Poland’s women and France’s men have been crowned 2026 European Champions after their performances in Split.
Between Friday and Sunday in Croatia, the second leg of summer action took place.
Ireland women and France men won those tournaments, with the points garnered meaning that Poland women finished top overall with 36 points and France men finished top overall with 38 points.
For Poland women it felt sweet after finishing second overall to Great Britain in 2025 while France men retained their title from 12 months ago.
Meanwhile, at the other end of things, Sweden (six points) and Türkiye (two points) have been relegated from the women’s Championship to the Trophy Series for 2027.
And Lithuania (four points) and Poland (one point) have been relegated from the men’s Championship to the Trophy Series for 2027.
The 12 women’s teams and 12 men’s teams headed to Split off the back of leg one that took place in Hamburg, Germany, earlier this month.
France had won the women’s event in Hamburg, but could only finish second behind Ireland in Pool A. Ireland showed they were in the mood to compete by defeating France 33-0.
Poland and Spain came out on top in Pools B and C respectively with three wins from three.
Ireland’s great form continued in the first quarter-final as they defeated Portugal 27-0 and then France were beaten 22-17 by Germany.
Poland and Spain then progressed to the semi-finals by defeating Belgium 21-7 and Great Britain 27-5 respectively.
Ireland were just building and building momentum and their 22-0 last four win over Germany set up a final with Poland who defeated Spain 31-12 in the other semi.
Poland were powerless to stop the Irish juggernaut in the final, Ireland winning 26-12.
Spain beat Germany 24-0 in the third/fourth play-off while, after rankings matches, France were fifth, Belgium were sixth, Portugal were seventh, Great Britain were eighth, Sweden were ninth, Czechia were 10th, Denmark were 11th and Türkiye were 12th.
Those results, plus those picked up in Hamburg, meant that Poland women won overall with France second (32 points), Ireland third (30 points), Spain fourth (30 points), Belgium fifth (26 points), Germany sixth (26 points), Portugal seventh (14 points), Czechia eighth (11 points), Great Britain ninth (nine points), Denmark 10th (six points), Sweden 11th and Türkiye 12th.
Germany, roared on by a home crowd, had won men’s leg one in Hamburg, but it was not to be their weekend in Split and that left the overall title race wide open.
The Germans finished just third in Pool A behind winners Great Britain and second placed Spain while Georgia won three from three to top Pool B and two wins from three was enough for Italy to come out at the summit of Pool C.
Georgia’s confidence from their good pool play was soon brought back down to earth in the first quarter-final as France dispatched of them 47-7.
Spain then got the better of Great Britain 26-17 before Italy and Belgium came through tight quarter-finals 21-19 against Germany and 14-10 against Portugal respectively to progress.
Semi-final one saw France getting up to top gear to beat Spain 22-0 and then Italy made sure of a final place by defeating Belgium 12-5.
If France had been getting up to top gear in their semi, then they certainly found it in the final to thump Italy 43-0 to give them the Split title and the overall title.
Belgium finished in third after beating Spain 17-5 in the third/fourth play-off, Portugal were fifth, Great Britain were sixth, Germany were seventh, Georgia were eighth, Czechia were ninth, Ukraine were 10th, Lithuania were 11th and Poland were 12th.
Those results, plus those picked up in Hamburg, meant that France men won overall with Italy second (34 points), Belgium third (30 points), Germany fourth (28 points), Portugal fifth (24 points), Spain sixth (24 points), Great Britain seventh (18 points), Georgia eighth (12 points), Czechia ninth (eight points), Ukraine 10th (six points), Lithuania 11th and Poland 12th.
By Gary Heatly
Photos by Travis Prior and Gary Heatly
