The 2012–14 European Nations Cup First Division is the premier rugby union competition below the Six Nations Championship in Europe. It is divided into two tiers; Division 1A and Division 1B.
The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away. From 2009 onward, the title is awarded according to a one-year ranking.
The competition has been slightly altered for the 2012–14 edition. The top tier Division 1A has seen the relegation of Ukraine to Division 1B. They have been replaced with Belgium, who finished at the top of Division 1B in the 2010–12 season. The bottom tier division 1B has seen the relegation of the Netherlands to the European Nations Cup Second Division. They have been replaced by Sweden who won promotion from Division 2A.
The champions of 1B will be promoted to Division 1A for the 2015–16 season, while the last placed team in each division will be relegated.
2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying
As with the 2008–2010 tournament, this edition will also serve a role in the qualification process for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The top two teams at the end of the overall ENC Division 1A 2013–14 tournament will qualify directly for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The third placed team will enter a playoff series against the champions of Division 1B and the leaders of the four levels of the ENC Second Division as of the end of the 2012–2013 season. The winner of this playoff will advance to the repechage playoff against teams from other continents.
Format Table points are determined as follows:FIRA-AER – New bonus point system FIRA-AER website, published: 15 November 2010, accessed: 15 February 2011 4 points for a win 2 points for a draw 0 point for a loss 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries in a match 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points or fewer
Division 1A 2013 Table ENC 2013 champions
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus For Against Diff1 (17)5410113561+74192 (19)5410111465+49193 (20)53022110116−6144 (22)511317596−2175 (21)5014392131−3956 (18)5023172129−575 Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses
Games
2014 Table ENC 2014 champions
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus For Against Diff15500215145+1062225401312841+8719353022109133−241445203287114−271055104170126−56565005142128−861
Games
Table 2013–2014 Relegated to Division 1B
Place Nation Games Points Bonuspoints Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Diff110910286106+180341210811242106+136438310604219249−30428410226159243−84315510217145222−77212610019134259−12546Points were awarded to the teams as follows:Win – 4 pointsDraw – 2 points4 or more tries – 1 pointLoss within 7 points – 1 pointLoss greater than 7 points – 0 points
Division 1B 2012–13 Table 2013 champions
Place Nation Games Points Bonuspoints Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference1 (31)540119189+1024202 (34)5302119136−173153 (28)53029571+241134 (38)5302122130−81135 (30)520312212202106 (40)500556157−10111 Pre-tournament rankings in parentheses
Games
Goalpost crossbars were fixed at 4m, instead of 3m.
Season 2013–14 2014 champions
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus For Against Difference15401320791+1161925401314892+561935302210510501445203286153−6710552031113112+1965005071177−1061
Games
Table 2012–2014 Promoted to Division 1A Relegated to Division 2A
Place Nation Games Points Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus For Against Diff1108027398180+218392107036267228+393431050542272270244105052208183+25225103072193307−114146102083142310−16811
See also European Nations Cup (rugby union) Rugby Europe Six Nations Championship Antim Cup 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying
References
External links FIRA-AER official website