Rugby League European Championship

Last updated

European Championship
Current season, competition or edition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2023 Rugby League European Championship
Sport Rugby league
Founded1935;89 years ago (1935)
No. of teams8 (as of 2023)
Country Europe
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of France.svg  France (9th title)
Most titlesFlag of England.svg  England (14 titles)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to European Championship B
Official website Official website

The Rugby League European Championship (formerly known as the European Cup and European Nations Cup) is a rugby league football tournament for European national teams that was first held in 1935.

Contents

Originally, the European Cup had three teams, with England, Wales and France each playing each other once. Unlike the Tri-Nations series, there was no final; the team finishing at the top of the group was deemed the winner. From 1949 to 1956, a fourth Other Nationalities team entered the European Cup.

From 2003 to 2009, the tournament featured six teams, and the presence of a final. Between 2014 and 2018, the European Championship was reduced to four teams. 2020 saw a massive expansion with promotion and relegation introduced.

History

1935–1996: Original competition

The French captain, Georges Ailleres, carried on his teammates' shoulders after a win against England during the 1969-70 tournament. 15.03.70 G. Aillieres porte en triomphe a France-Angleterre (1970) - 53Fi549.jpg
The French captain, Georges Ailleres, carried on his teammates' shoulders after a win against England during the 1969-70 tournament.

The Rugby League European Championships was originally a tri-nations tournament between England, Wales, and France playing each other in a single round robin. The tournament was played annually, with the exception of the years of the Second World War.

In 1946–47, the tournament was altered, with each team playing each other twice, home and away.

The 1949–50 tournament saw return to single round robin format. The tournament also saw the Other Nationalities team brought out of hiatus for the first time since the 1930s. This team consisted of players who were not English, Welsh, or French playing in the British and French leagues.

The 1955–56 tournament had no Welsh team, though Welsh players featured for Other Nationalities.

The tournament was not played again until 1969–70, and not again until 1975 with the original three-team format.

The tournament stayed as part of the calendar until 1981 where it was again cancelled thereafter, but saw a final revival in 1995 and 1996.

2003–2006: Nations Cup era and RLEF control

In 2003, the Rugby League European Federation gained rights to the tournament and revived it under the name European Nations Cup. [1] This saw the addition of Scotland, Ireland, and Russia with teams being split into two groups of three with the group winers competing in the final. The same format and teams featured in 2004.

The 2005 tournament saw England withdraw as a result of reduced competitiveness of the expanded tournament. A qualification tournament was held to find a team to replace England which saw Georgia beat Serbia and the Netherlands to earn the place.

The tournament again when on hiatus with plans to reform the top tier. 2006 saw the introduction of a B and C tournament as a result of the increased number of rugby league playering nations in Europe. [1]

2009–2018: European Cup era

The tournament returned in 2009 under the name European Cup under the same format as 2006 but with Serbia and Italy replacing Russia and Georgia. [2] France were absence from the 2009 edition due being invited to the 2009 Rugby League Four Nations. [3]

Poor performance from both newcomers would see the 2010 tournament reduced to four teams: France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales under a single round robin reminiscent of the original tournament and played every two years. Wales won the tournament, thus qualified for the 2011 Rugby League Four Nations.

The 2012 tournament provided problems for the new biennial schedule. France and Wales opted out of the tournament, wanting stronger tests in preparation for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, and arranged a separate tri-nations tournament with England. Italy and England reserves were asked to replace France and Wales though travel issues prevented Italy from participating. England reserves won the tournament.

The usual format was restored for the 2014 tournament which was won by Scotland, who as a result qualified for the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations. Learning from 2012, the 2016 tournament was held a year prior so as to not interfere with preparations for the 2017 World Cup.

The 2018 tournament acted as the 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup European qualification tournament.

2020–present: Promotion and relegation era

The Rugby League European Federation announced changes for the 2020 tournament with promotion and relegation between each tier of the tournament for first and last place teams respectfully. The tournament was also expanded to include a D tier as well. The 2020 European Championship was to consist of six teams with one team being relegated to Euro B. In July 2020, the 2020 edition of the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4]

The next tournament, scheduled for 2022 but pushed back to 2023 due to the postponement of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was also cancelled due to the late withdrawal of France hosting the 2025 Rugby League World Cup as it could no longer be used as the European qualification tournament. [5] This edition was set to feature a mass expansion of the tournament, featuring eight teams and the return of England. This edition would have also seeen Euro C and D cancelled due to all teams moving up divisions in the expanded tournament. [6] [7]

Team appearances

TeamAppearancesDebutMost recentBest result
Flag of France.svg  France 32 1935 2023 Champions (9 times)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 32 1935 2023 Champions (7 times)
Flag of England.svg  England 30 1935 2023 Champions (14 times)
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 9 2003 2023 Champions (2014)
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 9 2003 2023 Runners-up (2004, 2012)
Other Nationalities 6 1949–50 1955–56 Champions (1952–53, 1955–56)
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 3 2003 2005 Group stage (2003, 2004, 2005)
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 2 2009 2023 Group stage (2009)
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 1 2005 2005 Group stage (2005)
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 1 2009 2009 Third place (2009)
Flag of England.svg England Knights 1 2012 2012 Champions (2012)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1 2023 2023 TBA
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1 2023 2023 TBA

Results

Championship era (1935–1996)

SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird placeFourth place
1935 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1935–36 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
1936–37 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
1938 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
1938–39 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of England.svg
England
1945–46 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1946–47 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of France.svg
France
1947–48 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1948–49 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1949–50 Flag of England.svg
England
Other Nationalities Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of France.svg
France
1950–51 Flag of France.svg
France
Other Nationalities Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1951–52 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of England.svg
England
Other Nationalities Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1952–53 Other Nationalities Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
1953–54 Flag of England.svg
England
Other Nationalities Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1955–56 Other Nationalities Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of England.svg
England
1969–70 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1975 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of France.svg
France
1977 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of England.svg
England
1978 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of France.svg
France
1979 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1980 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1981 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
1995 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
1996 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of France.svg
France

Nations Cup era (2003–2005)

SeasonChampionsFinal ScoreRunners-up
2003 Flag of England.svg
England
68–6Flag of France.svg
France
2004 Flag of England.svg
England
36–12Four Provinces Flag.svg
Ireland
2005 Flag of France.svg
France
38–16Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales

European Cup era (2009–2018)

SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird placeFourth place
2009 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
Flag of Lebanon.svg
Lebanon
Four Provinces Flag.svg
Ireland
2010 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
Four Provinces Flag.svg
Ireland
2012 Flag of England.svg
England Knights
Four Provinces Flag.svg
Ireland
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
2014 Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
Flag of France.svg
France
Four Provinces Flag.svg
Ireland
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
2015 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Flag of France.svg
France
Four Provinces Flag.svg
Ireland
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
2018 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Four Provinces Flag.svg
Ireland
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland

Summary

ChampionsCountYears
Flag of England.svg England 14 1935, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1969–70, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1996, 2003, 2004
Flag of France.svg France 9 1938–39, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1977, 1981, 2005, 2011, 2018
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 7 1935–36, 1936–37, 1938, 1995, 2009, 2010, 2015
Other Nationalities 2 1952–53, 1955–56
Flag of England.svg England Knights 1 2012
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland 1 2014


See also

Notes

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