Czechia’s men will be playing in the Championship Series next season, with Sweden, the second team promoted.
Like in the first leg in Zagreb, Croatia, earlier in the summer, Czechia had to make do for a silver medal in the second leg in Budapest, Hungary, but the 36 points collected due to their consistency saw them finish top overall thanks to a better points difference than Sweden.
Sweden, after a bronze and a gold, also finished on 36 points, but were just pipped into second overall while Latvia, on 32 points, were third overall.
In the Budapest event, Hungary wowed the home supporters by winning three from three to top Pool A. They were the only unbeaten side after the group phase, Czechia topping Pool B with two wins and a loss and Sweden doing similar in Pool C.
Hungary’s great form continued as they saw off Monaco 36-14 in the quarter-finals with Sweden, Czechia and Poland also progressing to the last four, but only after tight wins respectively over Latvia, Switzerland and Moldova.
Sweden then put in one of the performances of the weekend to see off Hungary 21-14 in the semi-finals with Czechia really finding their form to get past Poland 28-5.
The final was a cracker, Sweden winning 19-12 to head to the top of the podium, but it was just not enough for them overall.
Poland beat Hungary 26-5 in the bronze medal match.
At the bottom of the table, Monaco and Israel are relegated in Conference division.
In the Rugby Europe Trophy Series sevens for women, Sweden made it a perfect 40 points from 40 in Budapest and they will be playing at the Championship Series level next year along with overall runners-up Georgia.
Sweden had won gold in Zagreb and they backed it up in leg two with yet more excellent sevens.
They won three out of three to top Pool A while Denmark did the same to end up on top of Pool C. Georgia won two and lost one to come out on top of Pool B.
Sweden, Hungary, Denmark and Georgia then won their quarter-final ties against Norway, Finland Switzerland and Latvia respectively.
The hosts then pushed Sweden all the way before the latter showed why they are a champion team to get past Hungary 19-12 in the semi-finals.
Denmark and Georgia then played out a similarly close one, the former getting through 12-5.
The Danes would have hoped to push Sweden in the final, but the latter were just too good and made it double gold with a 24-0 victory.
Georgia made sure of the bronze by resetting and winning that third-place match 28-10.
In under-18 sevens action at the weekend, Poland were on cloud nine after winning on home soil.
They defeated Luxembourg 21-12 in the final to lift the Boys Sevens Trophy 1 silverware in Zabki. Israel took bronze.
In Boys Sevens Trophy 2 action, Andorra won four games from five in pool action to just edge out Monaco for the title.
And, after a busy few days in the Dolcan Arena in Zabki, Germany won the under-18 Girls Sevens Trophy, getting the better of Sweden 20-7 in the final. Ukraine took bronze.
Andorra and Israel will play in Conference division.
By Gary Heatly
