Croatia and Austria began their men’s Rugby Europe Conference campaigns for 2026/27 with bonus point wins in Pool B on Saturday while, in Pool C, Türkiye and Bulgaria played out an exciting draw.
In week one at the end of September, Ukraine and Montenegro were the winning sides and, in week two, Croatia and Austria were the ones on top form.
At the NK Junak Sinj Stadium in Sinj, Croatia defeated Serbia 27-5.
There was no score in this one until the 33rd minute when home scrum-half Niko Vranesevic kicked a penalty. That gave Croatia some momentum and, four minutes later, the same man scored a try and converted it to make it 10-0.
Things got even better for them right on half-time when a neat break from centre Deon Mau'u set up winger Petar Marinovic. Vranesevic’s conversion made it 17-0 at the break.
Serbia knew they had to score first in the second period and they did via an unconverted try from Janko Milinkovic.
That was in the 51st minute, but by the 55th minute Croatia were 22-5 ahead after an unconverted try by back-row Bojan Busselez.
At the death, centre Marko Grcic then took a quick tap and powered over for Croatia’s fourth try to get them the bonus point as things finished 27-5.
WEEKEND SHOTS
The Oval Stadion in Ljubljana was the venue for Slovenia versus Austria in the same section and it was the visitors who came out on top 36-19.
Austria showed they meant business when they scored the day’s opening try via centre Benjamin Preclik within 90 seconds.
They took control and when tighthead prop Michael Klaffenbock dived in the corner for a try after 35 minutes which was converted they were 31-0 to the good.
The score was 31-5 to Austria at half-time and Slovenia were coming back into things slightly.
They scored the first try of the second half when a neat kick put winger Tom Aleksander Archer in for a converted score, but Austria eventually won by 17 points with a bonus point.
The Esenboga Sports Complex in Ankara was the venue for Türkiye and Bulgaria and, after a cracking 80 minutes of action, it ended up honours even.
The hosts built up a 21-7 lead by half-time and heading into the closing stages they were 31-26 to the good. Bulgaria never gave up though and, with the clock in the red and after a number of phases, their forwards piled over for a try which could not be converted as things ended 31-31.
This competition continues this coming weekend when Greece and Kosovo meet in Pool E, Finland take on Estonia in Pool A and Austria and Croatia meet in what should be a closely fought contest in Pool B.
