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Fans will be dancing in the Netherlands following critical Rugby Europe decision

10 Jul 2020

(Photo by Jurgen Kessler/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

The Netherlands have been confirmed winners of the 2019/20 Rugby Europe Trophy, the second division of Test rugby’s Europe scene, which gives them the chance to contest the play-off match for a shot at promotion to the Championship and involvement in qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

With the season interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rugby Europe board of directors proposed to the competing unions (Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine) to play the remaining games during the second half of 2020, with the understanding that no one will be forced to play and that no relegation will apply from Trophy to Conference level this year.

There were further decisions regarding match points scored in case of unability to play of one or both teams: Unability to play of both teams = draw (2 points for each team), unability to play of one team = defeat for that team by 25-0 (0 point) and victory for the opponent 25-0 (5 points).

Wasps and New Zealand’s Lima Sopoaga guests on The Breakdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

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Wasps and New Zealand’s Lima Sopoaga guests on The Breakdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

After a consultation process, three results have been confirmed, with another three matches to be scheduled at a later date.

The results were as follows: Switzerland/Netherlands: Draw; Ukraine/Switzerland: Draw; Lithuania/Poland: Victory of Lithuania. Games to be scheduled (date to be confirmed): Poland/Ukraine; Germany/Lithuania; Ukraine/Germany.

?Rugby Gold?
??? | Today we are looking back at all the @RugbyNLD scores from their home games in the Rugby Europe Trophy throughout the season! Congratulations ? pic.twitter.com/WUCqZ3fCBa
— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) July 10, 2020

Considering these results and the matches to be planned, the Netherlands can no longer be overtaken in the rankings and are officially declared as the winners of the 2019/2020 competition.

They will now face the country ranked last in the 2020 Rugby Europe Championship to reach the top European competition. Their opponent will be known following the final round of 2020 Rugby Europe Championship competition, which dates will be announced in due course.

"But what is more important, watching a game of rugby or death?"
– @timbovisser gives a player's perspective on BCD games and why it really didn't matter to him, talking to @heagneyl ???https://t.co/Bubf0Y0vwQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 10, 2020

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SL 10 minutes ago

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Was strange game, full of errors and the usual refereeing decisions. Both teams suffered as a result but Ospreys discipline was a major factor. I think this weekend will be different as the Ospreys will pick a full strength team but Scarlets will gain confidence in the fact that only Tipuric was missing in the forwards and they dominated that pack for the whole 80 minutes. If they can repeat that dominance at scrum and breakdown then the Scarlets backs will always have more to offer on the front foot.

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SL 20 minutes ago

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All non-British and Irish players should be excluded anyway. It should be for players born in the UK and Ireland not imports on residency! The Barbarians have sold out and are now a predominantly a SH team and the Lions are going the same way. It would be interesting to see what is on VDM’s passport, probably still South Africa. I feel quite strongly on this and would hope that the Lions committee see it the same way but money talks and so the decline begins.

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Mzilikazi 34 minutes ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Might work very well, Nick. Les Kiss as DoR and Stuart Lancaster as chief coach. Two very good rugby men working in tandem. Certainly worked out well at Leinster for Stuart. In some ways a similar situation exists for him now, as did when he moved to Dublin. Rejected by England then, this time rejected by Racing.

59 Go to comments

fl 43 minutes ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

He’ll be well into his 60s by then. Given the drop off so many top coaches seem to experience as they get older (e.g. Jones, Gatland) Kiss could be a riskier appointment than you’d think!

Coaching seems to be a young mans game. Rassie is 52 (so won his first RWC aged 46), Robertson 50, Farrell 49, Borthwick 45. Galthié is a little older at 56, but would you back him to still be an international coach 8 years time?

59 Go to comments

Mitch 52 minutes ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

The Reds have an Englishman on their staff and are doing well.

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IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

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Tom 1 hour ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

You can't help but feel there may be a slight conflict of interest with this article!

My hunch is that Lancaster may work best with another man as the DoR so would be keen to see how this goes. Potentially culminating with the redemption arc victory for England under Lanny and Faz at the 2031 RWC?!

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Stephen Richard 1 hour ago

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Stephen Richard 1 hour ago

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JW 1 hour ago

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He’s definitely wrong about Dmac too, yes. Pretty much everything he said, in either the words he used or the way he said, was off in that interview. Said Dmac was a “linebreaker” like what, hello, with his pass? The one question I thought they were close to getting right and actually being worthwhile, other than a few bits to Robinson on the running side, was when they asked about valuing experience and youth in his second year. Really missed the boat there as they got a mundane answer, needed to be more direct and ask how does the balance between selecting experience, the players that have class, and those players that in form change now that you’re into your second year. Would he flat out deny any change, or would there have been some honesty about how little it would be. He’d be proud enough to presume he was perfect last year so he’ll obviously been taking the same ‘perfect’ approach this year! One telling tid bit was when he made up some numbers about new caps going through a World Cup cycle, where he had 10 one year, 5 the next, a couple.. and stated that youve also got to be open to ‘bolters’ so you “don’t shut any doors”.. sounds like some pretty weak innovation incoming.

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Tom 1 hour ago

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NB 2 hours ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

It is one of life’s easier jobs Graham🤣

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NB 2 hours ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

An don the inside of the WB coaching group they use the Boks as a model for that!