
Con: Piotrowicz (1/2) 16'
Pen: Piotrowicz (2/2) 43', 49'		ReportTry: Wolf 25' c
Rodwell 66' c
Con: Stella (2/2) 26', 67'
Pen: Stella (3/6) 3', 57', 62'
Narodowy Stadion, Gdynia
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Gert Visser (Netherlands)

Seventh-place final[edit]

19 March 2023
12:30 CET (UTC+1)
Belgium 18–17 Poland
Try: Cornez 1' m
Remue 63' c
Con: Remue (1/2) 64'
Pen: Remue (2/2) 10', 28'		ReportTry: Zeszutek 5' c
Taufui Halaifuana 78' c
Con: Piotrowicz (2/2) 6', 79'
Pen: Piotrowicz (0/2)
Szczepański (1/1) 25'
NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Cristian Şerban (Romania)

Fifth-place final[edit]

19 March 2023
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Netherlands 50–28 Germany
Try: van der Avoird 1' c
du Plessis 5' c
Langelaan 14' c
Bennie-Coulson (2) 35' c, 48' m
Raymond 56' c
Darlington (2) 69' m, 79' m
Con: Weersma (5/7) 1', 6', 15', 36', 57'
Darlington (0/1)
Pen: Weersma (0/1)		ReportTry: Rinklin 41' c
L. Wolf 58' c
Penalty try 63'
Lammers 72' c
Con: Stella (3/3) 42', 59', 72'
NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
Attendance: 2,750
Referee: Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)

Grand finals[edit]

 
Semi-finalsCup Final
 
      
 
5 March – Achvala Stadium, Tbilisi
 
 
 Georgia31
 
19 March – Estadio Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz
 
 Romania7
 
 Georgia38
 
4 March – Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon
 
 Portugal11
 
 Portugal27
 
 
 Spain10
 
Bronze Final
 
 
19 March – Estadio Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz
 
 
 Romania31
 
 
 Spain25

Semi-finals[edit]

4 March 2023
17:00 WET (UTC+0)
Portugal 27–10 Spain
Try: Marta 28' c
Diniz 68' c
Marques 71' c
Con: Marques (3/3) 29', 69', 72'
Pen: Marques (2/3) 52', 55'		ReportTry: Peters 18' c
Con: Vinuesa (1/1) 19'
Pen: Vinuesa (1/2) 2'
Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Thomas Charabas (France)
5 March 2023
16:00 GET (UTC+4)
Georgia 31–7 Romania
Try: Sharikadze 10' c
Todua 34' c
Penalty try 54'
Tabutsadze 80' c
Con: Abzhandadze (2/2) 11', 35'
Matkava (1/1) 80'
Pen: Abzhandadze (1/1) 2'		ReportTry: Capatina 59' c
Con: Melinte (1/1) 60'
Achvala Stadium, Tbilisi
Attendance: 2,600
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Bronze Final[edit]

19 March 2023
17:15 CET (UTC+1)
Romania 31–25 Spain
Try: Septar 40' m
Chirica 42' c
Pop 49' m
Rupanu 52' m
Con: Popoaia (1/4) 43'
Pen: Popoaia (1/1) 36'
Popa (2/2) 74', 80'		ReportTry: Dominguez Gatell 8' c
Ferrer (2) 54' c, 69' m
Con: Vinuesa Garcia (2/2) 9', 55'
Guemes (0/1)
Pen: Vinuesa Garcia (2/2) 20', 47'
Estadio Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz
Attendance: 5,300
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)

Cup Final[edit]

19 March 2023
20:00 CET (UTC+1)
Georgia 38–11 Portugal
Try: Tabutsadze 14', 25' c
Mamukashvili 43' c
Papidze 62' c
Tapladze 68' c
Chkoidze 76' c
Con: Abzhandadze (2/4) 15', 63'
Matkava (2/2) 69', 77'		ReportTry: Appleton 7' c
Pen: Bento 52', 55'
Estadio Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)

Final standings[edit]

Pos. Team Points
1  Georgia 10
2  Portugal 8
3  Romania 6
4  Spain 5
5  Netherlands 4
6  Germany 3
7  Belgium 2
8  Poland 1

Team of the Tournament[edit]

On 6 April 2023 Rugby Europe published its Team of the Tournament[3]
Nuno Sousa Guedes was voted the player of the tournament by the fans.[4]

International broadcasters[edit]

Country Broadcaster[5] Summary
 Belgium — Rugby Europe (registration required)
 Georgia Rugby TV
Imedi TV 		Georgia games shown live via Rugby TV and Imedi TV. Also Georgia games are streamed and free on Rugby TV Facebook page
 Germany — Rugby Europe (registration required)
 Netherlands Ziggo Selected games live on Ziggo Sport
 Poland TVP Sport Poland's home games shown live
 Portugal Sport TV Portugal games shown live
 Romania — Rugby Europe (registration required)
 Spain Teledeporte Spain games shown live via Teledeporte
 France RugbyZone Archived 2022-02-01 at the Wayback Machine All games available through streaming via RugbyZone Archived 2022-02-01 at the Wayback Machine
North America FloRugby All games available through streaming via FloSports
Rest of the World Rugby Europe All games available through streaming via Rugby Europe (registration required). Some games are streamed and free on Rugby Europe Youtube channel

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "New Format for Rugby Europe Championship". Rugby Europe. 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "2023 Rugby Europe Championship Standings".
  3. ^ "Team of the Men's Championship 2023".
  4. ^ "Vote - Player of the Championship REC 23".
  5. ^ "Rugby Europe Championship 2023 - Preview".
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