Rugby League European Championship

The Rugby League European Championship (formerly known as the European Cup and European Nations Cup) is a rugby league football tournament for European national teams that was first held in 1935.

European Championship
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 Rugby League European Championship
SportRugby league
Founded1935; 89 years ago (1935)
No. of teams8 (as of 2023)
CountryEurope
Most recent
champion(s)
 France (9th title)
Most titles England (14 titles)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toEuropean Championship B
Official websiteOfficial website

Originally, the European Cup had three teams, with England, Wales and France each playing each other once. Unlike the Tri-Nations series, there was no final; the team finishing at the top of the group was deemed the winner. From 1949 to 1956, a fourth Other Nationalities team entered the European Cup.

In 2003 the tournament rights were acquired by the European Rugby League and saw an expansion of the tournament reflecting the then recent growth of the sport across Europe.

History

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1935–1996: Original competition

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The French captain, Georges Ailleres, carried on his teammates' shoulders after a win against England during the 1969-70 tournament.

The Rugby League European Championships was originally a tri-nations tournament between England, Wales, and France playing each other in a single round robin. The tournament was played annually, with the exception of the years of the Second World War.

In 1946–47, the tournament was altered, with each team playing each other twice, home and away.

The 1949–50 tournament saw return to single round robin format. The tournament also saw the Other Nationalities team brought out of hiatus for the first time since the 1930s. This team consisted of players who were not English, Welsh, or French playing in the British and French leagues.

The 1955–56 tournament had no Welsh team, though Welsh players featured for Other Nationalities.

The tournament was not played again until 1969–70, and not again until 1975 with the original three-team format.

The tournament stayed as part of the calendar until 1981 where it was again cancelled thereafter, but saw a final revival in 1995 and 1996.

2003–2006: Nations Cup era and RLEF control

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In 2003, the Rugby League European Federation gained rights to the tournament and revived it under the name European Nations Cup.[1] This saw the addition of Scotland, Ireland, and Russia with teams being split into two groups of three with the group winers competing in the final. The same format and teams featured in 2004.

The 2005 tournament saw England withdraw as a result of reduced competitiveness of the expanded tournament. A qualification tournament was held to find a team to replace England which saw Georgia beat Serbia and the Netherlands to earn the place.

The tournament again when on hiatus with plans to reform the top tier. 2006 saw the introduction of a B and C tournament as a result of the increased number of rugby league playering nations in Europe.[1]

2009–2018: European Cup era

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The tournament returned in 2009 under the name European Cup under the same format as 2006 but with Serbia and Italy replacing Russia and Georgia.[2] France were absence from the 2009 edition due being invited to the 2009 Rugby League Four Nations.[3]

Poor performance from both newcomers would see the 2010 tournament reduced to four teams: France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales under a single round robin reminiscent of the original tournament and played every two years. Wales won the tournament, thus qualified for the 2011 Rugby League Four Nations.

The 2012 tournament provided problems for the new biennial schedule. France and Wales opted out of the tournament, wanting stronger tests in preparation for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, and arranged a separate tri-nations tournament with England. Italy and England reserves were asked to replace France and Wales though travel issues prevented Italy from participating. England reserves won the tournament.

The usual format was restored for the 2014 tournament which was won by Scotland, who as a result qualified for the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations. Learning from 2012, the 2016 tournament was held a year prior so as to not interfere with preparations for the 2017 World Cup.

The 2018 tournament acted as the 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup European qualification tournament.

2020–present: Promotion and relegation era

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The Rugby League European Federation announced changes for the 2020 tournament with promotion and relegation between each tier of the tournament for first and last place teams respectfully. The tournament was also expanded to include a D tier as well. The 2020 European Championship was to consist of six teams with one team being relegated to Euro B. In July 2020, the 2020 edition of the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

The next tournament, scheduled for 2022 but pushed back to 2023 due to the postponement of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was also cancelled due to the late withdrawal of France hosting the 2025 Rugby League World Cup as it could no longer be used as the European qualification tournament.[5] This edition was set to feature a mass expansion of the tournament, featuring eight teams and the return of England. This edition would have also seeen Euro C and D cancelled due to all teams moving up divisions in the expanded tournament.[6][7]

Team appearances

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Team Appearances Debut Most recent Best result
  France 32 1935 2023 Champions (9 times)
  Wales 32 1935 2023 Champions (7 times)
  England 30 1935 2023 Champions (14 times)
  Scotland 9 2003 2023 Champions (2014)
  Ireland 9 2003 2023 Runners-up (2004, 2012)
Other Nationalities 6 1949–50 1955–56 Champions (1952–53, 1955–56)
  Russia 3 2003 2005 Group stage (2003, 2004, 2005)
  Serbia 2 2009 2023 Group stage (2009)
  Georgia 1 2005 2005 Group stage (2005)
  Lebanon 1 2009 2009 Third place (2009)
  England Knights 1 2012 2012 Champions (2012)
  Italy 1 2023 2023 TBA
  Spain 1 2023 2023 TBA

Results

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Championship era (1935–1996)

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Season Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
1935  
England
 
France
 
Wales
1935–36  
Wales
 
England
 
France
1936–37  
Wales
 
England
 
France
1938  
Wales
 
England
 
France
1938–39  
France
 
Wales
 
England
1945–46  
England
 
France
 
Wales
1946–47  
England
 
Wales
 
France
1947–48  
England
 
France
 
Wales
1948–49  
France
 
England
 
Wales
1949–50  
England
Other Nationalities  
Wales
 
France
1950–51  
France
Other Nationalities  
England
 
Wales
1951–52  
France
 
England
Other Nationalities  
Wales
1952–53 Other Nationalities  
Wales
 
England
 
France
1953–54  
England
Other Nationalities  
France
 
Wales
1955–56 Other Nationalities  
France
 
England
1969–70  
England
 
France
 
Wales
1975  
England
 
Wales
 
France
1977  
France
 
Wales
 
England
1978  
England
 
Wales
 
France
1979  
England
 
France
 
Wales
1980  
England
 
France
 
Wales
1981  
France
 
England
 
Wales
1995  
Wales
 
England
 
France
1996  
England
 
Wales
 
France

Nations Cup era (2003–2005)

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Season Champions Final Score Runners-up
2003  
England
68–6  
France
2004  
England
36–12  
Ireland
2005  
France
38–16  
Wales

European Cup era (2009–2018)

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Season Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
2009  
Wales
 
Scotland
 
Lebanon
 
Ireland
2010  
Wales
 
France
 
Scotland
 
Ireland
2012  
England Knights
 
Ireland
 
Scotland
2014  
Scotland
 
France
 
Ireland
 
Wales
2015  
Wales
 
France
 
Ireland
 
Scotland
2018  
France
 
Wales
 
Ireland
 
Scotland

Summary

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Champions Count Years
  England 14 1935, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1969–70, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1996, 2003, 2004
  France 9 1938–39, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1977, 1981, 2005, 2011, 2018
  Wales 7 1935–36, 1936–37, 1938, 1995, 2009, 2010, 2015
Other Nationalities 2 1952–53, 1955–56
  England Knights 1 2012
  Scotland 1 2014


See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b "History".
  2. ^ "Rugby League Europe Federation". Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  3. ^ Dean Ritchie (24 February 2009). "UK stuff-up in league of its own". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  4. ^ "2020 European Championships cancelled by RLEF | LoveRugbyLeague". 10 July 2020.
  5. ^ "European Championships cancelled as international calendar left in tatters". LoveRugbyLeague. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  6. ^ "ERL Congratulates World Cup Organizers & Outlines International Fixture Schedule". europeanrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  7. ^ Willacy, Gavin (23 February 2023). "The European Championship offers rugby league fans quirky delights". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
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