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Rugby Europe Under-18 Championship

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Rugby Europe Under-18 Championship
SportRugby union
Instituted2004
Number of teams8 (2025)
CountryEurope (Rugby Europe)
HoldersImage Spain (2025)
Most titlesImage France (8 titles)

The Rugby Europe Under-18 Championship is an annual rugby union championship for Under-18 national teams, held since 2004. The championship is organised by rugby's European governing body, Rugby Europe.[1]

It has been held alternatingly in France and Italy, except for 2012 when it was held in Spain. The past editions were won by France, who won the championship in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and England, which won it in 2005, 2006 and 2012.[2] Ireland became the third nation to win the tournament when they beat England in the 2011 final.

History

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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.[3] The first championship in 2004 was won by France.[2]

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 won by France. Wales and Scotland did not compete in those years, and England did not compete in 2010.[2]

The 2011 edition of the competition saw the introduction of an elite division, above division one, the former A, made up of four teams, France, England, Wales and Ireland. The divisions below remained unchanged. It marked the first time that all countries participating in the six nations send a team to the European championship. The 2011 tournament was held in the regions of Armagnac and Bigorre, in southern France.[4] It was won by Ireland and saw the French team not reaching the final for the first time.

England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy left the tournament for the 2016 edition.

On March 12, 2020, following the recent evolution of COVID-19, Rugby Europe has announced a suspension of all its matches and tournaments, from Friday, March 13, 2020 until April 15, 2020.[5] On March 26 Rugby Europe has decided to extend the suspension of all its matches and tournaments for an indefinite period of time.[6] On April 8 Rugby Europe Board of Directors decided to cancel 2019 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship.[7]

Format

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In 2010, 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.[8] The D division, unlike in the past, was held in a separate tournament in 2010.

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.[8]

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.[8]

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.[8]

The 2011 format saw the introduction of a four-team elite division. Below this level, the divisions remained unchanged but were now numbered instead of being ordered by letters.[4]

In 2012 the modus was changed once more. The elite division now consisted of eight teams, as did the A and B divisions, with all three played at the same time and location while the C division consisted of four and the D division of three teams and were played separately.[9]

Championship finals

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Emergent nations championship

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Year Host Final Third place match
Winner Score Runner-up 3rd place Score 4th place
2000 [10] Sofia Image Belgium 56 – 17 Image Croatia Image Andorra 28 – 10 Image Bulgaria
2001 Split Image Netherlands 37 – 6 Image Moldova Image Croatia 79 – 0 Image Hungary
2002 Prague Image Belgium 5 – 0 Image Czech Republic Image Moldova 25 – 0 Image Latvia
2003 Amsterdam Image Poland 24 – 5 Image Netherlands Image Croatia 29 – 7 Image Bulgaria

European championship

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# Year Host Final Third place match
Winner Score Runner-up 3rd place Score 4th place
1 2004 [11] Treviso Image France 32–0 Image England Image Italy 19–6 Image Scotland
2 2005 [12] Lille Image England 16–9 Image France Image Scotland 10–6 Image Italy
3 2006 [13] Treviso Image England 15–7 Image France Image Italy 29–3 Image Scotland
4 2007 [14] Dax Image France 8–8 (Pen. 4 – 3) Image Ireland Image England 52–9 Image Italy
5 2008 [15] Treviso Image France 12–5 Image Ireland Image England 21–5 Image Italy
6 2009 [16] Toulon Image France 20–19 Image England Image Ireland 51–10 Image Romania
7 2010 [17] Treviso Image France 27–3 Image Ireland Image Georgia 18–15 Image Belgium
8 2011 [18] Tarbes Image Ireland 17–8 Image England Image Wales 15–6 Image France
9 2012 [9] Madrid Image England 25–13 Image Ireland Image France 10–7 Image Wales
10 2013 [19] Grenoble Image England 27–22 Image France Image Ireland 40–0 Image Scotland
11 2014 [20] Poznań Image England 30–14 Image Ireland Image Wales 31–30 Image France
12 2015 [21] Toulouse Image France 57–0 Image Georgia Image England 39–12 Image Italy
13 2016 [22] Lisbon Image France 42–0 Image Georgia Image Portugal 15–10 Image Belgium
14 2017 [22] Quimperlé Image France 36–18 Image Georgia Image Japan 22–16 Image Portugal
15 2018 [23] Poznań Image Georgia 8–3 Image France Image Spain 17–0 Image Portugal
16 2019 [24] Kaliningrad Image Georgia 20–10 Image Spain Image Portugal 38–27 Image Russia
— 2020 [25] Kaliningrad Tournament canceled 2020–2022 due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
17 2021 [26] Kaliningrad Image Georgia 27–0 Image Portugal Image Spain 46–7 Image Belgium
18 2022[27] Tbilisi / Rustavi Image Georgia 34–10 Image Portugal Image Spain 40–6 Image Belgium
19 2023[28] Prague Image Georgia 19–3 Image Portugal Image Spain 26–13 Image Netherlands
20 2024[29] Prague Image Georgia 32–11 Image Spain Image Netherlands 34–0 Image Czech Republic
21 2025[30] Prague Image Spain 16–11 Image Georgia Image Netherlands 26–15 Image Czech Republic
22 2026[31] Prague

Medals (2003-2025)

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RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Image France84113
2Image Georgia64111
3Image England53311
4Image Ireland1528
5Image Spain1247
6Image Portugal0325
7Image Italy0022
Image Netherlands0022
Image Wales0022
10Image Japan0011
Image Scotland0011
Totals (11 entries)21212163

Divisional champions

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Emergent nations championship 2000 to 2003:

Year A
2000 Image Belgium
2001 Image Netherlands
2002 Image Belgium
2003 Image Poland

The divisional champions from 2004 to 2010:

Year A B C D
2004 Image France Image Spain Image Croatia Not held
2005 Image England Image Portugal Image Latvia Image Hungary
2006 Image England Image Romania Image Netherlands Image Austria
2007 Image France Image Spain Image Lithuania Image Bulgaria
2008 Image France Image Belgium Image  Switzerland Image Serbia
2009 Image France Image Germany Image Czech Republic Image Luxembourg
2010 Image France Image Portugal Image Sweden Image Moldova

The divisional champions after the reorganisation in 2011:

Year Elite A B C D
2011 Image Ireland Image Scotland Image Spain Image Serbia Image Croatia
2012 Image England Image Belgium Image Poland Image Croatia Image Austria
2013 Image England Image Spain Image Netherlands Image Austria Image Denmark
2014 Image England Image Russia Image Sweden Image Latvia Image Moldova
2015 Image France Image Russia Image Ukraine Image Denmark Image Andorra

The divisional champions after the reorganisation in 2016:

Year Championship Trophy Conference 1 Conference 2
2016 Image France Image Poland Image Croatia Image Israel
2017 Image France Image Russia Image Lithuania Image  Switzerland
2018 Image Georgia Image Germany Image Croatia Not held
2019 Image Georgia Not held
2020 Tournament canceled 2020–2022 due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Image Georgia Not held
2022 Image Georgia Not held

The divisional champions after the reorganisation in 2023:

Year Championship Qualifier
2023 Image Georgia Image  Switzerland
2024 Image Georgia Image Germany
2025 Image Spain Image Poland
2026 Image Belgium

Placings

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The placings in the championship in order of the 2019 results:

Team 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Image Spain 1 8 2 1 8 3 2 1 3 1 2 5 5 4 3 2 3 3 3 2 1
Image Georgia 6 5 6 6 6 7 3 3 6 6 7 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Image Netherlands 6 7 1 4 6 5 3 7 2 1 7 7 2 2 8 7 6 5 4 3 3
Image Czech Republic 7 6 7 7 8 1 5 4 7 6 8 3 3 5 3 7 8 7 4 4
Image Germany 2 4 4 2 3 1 6 4 2 4 5 3 6 4 1 6 6 1 6 5
Image Portugal 8 1 8 8 4 2 1 5 8 8 8 6 3 3 4 3 2 2 2 5 6
Image Poland 5 3 5 3 2 4 4 5 1 3 4 6 1 6 2 2 3 1 7
Image Belgium 3 2 3 5 1 5 4 6 1 7 6 2 4 5 7 5 4 4 6 7 8 1
Image Romania 7 7 1 5 5 4 8 7 4 5 3 4 8 3 6 8 7 8 5 8 2 2
Image  Switzerland 2 5 2 2 1 8 6 8 4 7 2 4 7 1 5 1 8 2 3 3
Image Russia 5 6 7 7 7 6 7 8 5 2 1 1 7 1 5 4 5
Image France 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 4 3 2 4 1 1 1 2
Image Lithuania 8 3 3 1 7 7 7 3 8 5 6 2 6 1 4
Image Ukraine 4 5 6 6 5 6 8 6 3 3 4 1 4 8 6
Image Luxembourg 5 4 4 2 1 5 3 5 4 3 5 5 7 7
Image Latvia 3 1 8 8 5 7 4 4 7 8 1 6 8 2 8
Image Croatia 1 8 5 8 6 2 2 1 1 2 7 7 1 4 1
Image Israel 7 4 8 6 8 4 3 3 3 5 1 5 2
Image Hungary 8 1 6 4 2 3 2 2 8 3 2 2 5 3 3
Image Moldova 2 3 5 5 1 5 3 4 2 3 6 7 4
Image Slovakia 4 6 5
Image Bulgaria 6 7 3 1 4 4 8 7 2 2 4 3 3 8 6
Image Denmark 4 6 4 5 7 5 6 6 4 1 3 1 2 3
Image Andorra 2 1 1 4 4
Image Serbia 8 2 2 1 6 3 1 6 6 5 8 3 2
Image Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 6 4 6 2 2 3 3 2 2
Image Malta 4 5
Image Slovenia 3 5 3 6
Image England 2 1 1 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 3
Image Italy 3 4 3 4 4 8 5 2 7 7 6 4
Image Wales 3 4 5 3 5
Image Ireland 5 2 2 3 2 1 2 3 2 7
Image Scotland 4 3 4 1 5 4 5 8
Image Sweden 5 2 7 3 3 2 1 2 6 8 1 8
Image Austria 6 1 7 6 8 7 8 1 1 8
Image Norway 4 6 5 4
Image Armenia 3
France Côte d'Azur Selection 7
Image Monaco 8
Elite Division/Championship A Division/Trophy/Qualifier B Division/Conference 1 C Division/Conference 2 D Division

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ U18 - 2010 FIRA-AER Justin Bridou European Championship FIRA-AER website, accessed: 1 May 2010
  2. 1 2 3 2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website - History Archived 2011-03-13 at the Wayback Machine accessed: 1 May 2010
  3. ↑ Forty years of age grade growth in Europe Archived February 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine IRB website, published: 16 April 2009, accessed: 2 May 2010
  4. 1 2 U18 - 6 Nations play off FIRA-AER website, accessed: 6 April 2011
  5. ↑ "Statement - Suspension of Games & Tournaments | Rugby Europe". www.rugbyeurope.eu. Archived from the original on 2020-03-19.
  6. ↑ "Statement: Competitions Suspension Extended | Rugby Europe". www.rugbyeurope.eu. Archived from the original on 2020-03-26.
  7. ↑ "COVID-19 Statement: Board of Directors".
  8. 1 2 3 4 2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship official website - Fixtures Archived 2010-04-13 at the Wayback Machine accessed: 1 May 2010
  9. 1 2 FIRA-AER website - 2012 groups accessed: 5 April 2012
  10. ↑ "Site Officiel de la FIRA A.E.R. - Compétitions Juniors". Archived from the original on 2001-07-09. Retrieved 2001-07-09.
  11. ↑ "Rugby Union European Competitions".
  12. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2005 results accessed: 3 May 2010
  13. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2006 results accessed: 3 May 2010
  14. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2007 results accessed: 3 May 2010
  15. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2008 results accessed: 3 May 2010
  16. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2009 results accessed: 3 May 2010
  17. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2010 results accessed: 3 May 2010
  18. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2011 groups accessed: 6 April 2011
  19. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2013 groups accessed: 30 March 2013
  20. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2014 groups accessed: 30 March 2014
  21. ↑ FIRA-AER website - 2015 groups Archived 2015-04-08 at the Wayback Machine accessed: 26 March 2015
  22. 1 2 FIRA-AER website - 2016 groups Archived 2016-04-06 at the Wayback Machine accessed: 27 March 2016
  23. ↑ Rugby Europe website - 2018 edition accessed: 31 March 2018
  24. ↑ Rugby Europe website - 2019 edition accessed: 20 April 2019
  25. ↑ 2020 - U18 Championship
  26. ↑ "U18 Championship 2021".
  27. ↑ "U18 Championship 2022".
  28. ↑ "U18 Championship 2023".
  29. ↑ "U18 Championship 2024".
  30. ↑ "U18 Championship 2025".
  31. ↑ "U18 Championship 2026".
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