The 2000 European Nations Cup was the first European Nations Cup, an international rugby union competition for second-tier nations. It replaced the FIRA Tournament following the emergence of professionalism in rugby union and Italy being granted a place in the Six Nations.
| 2000 European Nations Cup | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 6 February – 2 April 2000 | ||
| Countries |  Georgia Morocco Netherlands  Portugal  Romania  Spain | ||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Champions | Romania | ||
| Matches played | 15 | ||
| |||
The first season had six teams (five from Europe and one from Africa). The teams played each other once, playing roughly to the same weekends as the Six Nations. Romania won the first title, with a single loss to Morocco in the opening game. Georgia improved their performance in the context of European rugby, finishing in second place, while Morocco finished in third place, ahead of Spain and Portugal. Netherlands finished last.[1]
Table
edit| Place | Nation | Games | Points | Table points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | |||
| 1 | Romania
|
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 130 | 57 | +73 | 13 |
| 2 | Georgia
|
5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 145 | 105 | +40 | 11 |
| 3 | Morocco
|
5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 69 | +25 | 11 |
| 4 | Spain
|
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 109 | 105 | +4 | 9 |
| 5 | Portugal
|
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 74 | 100 | −26 | 9 |
| 6 | Netherlands
|
5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 168 | −116 | 7 |
Matches
editWeek 1
edit| 6 February 2000 |
| Portugal | 30–32 | Georgia |
| Pen: Teixeira (9) Drop: Teixeira | Try: Giorgadze, Khekhelashvili, Tsabadze (2) Con: Urjukashvili (3) Pen: Urjukashvili (2) |
| Lisbon University Stadium, Lisbon Referee: J. P. Pellaprat (France) |
| 6 February 2000 |
| Spain | 33–8 | Netherlands |
| Try: Frechilla, Justel, Salazar Lizarraga, Zapatero Con: Kovalenco, Martinéz Torres Pen: Kovalenco (3) | Try: Philpott Pen: Hannay |
| Majorca Attendance: 4,000 Referee: R. Faccioli (Italy) |
Week 2
edit| 20 February 2000 |
| Georgia | 20–10 | Morocco |
| Try: Giorgadze, Katsadze Con: Urjukashvili (2) Pen: Urjukashvili (2) | Try: Hamdini, Oufrich |
| St Gaudens, France Attendance: 500 Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu (France) |
| 20 February 2000 |
| Romania | 39–10 | Netherlands |
| Try: Corodeanu, Drăguceanu, Dumitru (2), Mitu Con: Mitu (4) Pen: Mitu (2) | Try: Winkels Con: Van der Loos Pen: Van der Loos |
| Amsterdam Attendance: 2,000 |
| 20 February 2000 |
| Portugal | 21–19 | Spain |
| Pen: Mourão (4), Teixeira (3) | Try: Mata Con: Kovalenco Pen: Kovalenco (4) |
| Lisbon University Stadium, Lisbon Referee: D. Gillet (France) |
Week 3
edit| 4 March 2000 |
| Spain | 36–32 | Georgia |
| Try: Astarloa Uriarte, del Valle, Frechilla (2), Souto Con: Martinéz Torres (4) Pen: Martinéz Torres | Try: Abashidze, Labadze, Mtchedlishvili, Tsabadze (2) Con: Iurini, Urjukashvili Pen: Urjukashvili |
| Campo Universitário, Madrid Referee: C. Giacomel (Italy) |
| 4 March 2000 |
| Romania | 33–3 | Portugal |
| Try: Mersoiu, Petrache, Sîrbu, Tonița, Vioreanu Con: Mitu Pen: Mitu (2) | Pen: Teixeira |
| Dinamo Stadion, Bucharest Attendance: 5,000 Referee: D. Dartigeas (France) |
Week 4
edit| 19 March 2000 |
| Georgia | 41–6 | Netherlands |
| Try: Abuseridze, Giorgadze, Jimsheladze, Kavtaravhili (2), Labadze, Zedgnidize Con: Iurini, Jimsheladze (2) | Pen: Hannay (2) |
| National Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 20,000 Referee: S. de Falco (Italy) |
| 19 March 2000 |
| Romania | 25–6 | Spain |
| Try: Dumitru, Gontineac, Vioreanu Con: Mitu (2) Pen: Mitu (2) | Pen: Martinéz Torres (2) |
| Stadionul Ghencea II, Bucharest Attendance: 500 Referee: G. Morandin (Italy) |
Week 5
edit| 2 April 2000 |
| Georgia | 20–23 | Romania |
| Try: Kavtarahvili, Nadiradze Con: Jimsheladze (2) Pen: Jimsheladze (2) | Try: Brezoianu, Sîrbu Con: Mitu (2) Pen: Mitu (2) |
| National Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 35,000 Referee: D. Pruvot (France) |
| 2 April 2000 |
| Netherlands | 13–11 | Portugal |
| Try: Van der Pol Con: Hannay Pen: Hannay (2) | Try: Murinello Pen: Teixeira (2) |
| Amsterdam Referee: Jeremy Schauder (Israel) |