2000 European Nations Cup First Division

Last updated
2000 European Nations Cup
Date6 February – 2 April 2000
CountriesFlag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg  Georgia
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Tournament statistics
Champions Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Matches played15
1998–99 (Previous)(Next) 2000–01

The 2000 European Nations Cup was the first European Nations Cup, an international rugby union competition for second-tier nations. It replaced the FIRA Tournament following the emergence of professionalism in rugby union and Italy being granted a place in the Six Nations.

Contents

The first season had six teams (five from Europe and one from Africa). The teams played each other once, playing roughly to the same weekends as the Six Nations. Romania won the first title, with a single loss to Morocco in the opening game. Georgia improved their performance in the context of European rugby, finishing in second place, while Morocco finished in third place, ahead of Spain and Portugal. Netherlands finished last. [1]

Table

PlaceNationGamesPointsTable
points
PlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDiff
1Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 540113057+7313
2Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg  Georgia 5302145105+4011
3Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 53029469+2511
4Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 5203109105+49
5Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 520374100−269
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 510452168−1167

Matches

Week 1

6 February 2000
Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg18–10Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Stade du COC, Casablanca

6 February 2000
Portugal  Flag of Portugal.svg30–32Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg  Georgia
Pen: Teixeira (9)
Drop: Teixeira
Try: Giorgadze, Khekhelashvili, Tsabadze (2)
Con: Urjukashvili (3)
Pen: Urjukashvili (2)
Lisbon University Stadium, Lisbon
Referee: J. P. Pellaprat (France)

6 February 2000
Spain  Flag of Spain.svg33–8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Try: Frechilla, Justel, Salazar Lizarraga, Zapatero
Con: Kovalenco, Martinéz Torres
Pen: Kovalenco (3)
Try: Philpott
Pen: Hannay
Majorca
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: R. Faccioli (Italy)

Week 2

20 February 2000
Georgia  Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg20–10Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Try: Giorgadze, Katsadze
Con: Urjukashvili (2)
Pen: Urjukashvili (2)
Try: Hamdini, Oufrich
St Gaudens, France
Attendance: 500
Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu (France)

20 February 2000
Romania  Flag of Romania.svg39–10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Try: Corodeanu, Drăguceanu, Dumitru (2), Mitu
Con: Mitu (4)
Pen: Mitu (2)
Try: Winkels
Con: Van der Loos
Pen: Van der Loos
Amsterdam
Attendance: 2,000

20 February 2000
Portugal  Flag of Portugal.svg21–19Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Pen: Mourão (4), Teixeira (3)Try: Mata
Con: Kovalenco
Pen: Kovalenco (4)
Lisbon University Stadium, Lisbon
Referee: D. Gillet (France)

Week 3

4 March 2000
Spain  Flag of Spain.svg36–32Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg  Georgia
Try: Astarloa Uriarte, del Valle, Frechilla (2), Souto
Con: Martinéz Torres (4)
Pen: Martinéz Torres
Try: Abashidze, Labadze, Mtchedlishvili, Tsabadze (2)
Con: Iurini, Urjukashvili
Pen: Urjukashvili
Campo Universitário, Madrid
Referee: C. Giacomel (Italy)

4 March 2000
Romania  Flag of Romania.svg33–3Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Try: Mersoiu, Petrache, Sîrbu, Tonița, Vioreanu
Con: Mitu
Pen: Mitu (2)
Pen: Teixeira
Dinamo Stadion, Bucharest
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: D. Dartigeas (France)

4 March 2000
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg15–44Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Amsterdam

Week 4

19 March 2000
Georgia  Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg41–6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Try: Abuseridze, Giorgadze, Jimsheladze, Kavtaravhili (2), Labadze, Zedgnidize
Con: Iurini, Jimsheladze (2)
Pen: Hannay (2)
National Stadium, Tbilisi
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: S. de Falco (Italy)

19 March 2000
Romania  Flag of Romania.svg25–6Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Try: Dumitru, Gontineac, Vioreanu
Con: Mitu (2)
Pen: Mitu (2)
Pen: Martinéz Torres (2)
Stadionul Ghencea II, Bucharest
Attendance: 500
Referee: G. Morandin (Italy)

19 March 2000
Portugal  Flag of Portugal.svg9–3Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Lisbon University Stadium, Lisbon
Referee: Johan Meersman (Belgium)

Week 5

2 April 2000
Georgia  Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg20–23Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Try: Kavtarahvili, Nadiradze
Con: Jimsheladze (2)
Pen: Jimsheladze (2)
Try: Brezoianu, Sîrbu
Con: Mitu (2)
Pen: Mitu (2)
National Stadium, Tbilisi
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: D. Pruvot (France)

2 April 2000
Spain  Flag of Spain.svg15–19Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Albacete

2 April 2000
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg13–11Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Try: Van der Pol
Con: Hannay
Pen: Hannay (2)
Try: Murinello
Pen: Teixeira (2)
Amsterdam
Referee: Jeremy Schauder (Israel)

See also

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