Rugby Europe Super Cup

Last updated
Rugby Europe Super Cup
Rugby Europe Super Cup Logo.png
Sport Rugby Union
Instituted2021;3 years ago (2021)
Number of teams8
CountryFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Holders Black Lion (3rd title) (2023)
Website www.rugbyeurope.eu/super-cup/

The Rugby Europe Super Cup is an annual men's rugby union club tournament organised by the continental governing body, Rugby Europe. Featuring clubs outside the traditional Six Nations strongholds of the sport, it effectively forms a third tier of European club rugby beneath the EPCR-organised European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup. [1] The first Super Cup competition took place in 2021–22.

Contents

Format

The tournament was announced as an annual event for emerging nations in Europe. Professional rugby clubs and franchise teams can take part in it. Teams are divided into two conferences: western and eastern. Each team plays every conference rival home and away. The two best teams from each conference advance to the semi-finals, where they play for a ticket to the final. For the first time, the Czech Rugby Union was involved in the European club competition with Bohemia Rugby Warriors taking part. [2]

Group AJoinedGroup BJoined
Black Lion Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia 2021–22 Brussels Devils Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 2021–22
Castilla y León Iberians Flag of Spain.svg Spain 2021–22 Delta Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 2021–22
Lusitanos XV Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal 2021–22 Romanian Wolves Flag of Romania.svg Romania 2022
Tel Aviv Heat Flag of Israel.svg Israel 2021–22 Bohemia Rugby Warriors Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic 2023

The first competition included two Russian teams who were expelled following the invasion of Ukraine, to be replaced with teams from Romania and Georgia in the second season.

Former teamsYears
Batumi RC Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia 2022
Lokomotiv Penza Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2021–22
Yenisey-STM 2021–22

The goal of the tournament is to bridge the development gap between European countries and attract new sponsors in new markets. All 27 matches are filmed and widely broadcast on TV and digital platforms.

The plan was to expand the Super Cup to include 12 teams by 2023 and 16 teams by 2025. [3]

Finals

YearFinalThird place match
HostWinnerScoreRunner-upHost3rd placeScore4th place
2021–22 Lisbon Flag of Georgia.svg Black Lion 17–14 Flag of Portugal.svg Lusitanos XV
2022 Tbilisi Flag of Georgia.svg Black Lion 29–17 Flag of Israel.svg Tel Aviv Heat
2023 Tbilisi Flag of Georgia.svg Black Lion 27–17 Flag of Israel.svg Tel Aviv Heat Amsterdam Flag of Romania.svg Romanian Wolves 41–17 Flag of Spain.svg Castilla y León Iberians

Performances by team

TeamWinnersRunner-up3rd place4th place5th place6th place7th place8th place
Flag of Georgia.svg Black Lion 3 (2021–22, 2022, 2023)
Flag of Israel.svg Tel Aviv Heat 2 (2022, 2023)1 (2021–22)
Flag of Portugal.svg Lusitanos XV 1 (2021–22)1 (2022)1 (2023)
Flag of Spain.svg Castilla y León Iberians 2 (2021–22, 2022)1 (2023)
Flag of Romania.svg Romanian Wolves 1 (2023)1 (2022)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Brussels Devils1 (2022)1 (2023)1 (2021–22)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg The Delta 1 (2021–22)2 (2022, 2023)
Flag of Russia.svg Yenisey-STM 1 (2021–22)
Flag of Russia.svg Lokomotiv Penza 1 (2021–22)
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Bohemia Rugby Warriors1 (2023)

Number of participating clubs by country

The following is a list of clubs that have played or will be playing in the Rugby Europe Super Cup group stage.

NationNo.ClubsYears
Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia (2)3 Black Lion 2021-22, 2022, 2023
1 RC Batumi 2022
Flag of Russia.svg Russia (2)1 Lokomotiv Penza 2021-22
1 Yenisey-STM 2021-22
Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal (1)3 Lusitanos 2021-22, 2022, 2023
Flag of Israel.svg Israel (1)3 Tel Aviv Heat 2021-22, 2022, 2023
Flag of Spain.svg Spain (1)3 Castilla y León Iberians 2021-22, 2022, 2023
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands (1)3 Delta 2021-22, 2022, 2023
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium (1)3Brussels Devils 2021-22, 2022, 2023
Flag of Romania.svg Romania (1)2 Romanian Wolves 2022, 2023
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic (1)1Bohemia Rugby Warriors 2023

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References

  1. "Rugby Europe launch The Super Cup". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  2. "Rugby Europe has confirmed the details of the third season of the Rugby Europe Super Cup, its club competition for the emerging rugby unions in Europe". rugbyeurope.eu. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  3. "A new dawn for Israeli rugby". Jerusalem Post. 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2021-07-27.