2014–2016 European Nations Cup First Division Explained

2014–16 European Nations Cup
Date:	Autumn 2014 – Spring 2016
Countries:	Division 1A: Division 1B:
Champions:	(2015, 2016)
Cup:	Antim Cup
Cup Winner:	(2013, 2014)
Top Point Scorer:	Division 1A: Merab Kvirikashvili(64 points) Division 1B: Baptiste Lescarboura (55 points)
Top Try Scorer:	Division 1A: Zurab Zhvania (5 tries) Division 1B: Baptiste Lescarboura (11 tries)
Previous Year:	2012–14
Previous Tournament:	2012–14 European Nations Cup First Division
Next Year:	2016–17
Next Tournament:	2016–17 Rugby Europe International Championships

The 2014–16 European Nations Cup First Division is the premier rugby union competition below the Six Nations Championship in Europe. It is divided into two tiers; Division 1A and Division 1B.

The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away. From 2009 onward, the title is awarded according to a one-year ranking.^[1]

The competition has been slightly altered for the 2014–16 edition. The top tier Division 1A has seen the relegation of Belgium to Division 1B. They have been replaced with Germany, who finished at the top of Division 1B in the 2012–14 season. The bottom tier division 1B has seen the relegation of the Czech Republic to the European Nations Cup Second Division. They have been replaced by Netherlands who won promotion from Division 2A.

The champions of Division 1B will be promoted to Division 1A for the 2017–18 season, while the last placed team in each division will be relegated.

Format

Table points are determined as follows:^[2]

• 4 points for a win
• 2 points for a draw
• 0 point for a loss
• 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries in a match
• 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points or fewer

Division 1A

2015

Table

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2015 champions

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Table points
Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Bonus	For	Against	Diff
1	(14)	5	5	0	0	1	158	42	+116	21
2	(17)	5	3	0	2	3	102	61	+41	15
3	(21)	5	3	0	2	2	131	99	+32	14
4	(19)	5	3	0	2	1	103	119	−16	13
5	(22)	5	1	0	4	1	52	100	−48	5
6	(25)	5	0	0	5	1	61	186	−125	1

Pre-tournament World Rugby Rankings in parentheses

Games

^[3]

2016

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Table points
Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Bonus	For	Against	Diff
1	(12)	5	5	0	0	4	188	33	+155	24
2	(16)	5	4	0	1	3	160	77	+83	19
3	(18)	5	3	0	2	1	128	115	+13	14
4	(22)	5	1	1	3	3	84	88	−4	9
5	(23)	5	1	1	3	1	84	193	−109	7
6	(30)	5	0	0	5	1	72	210	−138	1

Games

^[4]

Combined table (2015–2016)

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Table points
Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Bonus	For	Against	Diff
1	(12)	10	10	0	0	5	346	75	+271	45
2	(16)	10	7	0	3	6	262	138	+124	34
3	(18)	10	6	0	4	3	231	234	−3	27
4	(22)	10	4	1	5	5	232	207	+28	23
5	(23)	10	1	1	8	2	162	396	−234	8
6	(30)	10	1	0	9	2	124	310	−196	6

Note: Portugal is relegated to 2016–17 Rugby Europe Trophy.

Division 1B

2014–15

Table

2014–15 champions

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff
1	(30)	5	5	0	0	189	78	+111	2	22
2	(29)	5	3	0	2	158	83	+75	4	16
3	(32)	5	3	0	2	108	81	+27	1	13
4	(31)	5	2	0	3	81	74	+7	3	11
5	(35)	5	2	0	3	103	146	−43	2	10
6	(44)	5	0	0	5	49	226	−177	0	0

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 1 September 2014)

Games

^[5]

2015–16

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff
1	(31)	5	5	0	0	136	84	+30	3	23
2	(26)	5	4	0	1	127	65	+62	3	19
3	(32)	5	2	0	3	87	84	+3	3	11
4	(33)	5	2	0	3	113	123	−10	1	11
5	(36)	5	2	0	3	88	116	−28	0	8
6	(49)	5	0	0	5	71	150	−79	1	1

Pre-tournament World Rugby rankings in parentheses (as at 1 September 2015)

Games

Combined table (2014–2016)

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff
1	(30)	10	9	0	1	316	143	+173	5	41
2	(32)	10	8	0	2	244	165	+79	4	36
3	(29)	10	5	0	5	245	167	+78	7	27
4	(31)	10	4	0	6	194	197	−3	6	22
5	(35)	10	4	0	6	191	262	−71	2	18
6	(44)	10	0	0	10	120	376	−256	1	1

Promotion to 2017 Rugby Europe Championship
Relegation to 2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 1 September 2014)

See also

• European Nations Cup (rugby union)
• FIRA - Association of European Rugby
• Six Nations Championship
• Antim Cup

External links

• FIRA-AER official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: pl. ENC 2010–12 – DRAFT New format for the competition FIRA-AER. 1 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100507210329/http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/article_detail.php?article=1106. 7 May 2010. dead. dmy-all.
2. http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/article-48.htm FIRA-AER – New bonus point system
3. Web site: 2014–16 European Nations Cup – ENC 1A. Rugby Europe. 2014-09-08.
4. Web site: 2014–16 European Nations Cup – ENC 1A. Rugby Europe. 7 January 2016.
5. Web site: ENC 1B 1st Leg. FIRA-AER. 3 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110825205045/http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/group-126.htm. 25 August 2011. dead. dmy-all.