The Netherlands has today been announced as winners of the 2019/20 Rugby Europe Trophy, the second division of Rugby Europe International Championships.
Being crowned champions gives them the chance to contest the play-off match for a shot at promotion to the Rugby Europe Championship, which is the pathway for the qualification to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
As the season was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rugby Europe Board of Directors proposed to the competing unions (Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine) to play the remaining games during the second half of 2020, with the understanding that no one will be forced to play and that no relegation will apply from Trophy to Conference level this year, and with further decisions regarding match points scored in case of inability to play of one or both teams:
- Inability to play of both teams = Draw (2 points for each team)
- Inability to play of one team = Defeat for that team by 25-0 (0 point) and victory for the opponent 25-0 (5 points)
After a consultation process, 3 results have been confirmed, with another three matches to be scheduled at a later date.
The results are as follows:
- Switzerland / Netherlands: Draw
- Ukraine / Switzerland: Draw
- Lithuania / Poland: Victory of Lithuania
Games to be scheduled (date to be confirmed):
- Poland / Ukraine
- Germany / Lithuania
- Ukraine / Germany
Considering these results and the matches to be planned, the Netherlands can no longer be overtaken in the rankings and are officially declared as the winners of the 2019/2020 competition.
They will face the country ranked last in the 2020 Rugby Europe Championship to reach the top European competition. Their opponent will be known following the final round of 2020 Rugby Europe Championship competition, which dates will be announced in due course.
