title: 2011 Rugby World Cup – Europe qualification
text: # 2011 Rugby World Cup – Europe qualification
  
  In the European Regional Rugby World Cup Qualifying, two teams, Georgia and Russia, qualified directly to the World Cup, and Romania, the third place team, entered a playoff against the second place African team, Tunisia.
  
  The Qualification process primarily based around the 2008–2010 European Nations Cup. The top two teams in the 2008-2010 European Nations Cup First Division qualified directly to New Zealand.
  
  The third placed team entered a playoff series against the champions of Division 2A, and the leaders of the remaining divisions (excluding 3D) as of the end of the 2008–2009 season. The winner of this playoff, Romania, entered a playoff to decide the 20th place at Rugby World Cup 2011.
  
  ## Round 1: European Nations Cup 2008–2010
  
  ### Division 1
  
  Georgia, the winner of Division 1 qualified for Pool B of Rugby World Cup 2011 as Europe 1, and Russia the runner-up, for Pool C as Europe 2. Romania, the third placed team, entered at Round 5 of Round 2's Playoff Series. Numbers in parentheses indicate world ranking at the start of the tournament.
  
  * ENC Champions and Qualified for Rugby World Cup as Europe 1
  * Qualified for Rugby World Cup as Europe 2
  * Qualified for Round 2 Europe Playoff Series
  
  | Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
  | 1 | Georgia (16) | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 326 | 132 | +194 | 27 |
  | 2 | Russia (17) | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 291 | 175 | +116 | 25 |
  | 3 | Romania (19) | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 282 | 136 | +146 | 23 |
  | 4 | Portugal (21) | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 255 | 149 | +106 | 21 |
  | 5 | Spain (23) | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 145 | 304 | −159 | 14 |
  | 6 | Germany (26) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 58 | 461 | −403 | 10 |
  
  Match Results :
  
  | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | November 8, 2008 | Russia | 42–15 | Spain | Moscow, Russia |
  | November 15, 2008 | Spain | 22–11 | Germany | Estadio Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain |
  | February 7, 2009 | Germany | 5–38 | Georgia | Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark, Heidelberg, Germany |
  | February 7, 2009 | Portugal | 14–18 | Russia | Estádio Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal |
  | February 7, 2009 | Spain | 10–19 | Romania | Estadio Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain |
  | February 14, 2009 | Georgia | 20–20 | Portugal | Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia |
  | February 14, 2009 | Germany | 0–22 | Romania | Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark, Heidelberg, Germany |
  | February 21, 2009 | Portugal | 44–6 | Germany | Estádio Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal |
  | February 28, 2009 | Romania | 19–28 | Russia | Stadionul Naţional de Rugby, Bucharest, Romania |
  | February 28, 2009 | Spain | 11–55 | Georgia | Estadio Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain |
  | March 14, 2009 | Georgia | 28–23 | Romania | Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia |
  | March 15, 2009 | Portugal | 24–19 | Spain | Estádio Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal |
  | March 21, 2009 | Romania | 21–22 | Portugal | Stadionul Naţional de Rugby, Bucharest, Romania |
  | March 22, 2009 | Russia | 21–29 | Georgia | Illichivets Stadium, Mariupol, Ukraine |
  | May 2, 2009 | Germany | 0–53 | Russia | Rudolf-Kalweit-Stadion, Hanover, Germany |
  | February 6, 2010 | Russia | 14–10 | Portugal | Central Stadium, Sochi, Russia |
  | February 6, 2010 | Romania | 45-27 | Spain | Stadionul Naţional de Rugby, Bucharest, Romania |
  | February 6, 2010 | Georgia | 77–3 | Germany | Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia |
  | February 13, 2010 | Portugal | 10–16 | Georgia | Estádio Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal |
  | February 13, 2010 | Spain | 20–38 | Russia | Estadio Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain |
  | February 13, 2010 | Romania | 67–5 | Germany | Stadionul Constructorul Cleopatra, Constanţa, Romania |
  | February 27, 2010 | Germany | 0–69 | Portugal | Kultur- und Sportzentrum Martinsee, Heusenstamm, Germany |
  | February 27, 2010 | Georgia | 17–9 | Spain | Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia |
  | February 27, 2010 | Russia | 21–21 | Romania | Central Stadium, Sochi, Russia |
  | March 13, 2010 | Spain | 15–33 | Portugal | Estadio Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain |
  | March 13, 2010 | Romania | 22–10 | Georgia | Stadionul Naţional de Rugby, Bucharest, Romania |
  | March 13, 2010 | Russia | 48–11 | Germany | Central Stadium, Sochi, Russia |
  | March 20, 2010 | Portugal | 9–20 | Romania | Estádio Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal |
  | March 20, 2010 | Georgia | 36–8 | Russia | Akçaabat Fatih Stadium, Trabzon, Turkey |
  | March 20, 2010 | Germany | 17–21 | Spain | Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark, Heidelberg, Germany |
  | March 27, 2010 | Romania | 48–3 | Spain | Stadionul Naţional de Rugby, Bucharest, Romania |
  
  ### Division 2A
  
  The winner of the division, Ukraine, qualified for Round 4 of Round 2's Playoff.
  
  * Promoted to Division 1 for 2010–2012 and qualified for 2011 RWC Qualifying
  
  | Place | Nation | vte Games | vte Games | vte Games | vte Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
  | 1 | Ukraine (27) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 140 | 109 | +31 | 18 |
  | 2 | Belgium (31) | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 108 | 97 | +11 | 17 |
  | 3 | Czech Republic (33) | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 135 | 142 | −7 | 15 |
  | 4 | Poland (35) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 94 | 118 | −24 | 13 |
  | 5 | Moldova (38) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 133 | 144 | −11 | 13 |
  
  * Poland ranked ahead of Moldova due to 30-28 victory in head to head match.
  
  Match Results :
  
  | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Attendance |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | October 4, 2008 | Poland | 12–13 | Ukraine | Stadion Widzewa, Łódź | 4,000 |
  | November 1, 2008 | Belgium | 9–8 | Ukraine | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | 5,000 |
  | November 15, 2008 | Czech Republic | 7–13 | Poland | Městský Stadion | 1,200 |
  | November 15, 2008 | Moldova | 20–8 | Belgium | Stadionul Dinamo | 1,500 |
  | November 22, 2008 | Czech Republic | 11–9 | Moldova | Tatře Smíchov Stadion | 800 |
  | March 15, 2009 | Belgium | 15–15 | Czech Republic | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | 5,000 |
  | March 21, 2009 | Ukraine | 20–10 | Czech Republic | Spartak Stadium, Kyiv | 5,000 |
  | May 9, 2009 | Ukraine | 32–0 | Moldova | Spartak Stadium, Kyiv | 5,000 |
  | May 16, 2009 | Moldova | 28–30 | Poland | Stadionul Dinamo | 800 |
  | May 30, 2009 | Poland | 14–3 | Belgium | Stadion Polonii Warszawa, Warsaw | 6,000 |
  | September 12, 2009 | Ukraine | 19–12 | Poland | Spartak Stadium, Kyiv | 4,000 |
  | October 10, 2009 | Ukraine | 13–11 | Belgium | Spartak Stadium, Kyiv | 4,000 |
  | October 25, 2009 | Poland | 5–19 | Czech Republic | Městský Stadion | 6,000 |
  | October 31, 2009 | Belgium | 14–3 | Moldova | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | 3,000 |
  | November 14, 2009 | Moldova | 45–30 | Czech Republic | Stadionul Dinamo | 1,000 |
  | April 3, 2010 | Czech Republic | 16–19 | Belgium | Prague | |
  | April 10, 2010 | Czech Republic | 27–16 | Ukraine | Říčany | |
  | April 24, 2010 | Belgium | 29–8 | Poland | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels | |
  | April 24, 2010 | Moldova | 28–19 | Ukraine | Stadionul Dinamo | |
  | $^1$ | Poland | Postponed | Moldova | Městský Stadion | |
  
  $^1$ The match between Poland and Moldova was originally scheduled for April 10, 2010, but was postponed after the death of Poland's president, Lech Kaczyński, earlier that day. The match was moved to January 1, 2011.
  
  ### Division 2B
  
  The leader of the division at the end of the 2008–2009 season, Netherlands, qualified for Round 3 of Round 2's Playoff.
  
  * Qualified for Round 2
  
  | Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
  | 1 | Netherlands (41) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 55 | +55 | 12 |
  | 2 | Croatia (45) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 74 | 60 | +14 | 10 |
  | 3 | Malta (54) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 70 | −4 | 8 |
  | 4 | Sweden (43) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 64 | 73 | −9 | 6 |
  | 5 | Latvia (55) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 47 | 103 | −56 | 4 |
  
  Match Results :
  
  | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Attendance |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | October 25, 2008 | Sweden | 21–5 | Latvia | Vänersborg | 300 |
  | October 25, 2008 | Malta | 16–18 | Croatia | Paola | 2,500 |
  | November 1, 2008 | Netherlands | 18–12 | Croatia | Amsterdam | 1,600 |
  | November 1, 2008 | Sweden | 6–9 | Malta | Vänersborg | 450 |
  | November 8, 2008 | Latvia | 10–29 | Netherlands | Jelgava | 350 |
  | April 18, 2009 | Netherlands | 36–24 | Sweden | Amsterdam | |
  | April 18, 2009 | Latvia | 19–32 | Malta | Riga | |
  | April 25, 2009 | Malta | 9–27 | Netherlands | Paola | 2,500 |
  | April 25, 2009 | Croatia | 21–13 | Latvia | Makarska | 500 |
  | May 2, 2009 | Croatia | 23–13 | Sweden | Split | 1,500 |
  
  ### Division 3A
  
  The leader of the division at the end of the 2008–2009 season, Lithuania, qualified for Round 2 of Round 2's Playoff.
  
  * Qualified for Round 2
  
  | Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
  | 1 | Lithuania (37) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 50 | +148 | 21 |
  | 2 | Armenia (UR) | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 151 | 154 | −3 | 16 |
  | 3 | Serbia (59) | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 92 | 153 | −61 | 14 |
  | 4 | Andorra (66) | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 112 | 173 | −61 | 11 |
  | 5 | Switzerland (58) | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 102 | −23 | 10 |
  
  Armenia were ranked ahead of Serbia and Andorra were ranked ahead of Switzerland based on head-to-head results.
  
  Match Results :
  
  | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Attendance |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | September 13, 2008 | Serbia | 0–41 | Armenia | Smederevo | 100 |
  | October 18, 2008 | Armenia | 35–15 | Switzerland | Abovyan | 300 |
  | November 8, 2008 | Andorra | 10–26 | Lithuania | Andorra la Vella | 1,000 |
  | November 15, 2008 | Lithuania | 33–0 | Switzerland | Vilnius | 350 |
  | December 6, 2008 | Serbia | 32–7 | Andorra | Smederevo | |
  | March 14, 2009 | Switzerland | 32–9 | Andorra | Avusy | 500 |
  | March 21, 2009 | Andorra | 36–10 | Armenia | Andorra la Vella | 150 |
  | April 4, 2009 | Switzerland | 6–12 | Serbia | Nyon | |
  | May 2, 2009 | Lithuania | 50–9 | Serbia | Vilnius | 400 |
  | May 9, 2009 | Armenia | 19–24 | Lithuania | Abovyan | |
  | October 10, 2009 | Lithuania | 40–12 | Andorra | Siauliai | |
  
  All four remaining matches were scratched as Lithuania had already won the group.
  
  ### Division 3B
  
  The leader of the division at the end of the 2008–2009 season, Slovenia, qualified for Round 1 of Round 2's Playoff.
  
  * Qualified for Round 2
  
  | Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
  | 1 | Slovenia (59) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 64 | +25 | 12 |
  | 2 | Hungary (65) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 116 | 72 | +44 | 10 |
  | 3 | Denmark (73) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 78 | 88 | −10 | 8 |
  | 4 | Norway (81) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 63 | −9 | 6 |
  | 5 | Austria (90) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 81 | −50 | 4 |
  
  Match Results :
  
  | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Attendance |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | September 13, 2008 | Slovenia | 32–26 | Hungary | Ljubljana | |
  | September 27, 2008 | Norway | 15–26 | Hungary | Oslo | 300 |
  | October 11, 2008 | Norway | 11–3 | Austria | Oslo | 300 |
  | October 18, 2008 | Hungary | 39–12 | Denmark | Kecskemét | 500 |
  | November 1, 2008 | Denmark | 19–25 | Slovenia | Odense | 915 |
  | November 8, 2008 | Austria | 9–18 | Slovenia | Vienna | 500 |
  | April 11, 2009 | Denmark | 20–18 | Norway | Odense | 600 |
  | April 18, 2009 | Hungary | 25–13 | Austria | Esztergom | |
  | April 25, 2009 | Austria | 6–27 | Denmark | Linz | |
  | April 25, 2009 | Slovenia | 14–10 | Norway | Slovenia | 1,000 |
  
  ### Division 3C
  
  The leader of the division at the end of the 2008–2009 season, Israel, qualified for Round 1 of Round 2's Playoff.
  
  * Qualified for Round 2
  
  | Place | Nation | Games | Games | Games | Games | Points | Points | Points | Table points |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Place | Nation | played | won | drawn | lost | for | against | difference | Table points |
  | 1 | Israel (86) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 26 | +110 | 12 |
  | 2 | Greece (UR) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 67 | +13 | 10 |
  | 3 | Bulgaria (89) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 73 | 72 | +1 | 8 |
  | 4 | Luxembourg (94) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 51 | 84 | −33 | 6 |
  | 5 | Finland (95) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 47 | 138 | −91 | 4 |
  
  Match Results :
  
  | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Attendance |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | October 4, 2008 | Finland | 19–27 | Luxembourg | Helsinki | 300 |
  | October 11, 2008 | Finland | 10–12 | Greece | Helsinki | 250 |
  | November 15, 2008 | Bulgaria | 8 -11 | Israel | Pernik | 850 |
  | November 22, 2008 | Greece | 10–25 | Israel | Kifissia | 600 |
  | November 29, 2008 | Luxembourg | 10–18 | Bulgaria | Luxembourg | 400 |
  | March 21, 2009 | Israel | 30–0 | Luxembourg | Netanya | 400 |
  | April 11, 2009 | Greece | 41–18 | Bulgaria | Greece | 3,000 |
  | April 25, 2009 | Bulgaria | 29–10 | Finland | Pernik | 500 |
  | April 25, 2009 | Luxembourg | 14–17 | Greece | Luxembourg | 600 |
  | May 2, 2009 | Israel | 70–8 | Finland | Netanya | 500 |
  
  ## Round 2: European Nations Cup Champions Playoff Series
  
  | | Match Results | Match Results | Match Results | Match Results | Match Results | Match Results |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Attendance |
  | Round 1 ||||||
  | | 9-May-2009 | Israel | 26–19 | Slovenia | Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel | 1,000 |
  | Round 2 ||||||
  | | 23-May-2009 | Israel | 3–19 | Lithuania | Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel | 1,000 |
  | Round 3 ||||||
  | | 6-June-2009 | Lithuania | 6–3 | Netherlands | Vingis Park, Vilnius, Lithuania | 1,000 |
  | Round 4 ||||||
  | | 8-May-2010 | Lithuania | 16–27 | Ukraine | Savivaldybė Stadium, Šiauliai, Lithuania | 3,500 |
  | Round 5 ||||||
  | | 22-May-2010 | Ukraine | 3–33 | Romania | Spartak Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine | |
  | | 5-June-2010 | Romania | 61–7 | Ukraine | Stadionul Municipal, Botoşani, Romania | |
  
  ## Sources
  
  * http://www.irb.com
  * https://web.archive.org/web/20110825205045/http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/
  * http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/medias/matches/2008_BG_IL.pdf
  * https://web.archive.org/web/20090521154538/http://fpr.pt/noticias/noticia.asp?opm=25&id=7542&id2=25
  