2015 European Cup Explained
| Year: | 2015 |
| European Cup |
| Finalists: | 4 |
| Country: | Wales |
| Country2: | France |
| Country3: | Scotland |
| Country4: | Ireland |
| Count: | 7 |
| Matches: | 6 |
| Points: | 225 |
| Tries: | 41 |
| Topscorer-Flag: | WAL |
| Topscorer: | Courtney Davies (22) |
| Top Try Scorer-Flag: | France |
| Top Try Scorer: | Tony Gigot (4) |
| Tournaments: | Rugby League European Cup |
| Last: | 2014 |
| Next: | 2018 |
The 2015 European Cup was an international rugby league football tournament. The tournament took place between 16 October and 7 November in Wales, France, Scotland and Ireland.
Scotland were the defending champions. Four teams competed in the 2015 event; Wales, Scotland, France and Ireland.[1] Wales were crowned 2015 European Cup champions after winning all of their games putting them on top of the table with the maximum points tally of 6.[2]
After the tournament's last game there would be no European Cup tournament until the 2018 Championship due to the events occurring such as the 2016 Four Nations, 2017 World Cup qualifying competitions and the 2017 World Cup Finals.
Teams
Squads
France
Head Coach: Richard Agar
- On 1 October, Richard Agar named the following 23 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament.[3]
Ireland
Head Coach: Mark Aston
- On 2 October, Mark Aston named the following 22 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament.[4]
- On 6 November, Robbie Mulhern was a late call-up for Mark Aston's team in the lead up to their crucial final match against Wales.[5]
Scotland
Head Coach: Steve McCormack
- On 30 September, Steve McCormack named the following 29 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament.[6]
- On 9 October, Steve McCormack brought in two new players to the squad after the withdrawals from seven players: Craig Borthwick, Mitch Stringer, Brett Carter, Jon Molloy, Callum Phillips and Brett Phillips. Billy McConnachie was also suspended for the first two games. The two new players McCormack brought in are: Louis Senter and Joe McLean.[7]
- On 7 November, Sam Brooks was called up to play for Steve McCormack's side in the final game of the tournament against France to fill in for injuries.[8] Gavin Grant was also called up to play in the team, for the game against France, which became the youngest ever international senior Scottish team to play an international match with an average age of 22.[9]
Wales
Head Coach: John Kear
- On 16 September, John's first selection move of 2015 was naming his new captain as Lloyd White.[10]
- On 29 September, John Kear named the following 24 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament.[11]
- On 2 October, Matty Fozard pulled out of the squad due to a broken jaw. He was replaced by Connor Farrer.[12]
- On 8 October, James Geurtjens of the Coventry Bears was called up into John Kear's squad.[13]
- On 12 October, captain Lloyd White withdrew from the team due to a knee injury.[14] Craig Kopczak was therefore announced as the new captain.[15]
- On 21 October, Coventry Bears prop Morgan Evans replaced Ben Flower in the team.[16]
Venues
The games will be played at the following venues in Wales, France, Scotland and Ireland.
Standings
| Team | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | For | Ag. | Diff | Points |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 22 | +40 | 6 |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 69 | 46 | +23 | 4 |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 83 | –41 | 2 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 74 | –22 | 0 | |
Fixtures
Note*France vs Wales Round 2 fixture has been moved to the 30th due to France's fixture with England on 24 October before England's series against New Zealand.
Round 3
Matches details
All times are local: UTC+1/CET in French venues. UTC+0/WET in Irish venues. UTC+0/GMT in Welsh venues. UTC+0/GMT in Scottish venues.
Wales vs Scotland
- The victory for Wales ended their spree of 12 consecutive defeats with their last victory occurring four years ago.
France vs Ireland
Scotland vs Ireland
Wales vs France
- With the defeat, France still haven’t won a test in South Wales since 1948.
France vs Scotland
Ireland vs Wales
Attendances
| Date | Game | Stadium | Attendance |
|---|
| 16 October | 18 – 12 | | 1,253 |
| 17 October | 31 – 14 | | 4,681 |
| 23 October | 22 – 24 | | 1,197 |
| 30 October | 14 – 6 | | 1,028 |
| 7 November | 32 – 18 | | 5,737 |
| 7 November | 4 – 30 | | 1,405 |
|
Broadcasting
beIN Sports broadcast both of France's home matches against Ireland and Scotland as well as their away match against Wales.[17]
Notes and References
- News: 2015 European Championship details confirmed . rlef.eu.com . 2015-07-12 . 2015-07-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713080126/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/1102/2015-european-championship-details-confirmed . 13 July 2015 . dead .
- News: Wales rugby league stars crowned European champions . WalesOnline . 2015-11-08 . 2015-07-13.
- News: Agar names France's 23-Man Squad . rlef.eu.com . 2015-10-01 . 2015-10-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151003143759/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/1144/agar-names-france%E2%80%99s-23-man-squad . 3 October 2015 . dead .
- News: Ireland name strong squad for European Championship . rlef.eu . 2015-10-02 . 2015-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151003080733/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/1143/ireland-name-strong-squad-for . 3 October 2015 . dead .
- News: Three nations vie for 2015 Rugby League European Championship on Showdown Saturday . RUGBY LEAGUE PLANET . 2015-11-07 . 2015-11-08.
- News: Brough to lead Bravehearts once more . rlef.eu.com . 2015-09-30 . 2015-09-30.
- News: European Championship: Ban for Scotland's Billy McConnachie . BBC Sport . 2015-10-09 . 2015-10-19.
- News: Scotland call-up icing on cake for Whitehaven's Brooks . News & Star . 2015-11-13 . 2015-11-07.
- News: Scotland to field youngest ever side against France . LOVE RUGBY LEAGUE . 2015-11-13 . 2015-11-06.
- News: Wales name captain for Rugby League European Championship . rlef.eu.com . 2015-09-16 . 2015-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150928172642/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/1128/wales-name-captain-for-rugby . 28 September 2015 . dead .
- News: Wales name squad for Rugby League European Championship . rlef.eu.com . 2015-09-29 . 2015-09-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150930191925/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/1140/wales-name-squad-for-rugby . 30 September 2015 . dead .
- News: Matty Fozard forced to pull out of Wales squad . Sky Sports . 2015-10-02 . 2015-10-31.
- News: Coventry Bears prop James Geurtjens called up to Wales squad . Coventry Telegraph . 2015-10-08 . 2015-10-13.
- News: Wigan's Ben Flower could captain Wales in European Championship . Sky Sports . 2015-10-12 . 2015-10-13.
- News: Craig Kopczak to captain Wales in European Championship . Sky Sports . 2015-10-13 . 2015-10-15.
- News: Morgan Knowles replaces Wigan's injured prop Ben Flower . Wales Rugby League . 2015-10-21 . 2015-10-21.
- News: beIN Sports to broadcast France's European Championship games . Love Rugby League . 2015-10-13 . 2015-10-15.
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