2014–2016 European Nations Cup Second Division Explained

2014–16 European Nations Cup
Date:	2014–2016
Countries:	Division 2A: Division 2B: Division 2C: Division 2D:
Matches:	Division 2A: 5 Division 2B: 5 Division 2C: 5 Division 2D: 5
Top Point Scorer:	Division 2A: Marek Loutocký (25 points) Division 2B: Alexander Zavallis (25 points) Division 2C: Žiga Burnik (29 points) Division 2D: Armin Vehabović (58 points)
Top Try Scorer:	Division 2A: Marek Loutocký (5 tries) Division 2B: Vytaras Bloskys & Joan Fité (3 tries) Division 2C: 1 try – 21 players Division 2D: Armin Vehabović & Thomas Finell (3 tries)
Website:	Rugby Europe
Previous Year:	2012–14
Previous Tournament:	2012–14 European Nations Cup Second Division
Next Year:	2016–17
Next Tournament:	2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference

The 2014–16 European Nations Cup Second Division is the third tier rugby union in Europe behind the Six Nations Championship and the 2014–16 European Nations Cup First Division.

The second division comprises four pools (2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D). Teams within each division play each other in a home and away round robin schedule over a two-year period.

At the end of every season a champion is declared, but for relegation and promotion only the two years ranking are considered.

Starting in the 2016–2017 season, standings over one-year cycles will be used for promotion and relegation, instead of two-year cycles^[1]

With the adoption of the new format for 2016–17 Rugby Europe International Championships, the relegation/promotion format was changed, at the end of tournament.

While the first of pool A will be always promoted to First Division 1 Pool B, now renamed 2016–17 Rugby Europe Trophy, for other ranked teams all change in this way

A New 2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference 1 will be formed with the team originally destined to 2016–17 Pool A and Pool B, but will be divided in two pool according to the geographical basis.
A New 2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference 2 will be formed with the team originally destined to 2016–17 Pool C and Pool D, but will be divided in two pool according to the geographical basis.

(Originally The first in the 2014–2016 ranking of each pool will be promoted while last place teams will be relegated. Winners of pool 2A, will be promoted to division 1 pool B for the 2016–17 edition while the last place team in pool 2A will be relegated to pool 2B. Likewise, winners of 2B will be promoted to 2A, last place in 2B will be relegated to 2C, winner of 2C will be promoted to 2B, last place of 2C will be relegated to 2D, winner of 2D will be promoted to 2C and last place of 2D will be relegated to 3; The winner of 3 replacing the relegated 2D team.)

Division 2A

2014–2015

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(39)	4	3	1	0	92	62	+30	3	17
2	(45)	4	3	0	1	106	85	+21	2	14
3	(41)	4	2	0	2	80	89	−9	1	9
4	(49)	4	1	0	3	86	103	−17	4	8
5	(51)	4	0	1	3	77	102	−25	1	3

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 20 October 2014)

Games^[2] ------------------------------------

2015–16

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1		4	4	0	0	117	35	+82	3	19
2		4	3	0	1	100	57	+43	3	15
3		4	2	0	2	80	114	−34	1	9
4		4	1	0	3	73	92	−19	3	7
5		4	0	0	4	50	124	−74	1	1

Games^[3]

2014–2016

Combined table

Promoted to 2016–17 Rugby Europe Trophy
To 2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference 1

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(45)	8	7	0	1	223	120	+103	5	33
2	(39)	8	6	1	1	192	119	+73	6	32
3	(49)	8	3	0	5	166	217	−51	5	17
4	(41)	8	3	0	5	153	181	−28	4	16
5	(51)	8	0	1	7	129	226	−97	2	4

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 20 October 2014)

Division 2B

2014–2015

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(50)	4	4	0	0	144	75	+69	4	20
2	(NR)	4	2	0	2	87	90	−3	1	9
3	(64)	4	2	0	2	71	94	−23	1	9
4	(63)	4	2	0	2	62	87	−25	1	9
5	(68)	4	0	0	4	76	94	−18	4	4

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 13 October 2014). Cyprus are not a full member of the IRB, and therefore have no rating (NR).
Games^[4] ----------------Note: The loss by Cyprus ended their world record winning streak of 24 consecutive wins, extending back to November 2008.--------------------

2015–16

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1		4	4	0	0	141	30	+111	4	20
2		4	3	0	1	140	84	+56	3	15
3		4	2	0	2	77	106	−29	0	8
4		4	1	0	3	46	103	−57	0	4
5		4	0	0	4	38	119	−81	0	0

Games^[5]

2014–2016

To 2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference 1
To 2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference 2

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(50)	8	7	0	1	284	159	+125	7	35
2	(64)	8	6	0	2	212	124	+88	5	29
3	(63)	8	4	0	4	139	193	−54	1	17
4	(NR)	8	3	0	5	133	193	−60	1	13
5	(68)	8	0	0	8	114	213	−99	4	4

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 13 October 2014). Cyprus are not a full member of the IRB, and therefore have no rating (NR).

Division 2C

2014–2015

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(85)	4	4	0	0	81	29	+52	1	17
2	(84)	4	3	0	1	92	43	+49	2	14
3	(83)	4	2	0	2	50	109	−59	0	8
4	(82)	4	1	0	3	61	84	−23	2	6
5	(72)	4	0	0	4	64	83	−19	3	3

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 6 October 2014).

Games^[6] ------------------------------------

2015–16

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1		4	4	0	0	112	54	+58	2	18
2		4	3	0	1	102	85	+17	2	14
3		4	2	0	2	90	95	−5	2	10
4		4	1	0	3	72	123	−51	1	5
5		4	0	0	4	75	94	−19	5	5

Games

2014–2016

Promoted to Rugby Europe Conference 1
Admitted to Rugby Europe Conference 2

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(85)	8	8	0	0	193	83	+110	3	35
2	(84)	8	6	0	2	194	128	+66	4	28
3	(83)	8	4	0	4	140	204	−64	2	18
4	(82)	8	2	0	6	133	207	−74	3	11
5	(72)	8	0	0	8	139	177	−38	8	8

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 6 October 2014).

Division 2D

The 2014–15 season game between Norway and Turkey, as well as the game between Finland and Bulgaria, were deferred to the 2015–16 season. The second match between Norway and Finland, as well as Turkey and Bulgaria, was played during the 2014–15 season, instead of during the 2015–16 season. This ensured all teams played four games in each season.

2014–2015

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(93)	4	4	0	0	138	54	+84	1	17
2	(101)	4	3	0	1	83	64	+19	2	14
3	(95)	4	2	0	2	91	72	+19	3	11
4	(90)	4	1	0	3	51	145	−94	1	5
5	(NR)	4	0	0	4	80	108	−28	3	3

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 29 September 2014). Turkey are not a full member of the IRB, and therefore have no rating (NR).
Games^[7]

----------------------------------------

2015–16

Table

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1		4	4	0	0	92	59	+33	2	18
2		4	3	0	1	115	69	46	2	14
3		4	2	0	2	60	81	−21	0	8
4		4	1	0	3	90	82	+8	3	7
5		4	0	0	4	45	111	−66	1	1

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Games------------------------------------

2014–2016

To 2016–17 Rugby Europe Conference 2
Relegated to 2016–17 Rugby Europe Development

Place	Nation	Games	Points	Bonus points	Table points
played	won	drawn	lost	for	against	difference
1	(93)	8	8	0	0	230	113	+117	4	36
2	(95)	8	4	0	4	151	153	−2	3	19
3	(NR)	8	3	0	5	195	177	+18	5	17
4	(101)	8	3	0	5	128	175	−47	3	15
5	(90)	8	2	0	6	141	227	−86	4	12

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses (as at 29 September 2014). Turkey are not a full member of the IRB, and therefore have no rating (NR).

Notes and References

Web site: Switzerland promoted to their highest level | World Rugby.
Web site: ENC 2A First Leg. FIRA-AER. 2014-08-11.
Web site: ENC 2A First Leg. FIRA-AER. 2014-08-11.
Web site: ENC 2B First Leg. FIRA-AER. 2014-08-11.
Web site: ENC 2B First Leg. FIRA-AER. 2015-10-18.
Web site: ENC 2C First Leg. FIRA-AER. 2014-08-12.
Web site: ENC 2D First Leg. FIRA-AER. 2014-08-12.