European Sevens Championship
Encyclopedia
The European Sevens Championship is an annual competition organised by FIRA – Association of European Rugby, the governing body of European rugby union
.
The first European Championship was held in 2002 in Heidelberg
, Germany, and was won by Portugal, the team that won every men's championship since except 2007 and 2009, when Russia won. In 2003, the tournament was again held in Heidelberg and, in 2004, Palma de Mallorca
, Spain was the host. From 2005 to 2007, Moscow
was the host of the tournament.
Hanover held the tournament for the first time in 2008 and did so again in 2009. In 2010, the tournament return to Moscow.
. The name also changed, the European Championship is now known as Sevens Grand Prix Series
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
2002-2010
A number of qualifying tournaments lead up to a finals tournament, which functions as the European championship and, in 2008, also as the qualifying stage for the Sevens World Cup.The first European Championship was held in 2002 in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Germany, and was won by Portugal, the team that won every men's championship since except 2007 and 2009, when Russia won. In 2003, the tournament was again held in Heidelberg and, in 2004, Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
, Spain was the host. From 2005 to 2007, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
was the host of the tournament.
Hanover held the tournament for the first time in 2008 and did so again in 2009. In 2010, the tournament return to Moscow.
2011- ???
In 2011, the format of the competition changed. The twelve best teams meet on several tournaments, following the model of the IRB Sevens World SeriesIRB Sevens World Series
The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series as of the 2010-11 season, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC, and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the...
. The name also changed, the European Championship is now known as Sevens Grand Prix Series
Sevens Grand Prix Series 2011
The Seven’s Grand Prix Series 2011 is the tenth edition of the European Sevens Championship.- Format :The twelve best nations played 4 different tournaments in Lyon, Moscow, Barcelona and Bucharest. The team that finished with the most points was declared European Champion...
Winners
- 20022002 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2002 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Heidelberg, Germany. It was the first edition of the European Sevens championship. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby .----Final:*Portugal,...
PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier.... - 20032003 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2003 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Heidelberg, Germany. It was the second edition of the European Sevens championship. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby .----Final:*Portugal,...
PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier.... - 20042004 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2004 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It was the third edition of the European Sevens championship. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby...
PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier.... - 20052005 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2005 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Moscow, Russia. It was the fourth edition of the European Sevens championship. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby .----Final:*Portugal, 28 -...
PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier.... - 20062006 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2006 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Moscow, Russia. It was the fifth edition of the European Sevens championship. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby .----Final:*Portugal, 19 -...
PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier.... - 20072007 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2007 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Moscow, Russia. It was the sixth edition of the European Sevens championship. The event was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby ....
RussiaRussia national rugby union team (sevens)The Russia national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, and Rugby World Cup Sevens.-Current Squad:12-man squad for 2010–11 IRB Sevens World Series :#Vladimir Ostroushko#Nikolay Goroshilov#Yury Gostyuzhev... - 2008 PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier....
- 20092009 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2009 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Hanover, Germany. It was the eighth edition of the European Sevens championship and was organised by rugby's European governing body, the FIRA – Association of European Rugby .The tournament differed from...
RussiaRussia national rugby union team (sevens)The Russia national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, and Rugby World Cup Sevens.-Current Squad:12-man squad for 2010–11 IRB Sevens World Series :#Vladimir Ostroushko#Nikolay Goroshilov#Yury Gostyuzhev... - 20102010 European Sevens ChampionshipThe 2010 European Sevens Championship was a rugby sevens competition, with the final held in Moscow, Russia. It was the ninth edition of the European Sevens championship...
PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier.... - 2011Sevens Grand Prix Series 2011The Seven’s Grand Prix Series 2011 is the tenth edition of the European Sevens Championship.- Format :The twelve best nations played 4 different tournaments in Lyon, Moscow, Barcelona and Bucharest. The team that finished with the most points was declared European Champion...
PortugalPortugal national rugby union team (sevens)The Portugal national rugby union team represent Portugal in international rugby sevens. The team has played for the first time in 1992, at the Catania Sevens, World Cup 1993 European Qualifier....