TEST RUGBY THIS WEEKEND

02.02.2013
Wales v Ireland in Cardiff (6 Nations International Championship)
Scotland v England at Twickenham (Calcutta Cup; 6 Nations Int. Champ.)
Romania v Portugal in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
Spain v Russia in Russia (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
Georgia v Belgium in Brussels (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)

03.02.2013
France v Italy in Rome (6 Nations International Championship)

Briefly
This weekend sees the international test rugby European rugby scene underway after the December-January mid-winter break.

Two teams, England and France, look to be the 6 Nations favourites after great performances last November-England defeated New Zealand whilst France were impressive with a new-look team and undefeated November record.

Wales will be keen to regain their ‘Grand Slam’ glory after a dismal 2012 record. Ireland will want to improve and find their form whilst Scotland, under a new coach, will be hoping to erase the disaster of their November campaign.

Italy have always been bottom or near bottom of the 6 Nations championship. With an ageing pack and still lacking a backline with punch they could well struggle again.

The European Nations Cup Division 1A commences at the same time as the 6 Nations. Decided annually the promotion-relegation component is decided bi-annually. Also up for grabs are the two places at the 2015 Rugby World Finals. Those places are decided at the end of the second round in 2014.

Belgium replaces the Ukraine in the ENC 2012-14. That final position has been a bit of a rotating event without a team being able to cement a place. Belgium’s aim would be to still be there in May 2014.

EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP: 2010-2012 Format

The European Nations Cup is the international rugby competition for Europe. The format for 2010-12 has been released. It is different from the 2008-10 competition in a number of ways.

1. The top Division will continue to consist of 6 teams, with Germany relegated and Ukraine promoted.
2. Each season will, as before, produce its winner.
3. Promotion-relegation is the same. This takes place at the end of 2012 season.
4. The division below 1A is now called 1B and is expanded to 6 teams, with Moldova staying and Netherlands added.
5. All other divisions are renamed with only promotion taking place.
6. A bonus point system is introduced similar to Super 14.

'At the end of each Season a champion will be designated , according to match points got in that specific season (on June 2011, the champion being the Union having more points, and on June 2012, the Champion being the Union with more points in the games played on season 2011-2012). The IRB, will invite the Champion of each season to participate in inter-Regions games during the November window. At the end of season 2011-2012, the Union ranked 6th (considering the results of games played during the 2 seasons) will be relegated to Division CEN 1B.
Equal number of points at the end of Competition: If two or more teams have same number of points the best ranked will be: •
1) The Union having more number of match points in the games played between the tied Unions.
2) The Union having best difference between points for and points against in the games played between the tied teams.
3) The Union having scored more tries in the games played between the tied Unions.
4) The Union having scored more points in the games played between the tied Unions.
5) The Union having best difference between points for and points against in all pool games.
6) The Union having scored more tries in all pool games.
7) The Union having scored more points in all pool games.
Match points in each game : • Winner of the game: 4 points • Looser of the game 0 Points • Draw between the 2 teams: 2 points to each team
• 4 or more tries in the game: 1 additional point • Looser by seven or less points: 1 point'

From http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/competition_detail.php?compet=172&gpement=1756

For the complete draw go to www.rugbyinternational.net, go to LATEST, then down to tournaments.

December-January

The months of December and January are the quietest months of international rugby around the world. There are a few more games to be played, mostly in the European Championship, known as the European Nations Cup. They are in the lower divisions.

The international action hots up again in February when the 6 Nations International Championship for 2009 gets underway, and the European Nations Cup fires up, especially in Division 1 games.

So what is this blog going to do for two months? I've made a list below. If there are aspects of the international game you want to know about then you can add a question in the comments box.

Here we go..

• A review of international rugby in 2008
• A summary of the European Nations Cup, which is sort of mid-season now.
• A best of for 2008 (best try, best player, most improved team, biggest upset..all ideas I think I'll pinch from the FIRA-AER forum)
• Just what is this 'GWC Rugby Rankings' you see on every game preview.
• A summary of the final table of GWC Rankings 2008
• In January a preview of the 6 Nations Championship
• A look at the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour.
• A look at the 2011 Rugby World Cup Qualifying process and where it is up to.
• How about a quiz with some prizes?
• A look at some other rugby blogs from around the world.
• The web sites I most use to build my data base of international rugby.

Gee Wizz, I thought I might have a rest over December-January. That's not going to happen. Well, after all, there are a lot of rugby fans out there busting to find out more about this game of rugby.

So, fire your questions/ideas at me.

Rugby Fixture: Austria v Norway

11.10.2008
To be played in Oslo (World Cup Qualifier; ENC 3B)

Preview
Austria travels to Norway for its first rugby test for 2008-09. Austria only just managed to survive in ENC 3B for the next two seasons when they defeated Hungary 9-6 in a suprise result at the end of that season. That result saw Bulgaria relegated instead. So this season will see the need for Austria to rebuild the team and build from that victory over Hungary.

Norway dropped their first home game 15-26 to Hungary 2 weeks ago and the pressure is on them to win this vital home game. Winning away is difficult at this level of international rugby. These two teams drew 3-3 in Vienna in April whilst Norway won the Oslo fixture 22-8 in June of last year.

Previous Encounters
26.04.2008 Drawn 3-3 in Vienna (ENC 3A)
09.06.2007 Norway 22-8 in Oslo (ENC 3A)
09.06.2001 Austria 51-7 in Oslo (WCQ Europe R1; FIRA Pool 2)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Norway 31st, Austria 33rd.

Prediction: Norway by 11 points.

Teams

Norwegian Squad
Pascal Raclin (Oslo RK)
Tim Langridge (Tønsberg RK)
Eivind Lunde (Stavanger RK)
Andreas Fyri (Oslo RK)
Johan Stoltz (Oslo RK)
Glenn Collins (Oslo RK)
Andrei Hanger (Cheltenham RFC, England)
Espen Engevik (Stavanger RK)
Francis Hunt (Oslo RK)
Stian Røstberg (Bergen RK)
Kristoffer Borsheim (Stavanger RK)
Haakon Stengrimsen (Holstebro RK)
Wesley Chibaya (Tønsberg RK)
Lewis Eaton (Stavanger RK)
Willie Wilson (Bergen RK)
Roger Yttervik (Tønsberg RK)
Knut Martin Bårnes (Stavanger RK)
Trent Rowan (Tønsberg RK)
Karl Frisch (Bergen RK)
Patrice Balauze (Oslo RK)
Fredrik Skovly (Oslo RK)
Neil Ryan (Tønsberg RK)
Head Coach: John Chappell

http://www.rugby.no/les.asp?ID=638
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2867&sid=9fb7b52aca723cb2988749a26a87ccf5

Austrian Squad
Valentin Branstetter
Johannes Dachler
Mathias Dachler
Mani Deihimi
Milad Farkondeh-Fal
Ludwig Fegerl
Andreas Gaul (Capt.)
Rudi Glock
Paul Hruschka
Jean-Barthelemy Jilibert
Christoph Kaltenböck
Alexander Krauchenberger
Thomas List
Patrick Maurer
Maximilian Navas
Wilfried Payer
Ferdinand Richter
Leonardo Schweighofer
Carli Simbruner
Maximilian Sonntag
Gert Waizer
Julian Zöchling

Head Coach: Gael Mouysset
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2867&sid=9fb7b52aca723cb2988749a26a87ccf5
http://www.rugby-austria.at/content/deutsch/news/381d2715dba7199dc783.php

Rugby Fixture:Greece v Finland

11.10.2008
Preview
Greece will be playing its first test match in ENC 3C after winning the ENC 3D tournament held in Cyprus last year. These two teams last met in 2006 when both were in ENC 3D, Finland having gained promotion in that year.

Finland lost their first home test match of the season last weekend to Luxembourg 19-27. The pressure is on the Finns to achieve the valuable home win as winning away is very difficult at this level of international rugby.

Last Five Encounters
14.06.2006 Finland 17-12 in Athens (ENC 3D)
27.05.2006 Finland 27-0 in Helsinki (ENC 3D)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Finland 35th, Greece 37th

Prediction: Finland by 14 points.

Teams

Finland
15. Lauri Ylönen (Helsinki Warriors RC)
14. Matthew Jordan (Helsinki Warriors RC)
13. Galen Rangiawha (Turku Eagles RFC)
12. Jaakko Vilen (Helsinki Warriors RC)
11. Lasse Sariola (Helsinki Warriors RC)
10. Thomas Finell (Helsinki Warriors RC)
9. Mikko Järvi (Capt.) (Tampere RC)
8. András Dévényi (Helsinki RFC)
7. Mauno Konttila (Tampere RC)
6. Erik Pekkola
5. Lasse Simpanen (Helsinki Warriors RC)
4. Stuart Reynish (Helsinki Warriors RC)
3. Micke Holmström (Tampere RC)
2. Semu Salmivalli (Tampere RC)
1. Juha Rainvuori (Helsinki Warriors RC)
Replacements
16. Tim Sampson (Helsinki RFC)
17. Sami Sarkki (Turku Eagles RFC)
18. Jani Lehtinen
19. Jussi Latvala (Helsinki Warriors RC)
20. Stephen Whittaker (Helsinki RFC)
21. Heikki Karimaa
22. Avea Avea
Head Coach: Jerker Grader
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2868
http://rugbyliitto.sporttisaitti.com/tiedotearkisto/?num=13209

Greece
15-Michalis Loidzou (Athens RFC)
14-Alex Mentoros (Rhodes Colossuses RFC)
13-Giorgos Tsatsaronis (Athens RFC)
12-Vasilis Katsakos (Athens RFC)
11-Christos Fiotakis (Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur, France) *
10-Alexandros Gounaris (Attika Springbocks RFC)
9-Grigol Mshvldadze (Athens RFC)
8-Arfaras Pantelis (Rhodes Colossuses RFC)
7-Dimitris Papadatos (Athens RFC) *
6-Soteriades Philippos (Athens RFC)
5-Kostas Karandreas (Athens RFC)
4-Nikos Maureas (Athens RFC)
3-Vaggelis Nastas (Athens RFC)
2-Giorgos Kouroumichakis (Iraklis Thessalonikis RFC)
1-Eden Tipene (Attika Springboks RFC)
Replacements
16-Giorgos Sunetos (Athens RFC)
17-Giannis Tsagras (Athens RFC)
18-Nontas Serafeim (Attika Springbocks RFC)
19-Andreas Peribolaris (Athens RFC)
20-Giorgos Grabalas (Spartakos Thessalonikis RFC)
Head Coach:
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2868

* Played in Greece’s first test match in 2005
Monaco v Bosnia Herzegovina in Menton (WCQ Europe, ENC 3D)

European Nations Cup-Venue Confirmations

From the FIRA-AER web site a large number of venue confirmations can now be published. Go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/

European Nations Cup: Division 2A Ukraine v Poland

The European Nations Cup is a rugby competition played in 3 divisions. Division 2A is the tier below the first division. Held over two Northern seasons, the competition at this level is between Ukraine, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic and Moldova. Poland was promoted from Division 2B whilst Czech Republic was relegated from the first division.

The competition also doubles as the first round of qualifying for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Europe Zone

The first match in the 2008-10 competition is between Ukraine and Poland and will be played in Lotz, Poland.

Last Five Encounters.
25.10.2003 Ukraine 24-13 in Lotz (ENC 2A)
19.10.2002 Poland 20-11 in Kiev (ENC 2A)
19.05.2001 Ukraine 9-3 in ? (FIRA Div.B)
01.05.1999 Ukraine 37-18 in Kiev (FIRA, Pool E)
16.05.1998 Ukraine 19-8 in Mosir (WCQ Europe, Round B, Pool 1)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Ukraine 16th, Poland 17th

Rugby Union Test; Hungary v Norway

Preview.
The rugby union test fixture in Oslo is part of the European Nations Cup, Division 3B. This will be Norway's first rugby test match for the 2008-10 season whilst Hungary lost 26-32 to Slovenia 2 weeks ago. The other teams in this division are Austria and Denmark.

Forwards:
Johan Stoltz (Oslo RK)
Haakon Stengrimsen (Holstebro RK)
Lewis Eaton (Stavanger RK)
Eivind Lunde (Stavanger RK)
Andreas Fyri (Oslo RK)
Patrice Balauze (Oslo RK)
Kristoffer Borsheim (Stavanger RK)
Pascal Raclin (Oslo RK)
Stian Røstberg (Bergen RK)
William Wilson (Bergen RK)
Karl Frisch (Bergen RK)
Karl Harper (Oslo RK)

Backs:
Andrei Hanger (Cheltenham Tigers, England)
Glenn Collins (Oslo RK)
Wesley Chibaya (Tønsberg RK)
Espen Engevik (Stavanger RK)
Tim Langdridge (Tønsberg RK)
Francis Hunt (Oslo RK)
Rob Greig (Tunbridge Wells RFC, England)
Craig Olsen (currently unsigned)
Andrew Olsen (currently unsigned)

There appear to be two coaches for this side. The backs coach Oliver Rogers is unavailable for all autumn tests due to his appointment as Head of Rugby at Maidstone Grammar. Forwards coach John Chappell (Ponteland RFC) will be in charge.

Thanks to Krissy Ruffels, Norway RFU.