The 2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship was the seventh annual international rugby union competition for Under 18 national rugby union teams in Europe.2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website – History accessed: 1 May 2010 The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby (FIRA-AER). U18 – 2010 FIRA-AER Justin Bridou European Championship FIRA-AER website, accessed: 1 May 2010 The competition was contested by 24 men's junior national teams and was held in late March and early April 2010.FIRA AER U18 Euro Championship IRFU website, accessed: 2 May 2010 It was hosted by the Italian region of Veneto, with the final played at the home ground of Benetton Treviso.2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website – Stadiums accessed: 1 May 2010
The tournament was won by France, who won its fifth European championship and its fourth in a row,2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website – Home accessed: 15 May 2010 with Ireland finishing runners-up.2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website – Fixtures accessed: 1 May 2010
It was sponsored by French company Justin Bridou and therefore officially called the 2010 Justin Bridou European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship.
Overview
History The European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship was first held in 2004, in Treviso, Italy. It replaced the previously held European Under-18 Emergent Nations Championship, which had first been held in 2000.Forty years of age grade growth in Europe IRB website, published: 16 April 2009, accessed: 2 May 2010 The first championship in 2004 was won by France.
The following two championships, held in Lille, France, in 2005 and again in Treviso in 2006, were won by England. Alternating between France and Italy, the next four championships were held in Biarritz, Treviso again, Toulon and once more in Treviso in 2010. All four were taken out by France, but of Europes top rugby playing nations, England, Wales and Scotland did not take part in the latest edition.
Format The championship, similar to previous editions, was organised in an A, B and C Division, with A being the highest and C the lowest. Each division consisted of eight teams and each team played three competition games, with a quarter final, semi final and final/placing game.
The quarter finals were played according to a seeding list, with the winners moving on to the first to fourth place semi finals while the losers would enter the fifth to eighth place semi finals.
The winners of the semi-finals one to four would play in the division final while the losers would play for third place. Similarly, the winners of the fifth to eighth semi finals would play for fifth place while the losers would play for seventh.
The winner of the A division was crowned European champions while the eighth placed team would be relegated to the B division. Similarly, the winner of B and C division would move up a division for 2011 while the last placed teams would be relegated. This meant, France was crowned European champions while Romania finished on the relegation spot. Portugal won the B division and earned promotion while Ukraine was relegated and replaced by Sweden, the C champions.
Venues The games of the 2010 championship were played at five different locations and stadiums: Casale sul Sile – Stadio Comunale Giovanni Eugenio Conegliano – Stadio Comunale San Donà di Piave – Stadio Mario e Romolo Pacifici San Michele al Tagliamento – Impianto sportivo Malafesta Treviso – Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Changes for 2011 The 2011 edition of the championship is scheduled to see a return of the absent three home nations, England, Scotland and Wales. For this purpose, the A division will be enlarged to twelve teams, while B and C remain at their current strength.U18-EM: Frankreich verteidigt Titel Rugby-Journal, published: 3 April 2010, accessed: 2 May 2010
D Division The D division forms the fourth level, below the C division, of European Under-18 rugby. In 2010, only four teams compete at this level, at a tournament held at Chișinău, Moldova, from 19 to 22 May 2010. It consists of the teams of Moldova, Israel, Croatia and Norway.U18 – 2010 Group D FIRA-AER website, accessed: 2 May 2010
Teams and final standings The participating teams and their final standings were:2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website – Standings accessed: 1 May 2010
Pos A Division 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Pos B Division 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Pos C Division 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Pos D Division 1 2 3 4
Games The results of the games:
A Division
Championship
Relegation
B Division
Championship
Relegation The Switzerland versus Ukraine game was tied after regular time and was decided by penalty kicks.FIRA – AER website – Switzerland versus Ukraine game accessed: 1 May 2010
C Division
Championship
Relegation The Denmark versus Austria game was tied after regular time and was decided by penalty kicks.FIRA – AER website – Denmark versus Austria game accessed: 1 May 2010
D Division Held at a different time and location as the other three divisions, in Moldova, these are the results:
References
External links FIRA-AER official website 2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website