Rugby Europe Sevens
The Rugby Europe Sevens are a series of rugby sevens tournaments held by Rugby Europe. It was formerly known as the FIRA-AER Sevens until 2013, and the Sevens Grand Prix Series until 2021.[1] Only one annual tournament existed prior to 2011, when Rugby Europe created a series of tournaments, following the model of the World Rugby Sevens Series. The main division is known as the Rugby Europe Championship Series, formerly known the Grand Prix, followed by the Trophy Series, Conference 1, and Conference 2.[1] The competitions use a promotion/relegation system.
Current season, competition or edition: 2023 Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series | |
| Sport | Rugby sevens |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 (initially) 2011 (reformed) |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | European |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Spain (2nd title) |
| Most titles |  Portugal (8 titles) |
Format
In the Grand Prix, twelve teams play in several tournaments each summer throughout Europe. Each tournament spans two days — the first day is a pool phase and the second day is a knockout phase. During the pool phase, the teams are divided into three pools of four teams each. After the pool phase, the top eight teams (two first of each pool, plus two best-performing third place teams) advance to the Cup tournament; the other four teams play for the Challenge Trophy.
At the end of each tournament, teams are awarded points based on their performance. At the end of the series, the team with the most points is declared the champion. The team with the fewest points is relegated from the Grand Prix to the Trophy competition, whereas the champion of the Trophy competition is promoted to next season's Grand Prix.
History
2002–2010
A number of qualifying tournaments lead up to a finals tournament, which functions as the European championship and, in 2008, also as the qualifying stage for the Sevens World Cup.
The first European Championship was held in 2002 in Heidelberg, Germany, and was won by Portugal, the team that won every men's championship since except 2007 and 2009, when Russia won. In 2003, the tournament was again held in Heidelberg and, in 2004, Palma de Mallorca, Spain was the host. From 2005 to 2007, Moscow was the host of the tournament.
Hanover held the tournament for the first time in 2008 and did so again in 2009. In 2010, the tournament return to Moscow.
Since 2011
In 2011, the format of the competition changed. The twelve best teams meet on several tournaments, following the model of the IRB Sevens World Series. The name also changed, the European Championship was known as Sevens Grand Prix Series. The first edition of this competition was held in 2011 and won by Portugal.
Tournaments
Championship Series
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Team Records
| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third | Fourth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal |
8 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011) | 1 (2012) | — | 1 (2013) |
 Russia |
4 (2007, 2009, 2016, 2017) | 2 (2005, 2006) | 4 (2010, 2013, 2018, 2021) | 3 (2011, 2014, 2015) |
 France |
2 (2014, 2015) | 7 (2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019) | 3 (2012, 2022) | 3 (2002, 2005, 2006) |
| Spain |
2 (2021, 2022) | 1 (2015) | 3 (2011, 2016, 2017) | 5 (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2019) |
 England |
2 (2012, 2013) | 1 (2011) | 2 (2014, 2015) | 1 (2018) |
 Germany |
1 (2019) | 2 (2018, 2021) | 2 (2002, 2022) | 2 (2003, 2016) |
 Ireland |
1 (2018) | 1 (2017) | 2 (2004, 2019) | 1 (2008) |
 Italy |
— | 1 (2004) | 3 (2005, 2006, 2009) | — |
 Georgia |
— | 1 (2002) | 2 (2003, 2008) | — |
 Scotland |
— | 1 (2014) | — | 1 (2004) |
 Wales |
— | 1 (2008) | — | 1 (2017) |
 Moldova |
— | — | 1 (2007) | — |
 Lithuania |
— | — | — | 1 (2021) |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Belgium |
— | — | — | 1 (2022) |
Updated to 2022
Trophy
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Third | Fourth | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Germany | Belgium |  Sweden | Lithuania | ||||||||
| 2012 |  Romania | Belgium | Lithuania |  Cyprus | ||||||||
| 2013 | Belgium |  Poland |  Netherlands | Sweden | ||||||||
| 2014 | Lithuania | Poland | Cyprus | Sweden | ||||||||
| 2015 | Poland |  Ukraine |  Latvia | Moldova | ||||||||
| 2016[6] | Ireland | Ukraine | Sweden | Romania | ||||||||
| 2017 | Sweden | Romania |  Luxembourg | Ukraine | ||||||||
| 2018 | Romania | Belgium | Lithuania |  Denmark | ||||||||
| 2019 | Lithuania | Ukraine | Belgium |  Croatia | ||||||||
| 2020 | Series not played because of COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||||||
| 2021 |  Czech Republic | Belgium | Ukraine | Sweden | ||||||||
| 2022[7] | Ireland | England | Wales | Romania | ||||||||
Conference 1
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Third | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 |  Serbia | Latvia |  Hungary | |||||||||
| 2012 | Croatia | Latvia |  Norway | |||||||||
| 2013 | North | Latvia | Norway | Luxembourg | ||||||||
| South |  Monaco | Hungary | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Switzerland | |||||||||
| 2014 | North | Czech Republic | Norway | Luxembourg | ||||||||
| South | Hungary |  Bulgaria | Switzerland | |||||||||
| 2015[8] | Ireland | Serbia |  Slovenia | |||||||||
| 2016 | Croatia | Luxembourg | Hungary | |||||||||
| 2017 | Hungary | Bulgaria |  Slovakia | |||||||||
| 2018 | Czech Republic |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | Moldova | |||||||||
| 2019 | Hungary |  Turkey | Moldova | |||||||||
| 2020 | Series not played because of COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||||||
| 2021[9] | Bulgaria | Monaco | Moldova | |||||||||
| 2022[10] | Switzerland | Moldova | Turkey | |||||||||
Partners
- Société Générale, Eurosport 2 (official broadcaster), Berugbe
References
- "Rugby Europe 7s Season Announced". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- "Ireland's rise in 7s continues as Eddy's men make history with Grand Prix title in Poland". the42. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- "Grand Prix Series". Rugby 7. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- "Russia and Spain clinch Series titles in Moscow". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- "Men's 7s Championship 2022". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- "Trophy Win Sees Ireland Qualify For European Grand Prix Series". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- "Men's 7s Trophy 2022". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "Ireland Men Claim European Sevens Division B Crown". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- "Belgrade 2021". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Men's Sevens Conference 1 - 2022". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Ireland Men's Sevens Team Secure European Division C Title And Promotion". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- "Men's 7s Conference 2". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 19 June 2022.