The 2002–2004
European Nations Cup European Nations Cup may refer to:
*UEFA European Championship, formerly known as European Nations' Cup
* Europcar Cup, a European Tour golf tournament
* European Nations Cup (golf), a European Ladies Tour golf tournament
* European Nations Cup (fi ...
was the fourth edition of the newly reformed European Championship for tier 2 & 3 Rugby Union Nations. This was the second two-year cycled championship, the first to be planned from the start.
The Third division had a controversy development. The team were divided into three groups according to the ranking of
previous edition to play, but there were several problems:
* In pool "A"
Andorra
, image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg
, symbol_type = Coat of arms
, national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...
withdrew and only four teams remained.
* In pool "C"
Monaco
Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...
were banned after the match with
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
, because of the presence of a French player that was not eligible to play for Monaco.
* Again in pool "C" the match between
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
and
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
was annulled because the designed referee wasn't able to arrive in
Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
and was substituted by another referee, called by the Bulgarian federation.
So the
European federation
The United States of Europe (USE), the European State, the European Federation and Federal Europe, is the hypothetical scenario of the European integration leading to formation of a sovereign superstate (similar to the United States of Amer ...
decided to change from a two-years formula to a one-year formula again, considering the two matches played in Pool "C" as friendlies and turning the Pool into a short knock-out tournament held in
Ibiza, Spain. Furthermore, the winners of Pools B and C were promoted, respectively, to Pools A and B for the
2003–04 edition. No promotions from Pool A to Second division were awarded, nor relegations to lower Pools.
Pool A
The highest level was the Pool "A", with five teams:
* relegated from second division
*
*
* promoted from Group B
* (retired from competition)
Table
Results
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Pool B
The middle level was the Pool "B", with five teams:
* relegated from pool "A"
*
*
*
* promoted from pool "C"
Table
* promoted to Pool A
Results
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Pool C
* "No official" match :
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Semifinals
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Third place final
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First place final
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* promoted to Pool B
See also
*
2003–2004 European Nations Cup First Division
*
2002–2004 European Nations Cup Second Division
*
2003–2004 European Nations Cup Third Division
Sources
*www.irb.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nations Cup
2002–03
2002–03 in European rugby union