Rugby Europe Women's Championship

Last updated
Rugby Europe Women's Championship
Current season, competition or edition:
Sports current event.svg 2024 Rugby Europe Women's Championship
Sport Rugby union
Founded1988;36 years ago (1988)
No. of teams13
CountriesFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Continent Europe
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
(2024)
Most titlesFlag of Spain.svg  Spain (11 titles)

The Rugby Europe Women's Championship is an international competition contested between women's national teams who are members of Rugby Europe (known from 1999 to 2014 as FIRA - Association of European Rugby, and FIRA before that). The competition has its origins in a four nation "European Cup" held in 1988 but did not become an official FIRA competition until 1995. The competition has grown significantly and in some years it attracts sufficient entrants for it to be divided into two "Pools" (A and B) with the eight highest ranked entrants in any year (based on Rugby Europe rankings) in Pool A.

Contents

Since 2000 only the winner of the tournament held in between the World Cups (every four years, as highlighted) is officially recognised "European Champions", although teams winning tournaments in other years are often unofficially also described as "European Champions". This can cause some confusion, not least because the structure of the four-yearly tournament is invariably identical to the annual event. To make identification easier the competitions in the four yearly cycle are highlighted.

The only major difference between the "official" European Championships and other tournaments is that in the latter, between 2001 and 2007, England and France tended not to send their full strength national squads to the competition - though until 2007 they still played as "England" or "France". This has resulted in some confusion about the status of games played by these nations - England do not consider their games to be full internationals (or "tests") [1] and do not award caps, whereas while France also do not give caps to their players in such matches, they do recognise the games as tests matches. [2] FIRA and all other competing nations consider all the games to be "tests". [3]

The 2009 tournament acted as Europe's qualification tournament for the World Cup (all entrants sending full strength squads), after which the test match status problem was finally resolved. From 2010 onwards it was announced [4] that the non-Championship tournaments would be known as the "European Trophy" and any Six Nations entrants would officially be "A" sides (though in 2010 Italy, as they had not qualified for the 2010 World Cup, entered their full strength squad).

Championship tournament

YearHostFinalThird place match
WinnerScoreRunner-up3rd placeScore4th place
1988 [5]
Details
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of France.svg
France
8 - 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
10-6 Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
1995
Details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
22 - 6 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
23 - 19 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
1996
Details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of France.svg
France
15 - 10 Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
11 - 6 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
1997
Details
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of England.svg
England
24 - 8 Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
25 - 8 Flag of France.svg
France
1998
No tournament due to the 1998 Rugby World Cup
1999
Details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of France.svg
France
13 - 5 Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
15 - 13 Flag of England.svg
England
2000
Details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of France.svg
France
31 - 0 Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of England.svg
England
40 - 20 Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
2001
Details
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
15 - 3 Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of England.svg
England
34 - 23 Flag of France.svg
France
2002
Details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
35 - 24 Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
12 - 10 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
2003
Details
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
16 - 10 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
15 - 10 Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
2004
Details
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of France.svg
France
8 - 6 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
11 - 10 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
2005
Details
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
22 - 3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
17 - 5 Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
2006
Details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
28 - 7 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
- Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
2007
Details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of England.svg
England
27 - 17 Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
37 - 0 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
2008
Details
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of England.svg
England
12 - 6 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
IRFU flag.svg
Ireland
12 - 12
(try count)
Flag of France.svg
France
2009
Details
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Joint
winners
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Joint
third
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
2010
Details
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
31-13 Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
47-19 Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
2011
Details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of England.svg
England A
5-3 Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of France.svg
France A
17-7 Flag of Italy.svg
Italy A
2012
Details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of England.svg
England
Pool Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Pool Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
2013
Details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
WC QF Flag of Samoa.svg
Samoa
2014
Details
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
12-3 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
34-21 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
2015
Details
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
50-20 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
41-15 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic
2016
Details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
35-7 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
74-5 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
2017
No tournament due to the 2017 Rugby World Cup
2018
Details
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
40-7 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
24-5 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
2019
Details
Various Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
54-0 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
22-5 Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
2020
Details
Various Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Round-robin Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
2021
No tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Details
Various Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Round-robin Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
2023
Details
Various Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Round-robin Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
2024
Details
Various Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Round-robin Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Portugal.svg
Portugal
Round-robin Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden

Performance of nations

All tournaments

Teams reaching the top four
TeamTitlesRunners-upThird placeFourth place
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 11522
Flag of France.svg  France 5413
Flag of England.svg  England 5121
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 3134
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1654
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1231
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1132
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 112
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 11
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 21
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 11
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 1
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 15
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 22
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 1
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1

Official FIRA tournaments

  1. Flag of France.svg  France - 4 titles, 3 runners-up, 1 third, 3 fourths
  2. Flag of England.svg  England - 4 titles, 1 runner-up, 2 thirds, 1 fourth
  3. Flag of Spain.svg  Spain - 3 titles, 5 runners-up, 3 thirds
  4. Flag of Italy.svg  Italy - 3 titles, 1 runner-up, 2 thirds, 2 fourth
  5. Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland - 2 titles, 1 runner-up, 2 thirds, 1 fourth
  6. Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden - 1 title, 1 runner-up, 2 thirds, 2 fourth
  7. Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands - 2 runners-up, 2 third, 4 fourths
  8. Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales - 1 runner-up, 1 fourth
  9. Flag of Germany.svg  Germany - 1 third, 1 fourth
  10. Flag of Russia.svg  Russia - 1 third
  11. IRFU flag.svg  Ireland - 1 third

"European Championships"

  1. Flag of France.svg  France - 5 titles, 1 runner-up, 2 fourths
  2. Flag of England.svg  England - 2 titles, 1 runner-up, 1 third, 1 fourth
  3. Flag of Spain.svg  Spain - 1 title, 3 runners-up, 1 third
  4. Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland - 1 runner-up, 2 thirds, 1 fourth
  5. Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales - 1 runner-up, 1 fourth
  6. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain - 1 runner-up
  7. Flag of Italy.svg  Italy - 2 thirds
  8. Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands - 1 third, 2 fourths
  9. IRFU flag.svg  Ireland - 1 third

Trophy tournament

YearHostFinalThird place match
WinnerScoreRunner-up3rd placeScore4th place
2000
Details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of France.svg
French Flanders
Pool Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
2001
Details
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Pool Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Pool Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
2003
Details
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
19 - 12 Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Flag of Norway.svg
Norway
10 - 10
(3 - 2 penalties)
Flag of Denmark.svg
Denmark
2004
Details
Flag of France.svg
France
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Pool Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Flag of Norway.svg
Norway
Pool Flag of Denmark.svg
Denmark
2005
Details
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Pool Flag of Norway.svg
Norway
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2006
Details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Pool Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Flag of Norway.svg
Norway
2007
Details
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of France.svg
French Universities
13 - 7 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
15 - 0 Flag of Romania.svg
Romania
2008
Details
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
31 - 14 Flag of France.svg
French Defence
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
19 - 15 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
2012
Details
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
10 - 3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
45 - 17 Flag of Finland.svg
Finland
2014
Details
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
12 - 3 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
31 - 24 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
2015
Details
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Belgium
50 - 20 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
41 - 15 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic
2018–19
Details
Various Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic
Round-robin Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
Flag of Finland.svg
Finland
2019–20
Details
Various Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic
Round-robin Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Round-robin Flag of Finland.svg
Finland
2021–22
Details
Various Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
Round-robin Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
Switzerland
Round-robin Flag of Finland.svg
Finland
2022–23
Details
Various Flag of Portugal.svg
Portugal
Round-robin Flag of Finland.svg
Finland
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Round-robin Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic

Performance of nations

  1. Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands - 4 titles, 3 runners-up
  2. Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden - 3 titles, 1 runner-up
  3. Flag of Russia.svg  Russia - 2 titles, 3 third
  4. Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium - 1 title, 2 runners-up, 2 fourths
  5. Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic - 1 title, 1 runners-up, 1 fourth
  6. Flag of France.svg  France French Flanders - 1 title
  7. Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal - 1 title
  8. Flag of France.svg French Universities - 1 title
  9. Flag of Germany.svg  Germany - 2 runners-up, 4 thirds
  10. Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland - 2 runners-up, 1 third, 1 fourth
  11. Flag of Norway.svg  Norway - 1 runner-up, 3 thirds
  12. Flag of France.svg French Defence - 1 runner-up
  13. Flag of Finland.svg  Finland - 1 third, 2 fourth
  14. Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1 third
  15. Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark - 2 fourths
  16. Flag of Romania.svg  Romania - 1 fourth

See also

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References

  1. http://www.rfu.com/womens
  2. See statistical data on the French RFU website
  3. As detailed in reports on the various national websites
  4. See [2010 Women's European Trophy] for details
  5. This tournament was not run by FIRA