2020 Rugby League European Championships

The 2020 Rugby League European Championships were a series of international rugby league tournament that were scheduled to place in October and November 2020. The tournaments were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

A restructured European Championship system was announced in January 2020, with Euro A to be contested by six teams across two pools. Euro B and C remained a three-team competition, while a Euro D was introduced for the first time consisting of four teams.

COVID-19 cancellations and aftermath

See also: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rugby league

In July 2020, the top tier tournament was cancelled in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with postponement to 2021 was not possible due to participating teams competing in the 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup (which itself was eventually postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic). ^[1] The remainder of the competition was postponed to 2021, however Euro C required a second postponement and was subsequently cancelled.

The next edition of the tournament was intended to be in 2023, ^{[2] [3]} however that ended up postponed due to France withdrawing as hosts of the 2025 Rugby League World Cup. ^[4]

In March 2025, the ERL announced the return of the tournament starting in October, thus officially canceling the 2023 edition. ^[5]

Euro A

2023 European Championship
Number of teams	6
Matches played	7
Tournaments  < 2018 2023 >

Planned fixtures

Draw

Six teams were to have competed in the 2020 edition, with Italy and Spain joining the four teams that participated in 2018. The teams were split into two pools of three, where the winners would have contested a final and the bottom teams would have been relegated to the 2022 European Championship B. ^[6]

The draw was conducted on 31 January 2020 at the Red Star Sport Society Media Centre in Belgrade by Stevan Stevanovic and Jelena Stojiljkovic, the captains of Serbia's mens and women's rugby league teams respectively. ^[7]

Group A1

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Advance to Final
2	Italy	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Scotland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation to Euro B

Updated to match(es) played on 20 October 2018. Source: [=]

17/18 October 2020

France	v	Italy
	Report

---

24/25 October 2020

Italy	v	Scotland
	Report

---

31 October/1 November 2020

Scotland	v	France
	Report

Group A2

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Ireland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Advance to Final
2	Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Wales	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation to Euro B

Updated to match(es) played on 31 January 2020. Source:

17/18 October 2020

Ireland	v	Spain
	Report

---

24/25 October 2020

Wales	v	Ireland
	Report

---

31 October/1 November 2020

Spain	v	Wales
	Report

Final

7/8 November 2020

Winner of A1	v	Winner of A2

Euro B

2021 European Championship B
Number of teams	3
Host country	Serbia
Winner	Serbia (4th title)
Matches played	3
Points scored	262 (87.33 per match)
Tries scored	50 (16.67 per match)
Top scorer	Oleksandr Skorbach (46)
Top try scorers	Anatolii Hrankovskyi (4) Oleksandr Skorbach (4) Rajko Trifunović (4)
Tournaments  < 2018 2023 >

The 2021 European Championship B was an international rugby league tournament that took place in October 2021, originally scheduled to take place in October 2020. ^{[8] [9]} The tournament was postponed in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[10] A revised schedule was announced in April 2021, ^[11] and the tournament details were confirmed in August 2021. ^[12]

Background

Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine played each other once in a round robin format. Ukraine entered the tournament after the 2020 European Championship C was cancelled. ^[11] Greece withdrew as their domestic competition was yet to restart. ^{[12] [13]} The winner of the tournament will be promoted to 2022 European Championship. ^[14]

John Risman, who is a lifetime honorary president of Serbian Rugby League presented the trophy and medals to the winner of the tournament. ^[15] The tournament was won by Serbia, with Ukraine finishing runner-up and Russia third.

Participants

Team	Captain	Coach	Previous Apps	Previous best result	World Ranking [a]
Russia	Andrey Zdobnikov	Roman Ovchinnikov	5	Champions(2010 East, 2012–13, 2018)	37
Serbia	Stevan Stevanović	Darren Fisher	5	Champions(2007, 2010 West, 2014–15)	15
Ukraine	Oleksandr Skorbach	Gennady Veprik	3	Runners-up (2010 East)	39

Squads

On 29 September 2021, each competing nation announced their squads for the tournament. ^[14]

Serbia

Stefan Simovic (RLC Dorcol Tigers), Aleksandar Pavlovic, Djordje Krnjeta, Dragan Jankovic, Dzavid Jasari, Enis Bibic, Nemanja Manojlovic, Stevan Stevanovic, Vladimir Milutinovic (RLC Partizan 1953), Lazar Zivkovic, Mihajlo Jovic, Stefan Arsic (RLC Radnicki Nis), Aleksandar Djordjevic, Marko Jankovic, Milos Calic, Milos Zogovic, Miodrag Tomic, Nikola Djuric Rajko Trifunovic, Stefan Nedeljkovic, Vojislav Dedic (RLC Red Star)

Russia

Ilia Danilov (RC Dinamo), Evgenii Chevankov, Artem Egorov, Roman Ovchinnikov, Sergei Sazonov, Pavel Smirnov, Dmitrii Strukov, Ivan Suracov, Ivan Troitskii, Artem Tiutrin, Ivan Vabishchevich, Andrei Zdobnikov (RLC Locomotive), Egor Petukhov (RC Moscow Dragons), Vadim Buriak, Igor Chuprin, Aram Gazarian, Anton Matiushkin, Zakir Prizniakov (RLC Olimp), Andrey Perin (RC Spartak), Kirill Bozhko, Maxim Martynov (RC Zelenograd)

Ukraine

Liubomyr Beznoshchuk, Vitalii Boichuk (Carpathian Trinity), Anatolii Hrankovskyi, Taras Kolisnyk, Vitalii Puchkov, Dmytro Semerenko, Oleksandr Shcherbyna, Oleksandr Skorbach, Oleksandr Syvokoz, Mykhailo Troian, Evhenii Trusov, Bohdan Vepryk, Ihor Yurkin (Kharkiv Legion XIII), Valentyn Korchak, Orest Adamyk, Valentyn Koval, Danylo Kozak, Igor Vashchuk (Lviv Tigers), Volodymyr Radchyk (Rivne Giants)

Table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Serbia	2	2	0	0	120	28	+92	4	Promotion to Euro A
2	Ukraine	2	1	0	1	114	72	+42	2
3	Russia	2	0	0	2	28	162	−134	0

Source: ERL

Fixtures

3 October 2021 [17] 14:00 CEST (UTC+2:00)

Serbia	66–10	Russia
Tries: Djordjević (3), Arsić (2), Vl. Dedić (2), Pavlović (2), Bibić, Djurić, D. Janković, Trifunović Goals: Jašari (7/13)	Report (IRL) Report (ERL) Report (SRL)	Tries: Egorov, Sazonov Goals: Vabishchevich (1/2)

City Stadium, Paraćin Attendance: ≈500 Referee: Stephane Vincent (France)

---

6 October 2021 [17] 13:00 CEST (UTC+2:00)

Russia	18–96	Ukraine
Tries: Chuprin, Troitskii, Vabishchevich Goals: Vabishchevich (3/3)	Report (IRL) Report (ERL)	Tries: Skorbach (4), Adamyk (2), Hrankovskyi (2), Kolesnik (2), Kozak (2), Trusov (2), Beznoshchuk, Puchkov, Shcherbyna, Troyan Goals: Skorbach (12/17), Beznoshchuk (0/1)

FK Heroj Polet  [ sr ], Belgrade Referee: James Jones (Wales)

---

9 October 2021 [17] 14:00 CEST (UTC+2:00)

Ukraine	18–54	Serbia
Tries: Hrankovskyi (2), Shcherbyna Goals: Skorbach (3/3)	Report (IRL) Report (ERL)	Tries: Trifunović (3), Milutinović (3), Arsić, Vl. Dedić, Stevanović, Zogović Goals: Jašari (7/10), Vo. Dedić (0/1)

FK Heroj Polet  [ sr ], Belgrade Attendance: ≈150 [18] Referee: Andrew Pilkington (Spain)

Euro C

2020 European Championship C
Number of teams	3
Tournaments  < 2018–19 2025 >

The 2020 European Championship C was a planned international rugby league tournament that would have taken place in October and November 2020. ^[19]

Background

In April 2021, after initially being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament, which was originally postponed until 2021, was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions in Germany and Norway prevented the competition taking-place. ^{[19] [20]} Three teams were to compete in the tournament, down from the six that participated in the 2018–19 edition. The three teams are Germany, Norway, and Ukraine.

The tournament was intended to be postponed to 2022, but was never played. ^[19]

Participants

Team	Captain	Coach	Previous Apps	Previous best result	World Ranking
Germany	TBA	TBA	1	Third place (2018–19)	TBA
Norway	TBA	TBA	3	Runners-up (2010, 2013, 2018–19)	TBA
Ukraine	TBA	TBA	4	Champions(2009, 2013, 2016)	TBA

Original fixtures

17–18 October 2020

Norway	v	Ukraine
	Report

---

24–25 October 2020

Germany	v	Norway
	Report

---

31 October–1 November 2020

Ukraine	v	Germany
	Report

Euro D

2021 European Championship D
Number of teams	4
Host country	Turkey
Winner	Netherlands (1st title)
Matches played	4
Points scored	208 (52 per match)
Tries scored	34 (8.5 per match)
Top scorer	Auke Idzerda (28 points)
Top try scorer	Joran Schoenmaker (5)
Tournaments 2025 >

The 2021 European Championship D was an international rugby league tournament. Originally scheduled to take place in October and November 2020 the championship was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic following a meeting of the European Rugby League (ERL) in July 2020. ^[21] Four teams competed in the tournament; Czechia, Malta, Netherlands and Turkey.

The tournament was won by the Netherlands who beat Czechia 36–10 in the final.

Background

After initially being rescheduled following the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was planned to be played to be played in May and June 2021 with the teams being drawn into two groups of two. The groups would play two games, one home and one away; with the aggregate winners of the two groups meeting in a final. ^{[22] [23]} In April 2021 the Rugby League European Federation announced that the tournament will be played at a single venue and that the format of the tournament will not be as originally announced. ^[24]

The revised draw, venue and format were announced on 1 September 2021. The games were all staged in Bodrum, Turkey on 14 and 17 October and was a single-leg knock-out tournament. To give each team two matches, the losers of the first round games met in a third-place game. ^[25]

Participants

Team	Captain	Coach	Previous Apps	Previous best result	World Ranking [b]
Czech Republic	Tomáš Řičica	David Lahr	0	Debut	22
Malta	Shan Francois Hussain	Roderick Attard	0	Debut	16
Netherlands	Ben Dommershuijsen	Kane Krlic	0	Debut	25
Turkey	Doruk Çeliktutan	Julien Treu	0	Debut	24

Squads

On 13 October 2021, each competing nation announced 19-man squads for the tournament. ^[27]

Czech Republic

Antonín Berk, Daniel Veselý, Filip-Daniel Kittl, (Krupka Dragons), David Bělohlávek, Jan Říha, Erik Schulz (Slávia Hradec Králové), Jakub Hudrlík, Jan Hovard, Josef Chuchlík, Martin Kubát, Matěj Greenwood, Taras Turkevyč, Tomáš Horák (Mad Squirrels Vrchlabí), Jiří Pecina, Ondřej Preininger, Tomáš Řičica (Chrudim Rabbitohs), Jan Pecháček (Vlci Trutnov), Roman Richtr (Barbarians Letohrad), Tomáš Kasík (Black Angels Hodonín)

Malta

Alfie Jewitt (Ackworth Jaguars), Justin Barlogio (DC Slayers), Dean Zammit (Hunslet), Christian Briffa, Mark Camilleri, Shaun Chircop, Jeremy Dela, Aidan Demicoli, Shan Francois Hussain (IKHAL), Cameron Brown, Russell Bugeja, Robin Cutajar, Justin Farrugia, James Grech, Jean Scholey, Jean Pierre Zarb, Luke Musu (ISWED), Zarrin Galea (Redcliffe Dolphins), Karl Cassar (Shaw Cross Sharks)

Netherlands

Adam Braksator, Bonne Wilce, Frank Longhurst, Lucas Gout, Maurits Thomson, Paul Dirkzwager, Romeo Goldman, Thomas Farrell (Den Haag Knights), Arie-Tjerk Razoux Schultz, Daniel de Ruiter, (Haderwijk Dolphins), Auke Idzerda, Ben Dommershuijsen, Edson Neves, Isaac Ngirubiu, Shadan Lavia (Rotterdam Pitbulls), Joran Schoenmaker, Laury Renac, Mauricio Gomez Pazos, Paul Kuijpers (Zwolle Wolves)

Turkey

Alperen Kademli, Can Günersu, Erdem Çağdaş, Kemal Ege Gürkan (Ankara Frigler), Mert Tayyar Berktav (Bilgi Badgers), Miraç Ertürk, Ahmet Tarik Tekin, Batuhan Balçin, Doruk Çeliktutan, Oğuzhan Demir, Ozan Işik, Rama Kabak, Taner Burak, Yusuf Can Tunç (Kadiköy Bulls), Selçuk Cömert (Kandira Ragbi), Errol Carter (London Skolars), Behzad Bayram (Rg Heidelberg), Oğuzhan Tirendez, Ömer Faruk Pir (Trakya Ragbi)

Bracket

	Semi-finals				Final
	Malta	16
	Czech Republic	40
					Czech Republic	10
					Netherlands	36
	Netherlands	40
	Turkey	18			Third place
					Malta	12
					Turkey	36

Fixtures

Semi-finals

First semi-final

14 October 2021 13:00 CET (UTC+1:00)

Malta	16–40	Czech Republic
Tries: Scholey, Barlogio, Galea Goals: Galea (2/3)	Report (IRL) Report (ERL)	Tries: Bělohlávek, Preininger, Řičica (2), Hudrlík (2), Horák Goals: Hudrlík (6/7)

Huseyin Akar Tesisler Stadium, Bodrum Attendance: 500 [28] Referee: Aris Dardamanis (Greece)

---

Second semi-final

14 October 2021 15:30 CET (UTC+1:00)

Netherlands	40–18	Turkey
Tries: Shoenmake (2), Ngirubiu, Farrell (2), Renac Goals: Idzera (8/8)	Report (IRL) Report (ERL)	Tries: Demir, Ertürk, Çeliktutan Goals: Bayram (3/3)

Huseyin Akar Tesisler Stadium, Bodrum Attendance: 500 [29] Referee: Eamonn Whelan (Ireland)

---

Play-offs

Third-place play-off

17 October 2021 13:00 CET (UTC+1:00)

Malta	12–36	Turkey
Tries: Zammit, Cutajar Goals: Galea (2/2)	Report (IRL) Report (ERL)	Tries: Demir, Işik, Çeliktutan, Bayram, Balçin, Tayyar Berktav, Tirendez Goals: Bayram (4/7)

Huseyin Akar Tesisler Stadium, Bodrum Referee: Jarda Bzoch (Czechia)

---

Championship final ^[c]

17 October 2021 15:30 CET (UTC+1:00)

Czech Republic	10–36	Netherlands
Tries: Veselý, Kasík Goals: Veselý (1/2)	Report (IRL) Report (ERL)	Tries: Schoenmaker (3), Lavia, Razoux Schultz, De Ruiter Goals: Idzera (6/9)

Huseyin Akar Tesisler Stadium, Bodrum Referee: Eamonn Whelan (Ireland)

Notes

1. IRL World Rankings are as of July 2021. ^[16]
2. IRL World Rankings are as of July 2021. ^[26]
3. Netherlands promoted to the 2023 European Championship B as well as progressing to the qualifying tournament for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup. ^[30]

References

1. "Rugby League European Federation confirms status of 2020 European Championships". European Rugby League. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
2. "ERL Congratulates World Cup Organizers & Outlines International Fixture Schedule". europeanrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
3. Willacy, Gavin (23 February 2023). "The European Championship offers rugby league fans quirky delights". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
4. "European Championships cancelled as international calendar left in tatters". LoveRugbyLeague. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
5. https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/2510/three-tier-mens-european-rugby-league-ch
6. "Men's European Championship to expand in 2020". European Rugby League. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
7. "Draw for the Euros to be Live Streamed". www.rlef.eu.com. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
8. "Men's European Championship to expand in 2020". www.rlef.eu.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
9. "Draw for the Euros to be Live Streamed". www.rlef.eu.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
10. "Rugby League European Federation confirms status of 2020 European Championships". www.rlef.eu.com. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
11. "European rugby league board confirm revised international schedule". European Rugby League. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
12. "Euro B confirmed for Serbia". European Rugby League. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
13. "All Stars Beat England". Rugby League Review (153): 28.
14. "Squads Announced for Rugby League Euro B Championship".
15. "John Risman to Present Trophy and Medals to Euro B Winner".
16. "Cook Islands rise 17 places in latest Rugby League World Rankings". Rugby League International Federation. 13 July 2019.
17. "Squads Announced For Rugby League Euro B Championship". European Rugby League. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
18. "Serbia vs. Ukraine - Rugby League Project".
19. "European rugby league board confirm revised international schedule". Rugby League European Federation. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
20. "Rugby League European Federation confirms status of 2020 European Championships". www.rlef.eu.com. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
21. "Rugby League European Federation confirms status of 2020 European Championships". www.rlef.eu.com. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
22. "Men's European Championship to expand in 2020". www.rlef.eu.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
23. "Draw for the Euros to be Live Streamed". www.rlef.eu.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
24. "European rugby league board confirm revised international schedule". Rugby League European Federation. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
25. "Euro D Draw Confirmed". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
26. "Cook Islands rise 17 places in latest Rugby League World Rankings". Rugby League International Federation. 13 July 2019.
27. "Euro D Championship set for kick off - with added World Cup incentive". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
28. "Czech Republic vs. Malta - Czech Republic 40 def. Malta 16".
29. "Turkey vs. The Netherlands - Turkey 18 lost to the Netherlands 40".
30. "Czech Republic 10 v 36 Netherlands". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.