2008 FIRA Women's European Championship

Last updated
2008 FIRA European Championship
Tournament details
HostFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Dates17 May 2008 (2008-05-17)
23 May 2008 (2008-05-23)
Teams16
Tournament statistics
Matches played30
2007
2009

The 2008 FIRA Women's European Championship was the 11th rugby union women's European championship organised by FIRA - AER.

Contents

It took place in the Netherlands from 17 to 24 May 2008; for the first time since 2004 both the A and B championships were held simultaneously in the same host country.

Eight national teams took part to the Pool A: the four Home Nations plus France, Spain and the Netherlands; as for Italy they withdrew and were replaced by Sweden. Amongst the contestants in the Pool B were also the "France Défense XV", the French Army women's rugby union squad.

Results

England won the Pool A title against Wales in the final. There were no tries in the match, which effectively amounted to a kicking duel, with each team dominating one half. Non Evans scored two penalties for the Welsh in the first half and Katy McLean scored four for England in the second half. The English took the title with a final score of 12 to 6. Both teams produced good play during the tournament; however, in this particular match the defence stole the lead over the attack and the precision and discipline of the English won the day. The new Champions of Europe succeeded France, who only managed to attain fourth place - despite the final score, 22-22, in the play-off against Ireland the last place on the podium went to their opponents as they scored more tries. A surprise placing for the Scottish who came in fifth, winning 27 -25 against Spain in an incredible match (8 tries), probably one of the best of the Championship with Spain just losing out in injury time. In the match for seventh place, the Netherlands beat Sweden 7 to 6.

It was an easy win for Russia in the Group B final against the French Military team. Faster and more organized, the Russian players took control of the match very early on when their full-back and team captain, Anastasiya Mukharyamova launched a counterattack from the 22 metre line and a few passes later, Anna Gottseva finished between the posts. Throughout the tournament Russia produced some splendid clean, creative and collective play. The speed and agility of their backs meant that they emerged as the team with the best attacking play. Their players took major risks and didn't hesitate in launching counterattacks from anywhere on the pitch. It was no surprise when they won this afternoon in Amsterdam. Congratulations also to the Russian full-back Natalia Selyvtina, a very impressive “sidestepper”, who succeeded in scoring eleven tries during her team's five games. An incredible turnabout took place in the match for third place. Ten minutes from the end of the match, the Belgians were leading 15 to 7 and were expecting victory. However, they hadn't counted on the courage of the Germans who scored two late tries, taking the lead in the last minute and eventually winning the match 19 to 15. In the match for fifth place, Romanian won 12 – 5 against Finland.

FIRA-AER officials also selected the best players of the Championship. The jury, made up of Technical Directors and Match Commissioners selected:

The Fair-play prize was awarded to Russia

Pool A

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
17 May – Amsterdam
 
 
Flag of England.svg  England 80
 
20 May – Drachten
 
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3
 
Flag of England.svg  England 22
 
17 May – Amsterdam
 
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 11
 
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 41
 
13 May – Amsterdam
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 7
 
Flag of England.svg  England 12
 
17 May – Amsterdam
 
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 6
 
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 3
 
20 May – Leiden
 
Flag of France.svg  France 24
 
Flag of France.svg  France 10
 
17 May – Amsterdam
 
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 18Third place
 
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 10
 
13 May – Amsterdam
 
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 27
 
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 22 (4T)
 
 
Flag of France.svg  France 22 (3T)
 
 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
20 May – Leiden
 
 
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0
 
24 May – Amsterdam
 
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 26
 
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 27
 
20 May – Drachten
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 25
 
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
 
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 22
 
Third place
 
 
24 May – Amsterdam
 
 
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 7
 
 
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 6

Quarter-finals

2008-05-17
England  Flag of England.svg80–3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Amsterdam
2008-05-17
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg3–24Flag of France.svg  France
Amsterdam
2008-05-17
Scotland  Flag of Scotland.svg10–27Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Amsterdam
2008-05-17
Ireland  IRFU flag.svg41–7Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Amsterdam

Semi-finals

Cup

2008-05-20
England  Flag of England.svg22–11IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
Drachten, Netherlands
2008-05-20
France  Flag of France.svg10–18Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Leiden, Netherlands

Plate

2008-05-20
Sweden  Flag of Sweden.svg0–20Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Drachten, Netherlands
2008-05-20
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg0–26Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Leiden, Netherlands

7th/8th place

2008-05-24
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg7–6Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Amsterdam

5th/6th place

2008-05-24
Scotland  Flag of Scotland.svg27–25Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Amsterdam

3rd/4th place

2008-05-24
France  Flag of France.svg22–22 [1] IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
Amsterdam

Final

2008-05-24
England  Flag of England.svg12–6Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Amsterdam

Pool B

Round 1

Group A: Final table

PosNationPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Flag of France.svg France Defence2200225+174
2Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2101101772
3Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2002010100
Source: [ citation needed ]

Group A: Results

2008-05-19
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg0–5Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Castricum, Netherlands
2007-05-19
Germany  Flag of Germany.svg5-17 Flag of France.svg France Defence
Castricum, Netherlands
2007-05-19
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg0-5 Flag of France.svg France Defence
Castricum, Netherlands

Group B: Final table

PosNationPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2200713+684
2Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 21011637212
3Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 2002552470
Source: [ citation needed ]

Group B: Results

2008-05-19
Finland  Flag of Finland.svg5–13Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Utrecht, Netherlands
2008-05-19
Finland  Flag of Finland.svg0–39Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Utrecht, Netherlands
2008-05-19
Romania  Flag of Romania.svg3–32Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Utrecht, Netherlands

Round 2

Group A: Final table

PosNationPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2200510+514
2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 21011529142
3Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 2002744370
Source: [ citation needed ]

Group A: Results

2008-05-21
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg0–22Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Tilburg, Netherlands
2008-05-21
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg15–7Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Tilburg, Netherlands
2008-05-21
Romania  Flag of Romania.svg0–29Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Tilburg, Netherlands

Group B: Final table

PosNationPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Flag of France.svg France Defence2200397+324
2Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 21014613+332
3Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 2002368650
Source: [ citation needed ]

Group B: Results

2008-05-21
Finland  Flag of Finland.svg0-29 Flag of France.svg France Defence
Driebergen, Netherlands
2008-05-21
Finland  Flag of Finland.svg3–39Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Driebergen, Netherlands
2008-05-21
Germany  Flag of Germany.svg7-10 Flag of France.svg France Defence
Driebergen, Netherlands

Finals

5th/6th

2008-05-23
Finland  Flag of Finland.svg5–12Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Amsterdam

3rd/4th

2008-05-23
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg15–19Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Amsterdam

Final

2008-05-23
Russia  Flag of Russia.svg31-14 Flag of France.svg France Defence
Amsterdam

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References

  1. Ireland awarded third place on try count, 4-3