Russia retain European 7s crown

This was the third year that Rugby Europe had had to move the climax of their Grand Prix moved to September, and again most of the World Series nations used the opportunityto rest many (or in some cases all) of their leading playerswhich lead to some remarkable results.

Although the final was again Russia v France perhaps once of the most remarkable performances was by France, who fielded none of the regular WSWS squad but instead had a team based around a core of their World University champions. Despite that they swept through Day 1 unbeaten in Pool A.  Belgium – given other squad selections – were not a great surprise to take the second spot in the pool, beating Spain’s mainly U21 team

Pool B unsurprisingly went to Russia, but it was the performance of Scotland – 12 months ago in the Europe Trophy, and winners of only one game in the first leg – who beat the much-fancied Welsh to take second spot. Wales, on the other hand, missed out of on the quarter-finals and so a place in the World Series qualifier.

But it was Pool C that featured the big shocks. Poland – relegation prospects at the start of the tournament – topped the pool with first wins over not only Ireland but England too. Poland’s narrow defeat to Italy also resulted in England missing out of a quarter final spot in a European sevens for the first time. Ever. They went on to finish 10th– losing to Wales as well – England’s worst ever sevens result.

The quarter-finals saw comfortable wins for not only France and Russia, but also Poland and Scotland too who celebrated first ever Grand Prix semi-finals – and places in Hong Kong next year that they could never have expected after the first leg.

In the semi-finals another heroic Scots performance very nearly toppled France before they went on to beat Poland in the third place game – a win that should see Scotland given a guest spot in the Paris round on the World Series next year.

Pool A:France 22-0 Germany; Spain 0-12 Belgium; France 17-5 Spain; Belgium 40-0 Germany; France 17-14 Spain; Spain 26-0 Germany

Pool B:Wales 14-29 Scotland; Russia 38-0 Portugal; Wales 26-12 Portugal; Russia 47-0 Scotland; Scotland 21-10 Portugal; Russia 41-7 Wales

Pool C:Ireland 14-17 Poland; England 17-17 Italy; Ireland 12-7 Italy; England 14-24 Poland; Ireland 27-0 England; Italy 19-14 Poland

Quarter-Final:France 31-0 Spain; Russia 37-0 Italy; Poland 22-12 Belgium; Scotland 17-15 Ireland

9th-12th Place Semi-Final:Wales 40-7 Germany; England 57-0 Portugal

5th-8th Place Semi Final:Spain 5-14 Ireland; Italy 17-7 Belgium

Semi-Final:France 24-22 Scotland; Russia 39-0 Poland

11th Place Match:Germany 10-0 Portugal

9th Place Match:Wales 12-5 England

7th Place Match:Spain 5-12 Belgium

5th Place Match:Ireland 28-10 Italy

3rd Place Match:Scotland 19-12 Poland

Final:France 5-34 Russia