RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

17.10.2015
Ukraine 30, Poland 14 in Khmelnytskyi (REC 1B)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
BELGIUM	7	6	0	1	146	112	134	4	28
UKRAINE	7	5	0	2	155	111	44	2	22
MOLDOVA	5	3	0	2	155	83	72	4	16
POLAND	7	3	0	4	146	187	-41	2	15
NETHERLANDS	5	2	0	3	81	74	3	2	10
SWEDEN	7	0	0	7	80	296	-193	0	0

Bosnia Herzegovina 24, Turkey 21 in Zenica (REC 2D)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
BOSNIA H.	6	6	0	0	174	81	93	2	25
NORWAY	5	3	0	2	99	75	24	2	14
FINLAND	5	2	0	3	77	83	-6	2	10
TURKEY	5	1	0	4	105	130	-25	3	7
BULGARIA	5	1	0	4	79	165	-86	3	7

Test match friendly
Gibraltar 29, Malta Barbarians 14 in Valette         

BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA v TURKEY: REC 2D

17.10.2015

Venue: Zenica

Previews

’Well Čelik ('Zenica club') isn't out of shape, just 10 out of first 15 players went to France(and other countries) after winning the RRC last year

It won't be the best possible team, but it'll be the best available one. I'm more concerned with the weather The floods are hitting Bosnia and Herzegovina again, and rain isn't stopping. It's going to be difficult to play fluently, and I think it'll favour the Turks, but I have no doubt about the winner ‘

Comments thanks to ‘delpy’ at http://t2rugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=689&sid=d844c25642c9433b22c5ee429a7f5265

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Bosnia Herzegovina 34th, Turkey 36th

World Rugby Rankings do not apply as Turkey is not a full member of that body

Prediction: Bosnia H. by 11 points. Score 27-16

Bosnia squad, thanks to http://zeragbi.blogspot.co.uk

Ajanović Semir, Turčinović Senad, Stanković Zeid, Pojskić Edin, Suljić Ammar, Oruč Haris, Tufekčić Sedad, Durgut Dženan, Zadić Armin, Subašić Sabahudin, Spahić Fadil, Glavaš Selmir, Hamzić Adnan, Topčić Semir, Tuka Elvis, Bašić Adis, Fetić Mirsad, Mrkaljević Muhamed, Ahmić Nejro, Bišić Mahir, Smajlović Samed, Begić Haris & Spahić Elvin.

Turkey squad not available

Also today a friendly ‘test’ match

Malta Barbarians v Gibraltar

Venue: Valetta

The Barbarians is a home-based side whilst Gibraltar is yet to gain affiliation to Rugby Europe due to the protests of Spain.

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP: Division 2D

03.10.2015
Finland v Bosnia Herzegovina in Helsinki (REC 2D)

Image thanks to http://zeragbi.blogspot.co.uk/

Referee: Mike Hawkins (Denmark)

Preview
Home advantage says a lot at this level of international rugby. B-H never travel well so will find Finland a handful at home.

Previous Encounters
25.04.2015 Bosnia H. 29-7 in Zenica (REC 2D)
31.05.2014 Finland 29-24 in Turku (ENC 2D)
20.04.2013 Bosnia H. 19-15 in Sarajevo (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
17.05.2008 Drawn 3-3 in Helsinki (ENC 3C)
07.10.2006 Finland 14-7 in Zenica (ENC 3C)

The above are all the games played between these two teams

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Bosnia Herzegovina 34th, Finland 35th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Bosnia Herzegovina 35.43, Finland 29.89

Prediction: Bosnia Herzegovina by 1 point. Score 17-16

TEAMS

Bosnia Herzegovina Squad

Subašić Sabahudin, Oruč Haris, Alić Edib, Hamzić Adnan, Spahić Fadil, Gojković Dario, Zadić Armin, Suljić Ammar, Garanović Vedad, Topčić Semir, Keserović Danijel, Tuka Elvis, Mrkaljević Muhamed, Begić Haris, Ahmić Nejro, Turčinović Senad, Glavaš Selmir, Jovanović Damir, Petrušić Darijo, Stanković Zeid, Tufekčić Sedad, Pašanbegović Nusret i Ajanović Semir.

http://zeragbi.blogspot.co.uk/

Finland Squad not available

Bulgaria v Norway in Burgas (REC 2D)

Venue: Stadium Chernomorets

Referee: Norbert Mátrai (Hungary)

Preview
Bulgaria were simply awful and undermanned in their last away game against Norway. However at home they are usually too much for the opposition and I’d expect them to come un trumps.

Last Five Encounters
23.05.2015 Norway 43-0 in Bergan (REC 2D, 2nd leg)
10.05.2008 Norway 44-21 in Stavanger (ENC 3B)
19.05.2007 Bulgaria 25-10 in Sofia (ENC 3B)
26.10.2002 Bulgaria 21-12 in Sofia (ENC 3C)
04.05.2002 Bulgaria 11-3 in Sofia (FIRA Div. B, Pool C)

These two teams first met in 1997.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Norway 37th, Bulgaria 38th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Norway 32.78, Bulgaria 31.98

Prediction: Bulgaria by 16 points. Score 28-12

TEAMS

Norway

Image thanks to http://www.rugby.no/bulgaria-norge-3-oktober/

  

Bulgaria team not available

NORWAY v BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: REC 2D

09.05.2015

Venue: Kamberovic Polje, Zenica

Referee:Csaba Priskin (Hungary)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
BOSNIA H.	3	3	0	0	122	44	78	2	14
FINLAND	2	1	0	1	39	39	0	1	5
BULGARIA	2	1	0	1	38	78	-40	1	5
TURKEY	2	0	0	2	44	60	-16	2	2
NORWAY	1	0	0	1	10	32	-22	0	0

Preview
Bosnia Herzegovina are firmly in place at the top of the table and Norway at the bottom. I don’t see that situation changing at the end of this rugby test match.

When these two teams last met in 2014 the visitors were put to the sword. Even with the withdrawl of two players Bosnia Herzegovina is a team going places and I can’t see Norway getting anywhere near close.

Previous Encounters
19.04.2014 Bosnia Herzegovina 43-0 in Zenica (ENC 2D)
03.11.2012 Norway 11-9 in Bergen (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)

Norway Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
18.10.2014 v Finland W 20-12 in Oslo (REC 2D, Round 2)
04.10.2014 v Finland L 10-32 in Helsinki (REC 2D, Round 1)
10.05.2014 v Greece W 45-23 in Bergen (ENC 2D)
19.04.2014 v Bosnia Herzegovina L 0-43 in Zenica (ENC 2D)
19.10.2013 v Luxembourg L 7-9 in Oslo (ENC 2D)

Bosnia Herzegovina Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
25.04.2015 v Finland W 29-7 in Zeniva (REC 2D)
25.10.2014 v Turkey W 34-25 in Edrine (REC 2D)
04.10.2014 v Bulgaria W 59-12 in Zenica (REC 2D)
07.06.2014 v Austria L 12-26 in Tesanj (ENC 2C-2D Playoff)
31.05.2014 v Finland L 24-29 in Turku (ENC 2D)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Bosnia Herzegovina 34th, Norway 37th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Bosnia Herzegovina 35.05, Norway 31.82

Prediction: Bosnia Herzegovina by 38 points. Score 45-7

TEAMS

Bosnia Herzegovina

15- Sabahudin Subašić Age 29
14- Adnan Hamzić 23
13- Selmir Glavaš 24
12- Sedad Tufekčić 30
11- Fadil Spahić 21
10- Armin Vehabović 29
09- Armin Zadić 26
08- Senad Turčinović 25
07- Danijel Keserović 33
06- Haris Oruč 21
05- Alem Haračić 24
04- Edin Pojskić 16-Born 19.12.1998!
03- Nermin Selimbegović 30
02- Mirsad Fetić 35
01- Semir Ajanović 29
Replacements
16- Adis Bašić 36
17- Emir Čerim 20
18-Muhamed Mrkaljević 17-Another young player
19- Nejro Ahmić 22
20- Semir Topčić 18-And another
21- Elvis Tuka 25
22- Sandro Mrgić 23
23-Haris Begić 17-yet another!
Head Coach: Kenan Uzunović

Adapted from http://www.zeragbi.blogspot.fr/ and from email from RAGBI SAVEZ BiH

Two players are missing from original line up. Not sure which one but withdrawl due to death in the family.

Pojskić. If his DOB is correct at 16 years of age he would have to be one of the youngest test players in 2015. And he is a lock! I don’t have his measurements. We had a 67 year old Curacao player last weekend.

Norway squad not available

TEST RUGBY RESULTS: REC 2C & 2D 25

25.04.2015
Serbia 25, Denmark 22 in Odense (REC 2C)
Slovenia 17, Austria 16 in Vienna (REC 2C)
Bosnia Herzegovina 29, Finland 7 in Zenica (REC 2D)
Turkey 28, Bulgaria 26 in Antalya (REC 2D)

Briefly
In a close game in Odense Serbia continued its amazing turnaround by defeating Denmark. Serbia is now looking a likely promotion candidate next season.

Slovenia just edged out home team Austria in another very close game. This is now Austria’s second loss in a row.

In Division 2D Bosnia Herzegovina were too good for visitors Finland whilst Turkey caused an upset defeating Bulgaria by two points. This was a second leg game meaning normally it would have been played next season.

REC 2D: FINLAND v BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

25.04.2015

Venue: Stadion: Kamberović polje, Zenica

Referee: Serban Cristian (Romania)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
BOSNIA H.	2	2	0	0	93	37	56	1	9
FINLAND	1	1	0	0	32	10	22	1	5
BULGARIA	2	1	0	1	38	78	-40	1	5
TURKEY	2	0	0	2	44	60	-16	2	2
NORWAY	1	0	0	1	10	32	-22	0	0

Preview
These two teams are both undefeated with Finland having a game in hand.

Bosnia Herzegovina lost their promotion playoff against Austria last June and will spend another two seasons in Division 2D. They dominated this division last year except losing to Finland away. They have the home advantage and are always a tough opposition when they play at home.

Finland’s form is very much up and down. They struggle when playing away. I feel B&H will be too strong in that second half.

Previous Encounters
31.05.2014 Finland 29-24 in Turku (ENC 2D)
20.04.2013 Bosnia Herzegovina 19-15 in Sarajevo (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
17.05.2008 Drawn 3-3 in Helsinki (ENC 3C)
07.10.2006 Finland 14-7 in Zenica (ENC 3C)

Bosnia Herzegovina Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
25.10.2014 v Turkey W 34-25 in Edrine (REC 2D)
04.10.2014 v Bulgaria W 59-12 in Zenica (REC 2D)
07.06.2014 v Austria L 12-26 in Tesanj (ENC 2C-2D Playoff)
31.05.2014 v Finland L 24-29 in Turku (ENC 2D)
19.04.2014 v Norway W 43-0 in Zenica (ENC 2D)

Finland Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
18.10.2014 v Norway L 12-20 in Oslo (REC 2D, 2nd leg)
04.10.2014 v Norway W 32-10 in Helsinki (REC 2D, 1st leg)
31.05.2014 v Bosnia Herzegovina W 29-24 in Turku (ENC 2D)
10.05.2014 v Luxembourg L 7-27 in Luxembourg (ENC 2D)
12.10.2013 v Norway L 12-24 in Turku (ENC 2D)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Bosnia Herzegovina 34th, Finland 37th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Bosnia Herzegovina 34.54, Finland 30.29

Prediction: Bosnia Herzegovina by 18 points. Score 31-13

TEAMS

Finland Squad

Forwards
Mikael Ahola UK
Kosti Eskola WRC
Karl Fitness JRC
Fred Harrison Tampere
Janne Heinanen JRC
Aro Katainen JRC
Matti Keranen Kuopo
Mauno Konttila JRC
Aleksi Laitinen Vaasa
Kevin McCarthy HRC
Marko Sallert HRC
Sauli Tyvi Vaasa
Kalle Valimaki Linna

Backs
Avea Avea Linna
Paul Davies Kuopio
Teemu Elomaa JRC
Thomas Finell WRC
Kalle Helin Vaasa
Antti Lammi WRC
Crispin Maenpaa Belgium
Henri Repo Joensuu
Danny Taylor UK
Valtteri Valtia WRC

Head Coach: Bob Hussey
Assistant Coach: Isaac Visser
Manager: Stephen Whittaker
https://www.facebook.com/suomenrugby

Bosnia Herzegovina

1.Ajanovic Semir
2.Fetic Mirsad
3.Nermin Selimbegovic
4.Pojskic Edin
5.Dario Petrusic
6.Sedad Tufekcic
7.Haris Oruc
8.Senad Turcinovic
9.Armin Zadic
10.Sabahudin Subasic
11.Ajkunic Zijad
12.Selmir Glavas
13.Adnan Hamzic
14.Fadil Spahic
15.Samed Smajlovic

Replacements
16.Danijel Keserovic
17.Sandro Mrgic
18.Elvis Tuka
19.Nejro Ahmic
20.Semir Topcic
21.Armin Kavazovic
22.Alem Haracic
23.Dario Gojkovic

https://www.facebook.com/ragbih

TEST RUGBY THIS WEEKEND Part 1: European Rugby

25.04.2015
Switzerland v Malta in Valetta (REC 2A)
Israel v Czech Republic in Prague (REC 2A)
Latvia v Lithuania in Siaulai or Vilnius (REC 2B)
Serbia v Denmark in Odense (REC 2C)
Slovenia v Austria in Vienna (REC 2C)
Bosnia Herzegovina v Finland in Zenica (REC 2D)
Turkey v Bulgaria TBC

Briefly
A big weekend in European test rugby as the European Rugby Championship continues. For many teams this is the final competition game of the season. Competition points will carry over to next season being the final round.

Of the two games in Division 2A the Swiss v Malta game is between the No.2 and No.3 teams on the points table. Both have one loss each and sit below undefeated Czech Republic. The challenge to Czech Republic next season could well be one of these two teams.

The Division 2B games is a local derby between two Baltic nations. Last season Lithuania were relegated and for the first time in a while these two neighbours find them selves in the same league. Both share top spot on the table and both are undefeated.It will be an interesting clash.

Top team Czech Republic plays bottom placed Israel who are finding this competition very tough.

There are two games in Division 2C. Serbia’s turn around performance last week against Austria could well mean they keep Denmark at the bottom of the table. But how well will Serbia travel and can they travel with their best team. Two important factors at this level of competition.

The Slovenia-Austria test rugby match has some significance about it. Slovenia is tucked in behind competition leaders Luxembourg with one loss. Austria’s surprise loss to Serbia last weekend will be a cause for concern in Vienna.

In 2D Division Bosnia Herzegovina are the two undefeated sides and they clash in Zenica. Again it’s a case of what sort of team has Finland been able to pick and how well will they travel. Bosnia Herzegovina are a tough team to play on their home soil. A mouth watering clash. I’d love to be there!

I cannot confirm that the Bulgaria-Turkey match is scheduled for today. If it does we have the unusual situation in that they have already played each other this season and this would be a round two fixture. Very strange!

A fantastic weekend of test rugby in Europe will soon be upon us.

TURKEY v BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: ENC 2D

25.10.2014

   

Venue: Kasim Stadium, Erdine

Referee: Sergey Poplavskyi (Ukraine)

Preview
This is a special match in the world of test rugby. New test nation Turkey will play its first game up a level from last year’s ENC Division 3. This will be a stern test of the level they are at as they come across the Bosnians who were relegated from ENC 2C.

Bosnia Herzegovina began their 2014-15 campaign with a convincing  59-12 win against Bulgaria at home. Their relegation from ENC 2C would have hurt as the team more than held their own against other ENC 2C opponents. I expect they will be too strong and experienced for the Turks.

I can’t find any team lists.

Prediction: Bosnia Herzegovina by 15 points