Ukraine’s women and Switzerland’s men have been crowned the Rugby Europe Trophy Sevens Series champions for 2026.
They both backed up their round one tournament wins in Makarska in Croatia from earlier this month with weekend triumphs in the round two event in the Moldovan capital of Chișinău.
It means that they finished on 40 points out of a possible 40 respectively and will now be promoted to the Rugby Europe Championship Sevens Series for 2027.
Italy’s women and Romania’s men will also be promoted after they both finished second overall in their categories.
Looking at the women’s event in Chișinău, Ukraine and Italy won three games from three in the group phase to top Pools A and B respectively while Moldova won two from three to top Pool C.
Georgia, Austria and Croatia were behind Ukraine in their pool, Norway, Switzerland and Andorra were behind Italy in their pool and Hungary, Romania and Montenegro were behind Moldova in their pool.
Into the knock-out stage and, in the first quarter-final, Italy defeated Romania 36-12, Georgia were pushed all the way before beating Hungary 22-19 next up and then Ukraine and Moldova showed they really meant business. Ukraine beat Austria 31-0 in their last eight tie before Moldova thumped Norway 47-0 to get through to the semis.
Both semi-finals were really tight and engrossing affairs, Italy edging past Georgia 10-7 and Ukraine just getting the better of the hosts 15-14.
The final was just as hard fought, Ukraine eventually beating Italy 10-5 as they went on to collect the silverware.
Georgia defeated Moldova 17-7 to clinch third place while, after rankings games, Hungary were fifth, Austria sixth, Romania seventh, Norway eighth, Switzerland ninth, Andorra 10th, Montenegro 11th and Croatia 12th.
In terms of the women’s overall finishing positions after two events, well we know already that Ukraine finished first and Italy second while Moldova were third, Georgia fourth, Hungary fifth, Norway sixth, Austria seventh, Romania eighth, Switzerland ninth, Montenegro 10th, Andorra 11th and Croatia 12th.
It means that Andorra and Croatia will be relegated and will be playing sevens at a Conference level next year.
Looking at the men’s event in Chișinău, Switzerland won two from three to top Pool A with Sweden and Türkiye winning three from three respectively to top Pool B and Pool C.
Moldova, Hungary and Denmark were behind Switzerland in their section, Monaco, Croatia and Malta were behind Sweden in their section and Romania, Latvia and Norway were behind Türkiye in their section.
Türkiye defeated Croatia 17-5 in the first quarter-final when the knock-out phase got going with Switzerland then beating Moldova 32-7, Sweden edging past Monaco 24-19 and Romania beating Hungary 17-0.
Switzerland then showed their class in the semis to ease past Türkiye 42-7 with the second last four tie much closer with Romania just getting the better of Sweden 10-7.
Romania then gave it everything they had in the final, but Switzerland just had enough left in the tank to win 21-19 and lift the trophy.
Türkiye beat Sweden 26-10 to take third while, after rankings games, Monaco were fifth, Croatia sixth, Moldova seventh, Hungary eighth, Latvia ninth, Malta 10th, Norway 11th and Denmark 12th.
In terms of the men’s overall finishing positions after two events, well we know already that Switzerland finished first and Romania second while Türkiye were third, Monaco fourth, Sweden fifth, Croatia sixth, Hungary seventh, Denmark eighth, Moldova ninth, Latvia 10th, Norway 11th and Malta 12th.
It means that Norway and Malta will be relegated and will be playing sevens at a Conference level next year.
By Gary Heatly
Photos by Travis Prior
