Belgians won the Euro Division A

There are 36 nations(!) competing this year in Women’s 7‘s European Championship. They are split to three divisions, each including 12 teams. The top ranked division is called TOP 12, the second is Division A and the third one is Division B.

Division B was held in Bratislava, Slovakia, 25th and 26th May. It was won by Finland, the second team was Norway. Both these teams are promoted to the Division A for the next year. Complete results are here: http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/group-153.htm.

The TOP 12 division has two legs, first was in Brive, France, 1st and 2nd June and was won by England. Complete results here: http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/group-149.htm

The Division A tournament was held in Prague, Czech Republic, weekend of 8th and 9th June.

It was packed with teams whith experiences from the TOP 12 division as Switzerland, Moldova or Sweden and teams from 2nd tier nations as Romania or Georgia. Nobody could predict the results. The three teams surprised everybody: Belgium, Poland and the host Czech Republic. Belgium won all of its matches in Pool B first day and only Czech Republic was real thread for it. But Belgians kept the flag at the end (with some luck) and won the match 24 : 14. Czech Republic beat all other its opponents and finished the second.

In Pool A was situation more complicated. Sweden lost with Georgia but won all the other matches, Poland lost just with Sweden. The Sweden went the first and Poland the second to Day 2.

At the first matches of the Day 2 Belgium easily beat Hungary 41 : 0 and Czech Republic ended in a tie 7 : 7 with Moldova, which was enough for Czechs to go to Cup semi-final. In last game of Pool A Sweden beat Poland 19 : 0.

The Cup semis were Sweden – Czech Republic and Poland – Belgium.

Belgium again show its strenght and beat Poland 36 : 0.

The more dramatic was match of Sweden v.  Czech Republic. Both teams scored two tries but Swedes conceded both conversions while Czechs not. The last minute effort of the Czechs was not successful. The result 14 : 10 for the Sweden sent them to the final.

The Czechs supported by home crowd beat Poland 15 : 0 in the game for the third place and got the bronze.

The final was the clean sweep for Belgians again, Belgium 24 – Sweden 0.

Belgium is promoted to the TOP 12 for the first time, Sweden is going back there after one year. The surprise of the tournament were great performances of Poles and Czechs, the Czechs missed the final (and promotion to TOP 12) just by four points.

The last two teams Austria and Hungary are relegated to Division B.

Final ranking:

1. Belgium

2. Sweden

3. Czech Republic

4. Poland

5. Moldova

6. Switzerland

7. Romania

8. Croatia

9. Georgia

10. Denmark

11. Austria

12. Hungary