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Europe’s rising stars meet in Liege

The second European U18 sevens championship takes place in Liege in Belgium this weekend, with twelve teams showing off the continent’s next generation.

Published by John Birch, September 10th, 2015

5 minute read

Belgium - hosts for 2015

The ten nations that took part in Enkoping - Belgium, Russia, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Wales, Sweden, England, Ireland and Portugal – are this year joined by Spain and the Ukraine.

Last year’s competition waswon comfortably by England, but more than in most tournaments, the past will be little guide.

That said, it will be the countries that have a strong junior rugby programme who will have a clear advantage – so 2014 finalists England and Wales will again be the teams to beat, with the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain (who missed last year when the went to the Youth Olympics) likely to be close behind, with Russia a good possible outside bet.

The Dutch junior team finished third last year, the strength of their junior rugby a positive spin-off from the professional programme that had their Olympic and World Series hopes dashed this summer. These players could go one step further than their older colleagues in 2020 or 2024.

Outside these, and if based just on sheer ambition, Germany talk a game that seems to make them a team to watch. The team, coached by Melville Smith, is targeting a place in the top five (last year they finished eighth). “The team has had a super preparation”, said DRV performance manager Manuel Wilhelm, “and includes many strong players, some of whom have already played for the senior team. Our first goal will be second place in the pool behind England, after which everything is on the second day will be open. After the bitter relegation our senior team from the Grand Prix Series and their failure in the Olympic qualifier, we hoping that this tournament will give this talented team a fresh start.

However, they will face a significant practical problem in achieving that their ambitions – as will most of the exciting young players who will appear in Leige. Whereas the young women who make an impact playing for England, Spain, Wales and Russia can look forward to breaking into their Six Nations and World Series teams later this season (as many did last season), the international opportunities for the rest will be very limited indeed, especially after the disappearance of initiatives such as the Emerging Nations camps and tournaments last season which the authorities have thus far done little to replace. After the tournament they will have to limit their ambitions to breaking into their adult club leagues.

That said this U18 championship is a great initiative by Rugby Europe, and has now been matched by a similar age group tournament in Asia. With strong youth programmes in North America, and with the top young players in Australia and New Zealand being fast-tracked into national squads it surely cannot be long before the Unions come together for a worldwide event.

Game n°

Team 1

Team 2

Pool