Four matches for the price of one!
Rugby fans will get their money's worth this Sunday if they go to the Jean-Bouin stadium in Paris (16th century).
Behind the Six Nations Tournament, which attracts all eyes, particularly in France, eight other European nations are fighting to get closer to the world's elite.
Competed in the Rugby Europe Championship, these teams will play their last match of the winter this Sunday.
The final will pit Georgia and Portugal, two countries that faced each other during the last World Cup, with a draw (18-18).
Romania and Spain will compete for third place.
The day will begin at 12 p.m. with the match for 7th place between Belgium and Poland.
The two teams have already faced each other during the group stage, and it was the Belgians who won (31-10).
The Dutch and Germans will face off for 5th place at 2:45 p.m.
The Batavians won their first duel on February 18 (39-13).
The third-place match will open the evening at 6:15 p.m., while the final is scheduled for 9 p.m.
“The Ile-de-France public has been a little weaned off international rugby”
This is the second time that such a day has been organized.
Since the transition from 6 to 8 teams in 2023, and the creation of two groups of four, with a final phase, Rugby Europe wanted to create “a great celebration of European rugby” by organizing a full day, with four matches, to close the competition.
In 2023, the matches were separated into two locations: Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Badajoz (Spain).
This time, everything is organized in the same venue: the Jean-Bouin stadium in Paris.
“This year, Rugby Europe is celebrating its 90th anniversary so we wanted to mark the occasion,” explains Florent Marty, CEO of the institution.
Knowing that our headquarters is in Paris and that we were created in particular under the impetus of the French Federation, there was a certain logic.
In addition, the French XV played its Six Nations Tournament matches elsewhere than in Paris because of the work at the Stade de France, so the Ile-de-France public was a little weaned off international rugby.
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A “World Cup effect”
This first edition is a success.
More than 10,000 tickets have already been sold.
The organizers estimate that they will welcome 4,000 spectators for the afternoon matches, while between 7,000 and 8,000 rugby fans will come to see the small and grand finals.
“It’s a very nice turnout,” says Florent Marty.
The French public mobilized but so did foreigners, whether nationals of the countries playing or the English.
When we look at the statistics, England is in the top 4 for foreign buyers.
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The recent World Cup is no stranger to these excellent figures.
Revelation of the last World Cup, Portugal notably offered an offensive and enticing game which attracted the attention of the whole world.
Georgia is also a safe bet, always ready for a physical fight.
“There is undoubtedly a World Cup effect,” recognizes the CEO of Rugby Europe.
Many people have fallen in love with the Portuguese game and we are surfing on it.
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This 2023 edition of the Rugby Europe Championship is already a success.
Like the Six Nations Tournament, attendance at stadiums increased by 15% (nearly 4,000 people on average), as did audiences and the number of television partners.
This Sunday's finals, which can be followed on the Rugby Europe platform, must be the icing on the cake, a new positive signal about the incredible health of European rugby.