2001–02 European Nations Cup First Division

The 2001–02 European Nations Cup was the third edition of the newly reformed European championship. It was the first to be decided over two years.

2001–02 European Nations Cup
Date4 February 2002 – 7 April 2002
Countries Georgia
 Netherlands
 Portugal
 Romania
 Russia
 Spain
Final positions
Champions Romania
Antim Cup Romania
Tournament statistics
Matches played30
Tries scored102 (3.4 per match)

Since the format had changed at the end of 2001, Georgia were allowed to keep their 2001 title. The championship simply carried on from 2001 with the standings starting as they had finished and playing the reversed fixtures.

Also new to the championship was the introduction of Promotion/relegation between Division 1 and 2A. The Netherlands, after three consecutive bottom-placed finishes, were relegated.

The champions of the first two-year season were Romania, overtaking Georgia's lead from 2001.

Table

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Place Nation Games Points Table
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1   Romania 5 5 0 0 185 77 +108 15
2   Georgia 5 3 1 1 184 84 +100 12
3   Russia 5 3 1 1 180 87 +93 12
4   Portugal 5 2 0 3 93 130 −37 9
5   Spain 5 1 0 4 128 119 +9 7
6   Netherlands 5 0 0 5 27 300 −273 5

Results

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For the 2000–01 season, see here.

Week 1

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3 February 2002
Romania  44–17  Portugal
Try: Bălan
Bejan
Brezoianu
Dumitri
Gontineac
Maftei
Petrache
Con: Tofan (3)
Pen: Tofan
Try: Garvão
Pen: Hoffmann (4)
Stadionul Dinamo, Bucharest
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Bernd Gabbei (Germany)

3 February 2002
Russia  35–25  Spain
Try: Grachev (3)
Ilarionov
Simonov (2)
Con: Simonov
Pen: Simonov
Try: Velazco Querol
Con: Martinéz Torres
Pen: Martinéz Torres (4)
Velazco Querol
Drop: Velazco Querol
Stadium Junost, Krasnodar
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Elio Petri (Italy)

Week 2

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16 February 2002
Portugal  23–27  Georgia
Try: Aguilar
Gonçalves
Vareiro
Con: Hoffmann
Pen: Hoffmann (2)
Try: Giorgadze (2)
Khekhelashvili
Urjukashvili
Con: Jimsheladze (2)
Pen: Urjukashvili
Lisbon University Stadium, Lisbon
Referee: Daniel Pruvot (France)

17 February 2002
Russia  73–10  Netherlands
Try: Dyatlov
Grachev
Ilarionov
Rachkov (2)
Sergeev (2)
Simonov
Zikov
Con: Budnikov (3)
Simonov (4)
Pen: Budnikov (2)
Simonov
Try: Keulemans
Con: Meek
Pen: Meek
Stadium Janost, Krasnodar
Referee: Bernd Gabbei (Germany)

17 February 2002
Romania  34–12  Spain
Try: Bălan
Gontineac
Petrache
Tofan
Tonița
Con: Tofan (3)
Pen: Tofan
Try: O. Ripol
R. Ripol
Con: Martinéz Torres
Stadi 1 Mai, Constanta
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Alessandro Milan (Italy)

Week 3

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3 March 2002
Georgia  12–12  Russia
Pen: Jimsheladze (4)Pen: Rachkov
Simonov (3)
Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Nereo Dordolo (Italy)

3 March 2002
Portugal  13–10  Spain
Try: Aguilar
Cunha
Pen: Hoffmann
Try: De la Calle
Souto
Complexo Desportivo, Caldas da Rainha
Referee: Jean-Christophe Gastou (France)

Week 4

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24 March 2002
Spain  18–34  Georgia
Try: Criado Garachana (2)
Souto
Pen: Díez
Try: Katsadze
Khamashuridze (2)
Labadze
Zibzibadze
Con: Jimsheladze (3)
Pen: Jimsheladze
Campo Universitário, Madrid
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Salvatore de Falco (Italy)

24 March 2002
Netherlands  11–27  Portugal
Try: Breinburg
Pen: Kuijer (2)
Try: Aguilar
Hoffmann (2)
Portela
Penalty try
Con: Hoffmann
Amsterdam
Referee: Johan Meersman (Belgium)

24 March 2002
Russia  22–27  Romania
Try: Kuzin
Simonov
Zikov
Con: Simonov (2)
Pen: Simonov
Try: Brezoianu
Tofan
Con: Tofan
Pen: Tofan (5)
Stadium Junost, Krasnodar
Attendance: 3,000

Week 5

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6 April 2002
Spain  63–3  Netherlands
Try: Abril Aparicio
Macías Gimeno (2)
Souto
Trillo Martinéz
Velazco Querol (3)
Zapatero
Con: Martinéz Torres (4)
Velazco Querol (2)
Pen: Martinéz Torres (2)
Pen: Kuijer
Estadio Monte Romero, Murcia
Referee: Johan Meersman (Belgium)

6 April 2002
Georgia  23–31  Romania
Try: Chkhaidze
Urjukashvili
Con: Urjukashvili (2)
Pen: Urjukashvili (3)
Try: Brezoianu
Săuan
Țincu
Con: Tofan (2)
Pen: Tofan (2)
Drop: Tofan (2)
Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Giovanni Morandin (Italy)

7 April 2002
Portugal  13–38  Russia
Try: Cordeiro
Garvão
Pen: Hoffmann
Try: Fedchenko
Hendriks
Rachkov (2)
Simonov
Con: Simonov (2)
Drop: Simonov (3)
Campo de Santa Rita, Lousã
Referee: Éric Darrière (France)
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