2008–2010 European Nations Cup Third Division Explained

The 2008–2010 European Nations Cup (ENC) Third Division (a European rugby union competition for national teams) was contested over two years during which all teams met each other home and away. The Third Division consisted of four levels, which effectively constituted the 5th through 8th levels of European international rugby. The winner of each division was promoted to the next highest division. Due to changes in the competition, the last placed team was not relegated to the next division lower.

The leader of each division (excluding 3D) at the end of the 2008–2009 season received the opportunity to participate in the qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The previous champion of Division 3A, Sweden, was promoted to the Second Division and replaced with relegated side Andorra.

Table – Division 3A

PlaceNationGamesPointsTable
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1 (37)770019850+22021
2 (UR)8404151154−316
3 (59)830592153−13314
4 (66)8305122173−5114
5 (58)720579112−3311

Serbia were ranked ahead of Andorra based on 39–28 aggregate score in their two matches as the series was tied 1–1.

Matches

DateMatchResultVenue
2008-09-13Serbia – Armenia0–41Smederevo, Serbia
2008-10-18Armenia – Switzerland35–15Abovyan, Armenia
2008-11-08Andorra – Lithuania10–26Andorra la Vella, Andorra
2008-11-15Lithuania – Switzerland33–0Vilnius, Lithuania
2008-12-06Serbia – Andorra32–7Smederevo, Serbia
2009-03-14Switzerland – Andorra32–9Bern, Switzerland
2009-03-21Andorra – Armenia36–10Andorra la Vella, Andorra
2009-04-04Switzerland – Serbia6–12 Nyon, Switzerland
2009-05-02Lithuania – Serbia50–9Vilnius, Lithuania
2009-05-09Armenia – Lithuania19–24Abovyan, Armenia
2009-10-10Lithuania – Andorra40–12Šiauliai, Lithuania
2009-10-24Serbia – Switzerland13–8Belgrade, Serbia
2009-10-31Lithuania – Armenia25–01Klaipėda, Lithuania
2009-11-22Switzerland – Armenia18–0Switzerland
2009-11-29Andorra – Serbia21–7Andorra la Vella, Andorra
2010-04-03Armenia – Andorra26–17Abovyan, Armenia
2010-04-10Armenia – Serbia20–19Abovyan, Armenia
2010-04-17Switzerland – LithuaniaPostponed2Switzerland
2010-04-24Serbia – Lithuania5–773Serbia
2010-05-08Andorra – Switzerland10–0Andorra la Vella, Andorra

1 Armenia were unable to show up for the match due to a pilot's strike in Armenia; Lithuania were awarded a 25–0 victory and Armenia received a point for the loss.
2 The match was originally scheduled for 17 April 2010, but was postponed due to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.
3 Lithuania's win in this match set a new world record in men's International Rugby for the most consecutive wins with 18 wins.

Table – Division 3B

PlaceNationGamesPointsTable
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1 (71)8602143121+2220
2 (64)8503202146+5618
3 (67)8404149148+116
4 (78)8305111130−1914
5 (92)820687147−6012

Matches

DateMatchResultVenue
2008-09-13Slovenia – Hungary32–26Ljubljana, Slovenia
2008-09-27Norway – Hungary15–26 Ekebergsletta, Oslo, Norway
2008-10-11Norway – Austria11–3Ekebergsletta, Oslo, Norway
2008-10-18Hungary – Denmark39–12Kecskemét, Hungary
2008-11-01Denmark – Slovenia19–25 Odense Atletikstadion, Odense, Denmark
2008-11-08Austria – Slovenia9–18Hohe Warte Stadium, Vienna, Austria
2009-04-11Denmark – Norway20–18Odense Atletikstadion, Odense, Denmark
2009-04-18Hungary – Austria25–13Esztergom, Hungary
2009-04-25Austria – Denmark6–27Trauner Stadion, Traun, Austria
2009-04-25Slovenia – Norway14–10Ljubljana, Slovenia
2009-10-10Hungary – Slovenia17–11Pecs, Hungary
2009-10-17Slovenia – Austria13–15Ljubljana, Slovenia
2009-10-17Norway – Denmark15–8Fana stadion, Bergen, Norway
2009-10-31Denmark – Hungary27–18Odense, Denmark
2009-11-14Austria – Norway9–12Vienna, Austria
2010-04-24Denmark – Austria24–13Denmark
2010-05-01Hungary – Norway34–17Esztergom, Hungary
2010-05-15Slovenia – Denmark14–12Ljubljana, Slovenia
2010-05-15Austria – Hungary19–17Vienna, Austria
2010-05-22Norway – Slovenia13–16Aksla Stadion, Ålesund, Norway

Table – Division 3C

width=10px bgcolor="#ccffcc"Promoted to 3B for 2010–2012 and Qualified for 2011 RWC Qualifying
PlaceNationGamesPointsTable
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1 (81)880025759+19824
2 (UR)8503145141+418
3 (82)8503162162+018
4 (94)820696150−5412
5 (95)800879227−1488

Greece were ranked ahead of Bulgaria based on 56–36 aggregate score in two head to head matches as the series was drawn 1–1.

Matches

DateMatchResultVenue
2008-10-04Finland – Luxembourg19–27Helsinki, Finland
2008-10-11Finland – Greece10–12 Helsinki, Finland
2008-11-15Bulgaria – Israel8–11Pernik, Bulgaria
2008-11-22Greece – Israel10–25Zirineio Municipal Stadium, Kifissia, Greece
2008-11-29Luxembourg – Bulgaria10–18Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2009-03-21Israel – Luxembourg30–0Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2009-04-11Greece – Bulgaria41–18Alexandroupoli, Greece
2009-04-25Bulgaria – Finland29–10Pernik, Bulgaria
2009-04-25Luxembourg – Greece14–17Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2009-05-02Israel – Finland70–8Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2009-10-03Finland – Bulgaria13–36Myllypuro, Helsinki, Finland
2009-10-24Bulgaria – Luxembourg25–12Pernik, Bulgaria
2009-11-07Luxembourg – Finland9–3Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2010-02-27Greece – Finland31–10Greece
2010-03-13Greece – Luxembourg17–9Greece
2010-04-10Israel – Bulgaria50–10Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2010-04-17Israel – Greece39–0Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2010-04-24Bulgaria – Greece18–15Pernik, Bulgaria
2010-05-01Luxembourg – Israel17–19Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2010-06-12Finland – Israel6–13 Myllypuro, Helsinki, Finland

Table – Division 3D

PlaceNationGamesPointsTable
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1 (UR)660018717+17018
2 (89)640211348+6514
3 (92)610559153−947
4 (UR)610527168−1415
(UR)Team withdrew, record expunged
On 23 September 2009, Slovakia withdrew from the remainder of the competition, and their record was expunged.

Matches

DateMatchResultVenue
2008-10-11Monaco – Bosnia5–50Stade Val d'Anaud, Menton, France
2008-11-15Slovakia – Bosnia32–46Slovakia
2008-11-22Bosnia – Azerbaijan18–7Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia
2008-11-29Azerbaijan – Cyprus3–37Sports Academy Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
2008-12-06Cyprus – Monaco24–3Episkopi, Cyprus
2009-01-31Monaco – Azerbaijan38–12Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France
2009-03-14Cyprus – Slovakia33–7Cyprus
2009-03-21Slovakia – Monaco11–10Slovakia
2009-03-21Bosnia – Cyprus6–8Zenica, Bosnia
2009-05-09Azerbaijan – Slovakia6–0Baku, Azerbaijan
2009-10-10Bosnia – Monaco23–8Kamberovica polje, Zenica, Bosnia
2009-11-07Azerbaijan – Bosnia5–16Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
2009-11-14Monaco – Cyprus5–44Menton, France
2010-01-30Azerbaijan – Monaco6–0 1Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
2010-03-06Cyprus – Azerbaijan50–0Paphos, Cyprus
2010-03-27Cyprus – Bosnia15–0Paphos, Cyprus
1 Monaco forfeited the match due to player illness; Azerbaijan received a 6–0 win, and Monaco were given a point for the loss.

See also

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