Expanded European XVs Championship launches

Rugby Europe’s Championship returns to being a four-team tournament this year for the first time since the Six Nations unions abandoned it after 2012.

Portugal will join Sweden, Netherlands and Spain in this year’s competition after winning through the Trophy at their first attempt last season.

Although Spain will again be overwhelming favourites, the battle for second place promises to be fascinating.

Netherlands are currently ranked next behind Spain in Europe but will face a tough challenge for that place in what will be the Dutch women’s busiest and most important years for perhaps 20 years. In March they will also be compete against Colombia for a place in WXV, where a win will give them a chance to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2003.

Sweden have been making great strides in recent years having returned to competitive XVs in 2019. Their performance in their annual fixture against the British Army earlier this month was noteworthy not only for a first win, but also as a take of season-by-season improvement.

Portugal played against Sweden at the end of 2022 and lost very narrowly – just 7-5. They also showed their ambition with a tour to Brazil last year, becoming only the second non-Six Nations European team to play overseas. They performed well, tying the series 1-1 and looking the stronger of the teams.

Fixtures

03/02/24              Netherlands v Sweden (Amsterdam)

24/02/24              Portugal v Netherlands (Lisbon)

09/03/24              Portugal v Sweden (Lisbon)

30/03/24              Spain v Portugal (Sitges)

06/04/24              Netherlands v Spain (Amsterdam)

13/04/24              Sweden v Spain (Trelleborg)