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2008 FIRA European Championship

Tournament details
Host	Netherlands
Dates	17 May 2008 (2008-05-17)– 23 May 2008 (2008-05-23)
Teams	16
Tournament statistics
Matches played	30
← 2007 2009 →

The 2008 FIRA Women's European Championship was the 11th rugby union women's European championship organised by FIRA - AER.

It took place in the Netherlands from 17 to 24 May 2008; for the first time since 2004 both the A and B championships were held simultaneously in the same host country.

Eight national teams took part to the Pool A: the four Home Nations plus France, Spain and the Netherlands; as for Italy they withdrew and were replaced by Sweden. Amongst the contestants in the Pool B were also the "France Défense XV", the French Army women's rugby union squad.

England won the Pool A title against Wales in the final. There were no tries in the match, which effectively amounted to a kicking duel, with each team dominating one half. Non Evans scored two penalties for the Welsh in the first half and Katy McLean scored four for England in the second half. The English took the title with a final score of 12 to 6. Both teams produced good play during the tournament; however, in this particular match the defence stole the lead over the attack and the precision and discipline of the English won the day. The new Champions of Europe succeeded France, who only managed to attain fourth place - despite the final score, 22-22, in the play-off against Ireland the last place on the podium went to their opponents as they scored more tries. A surprise placing for the Scottish who came in fifth, winning 27 -25 against Spain in an incredible match (8 tries), probably one of the best of the Championship with Spain just losing out in injury time. In the match for seventh place, the Netherlands beat Sweden 7 to 6.

It was an easy win for Russia in the Group B final against the French Military team. Faster and more organized, the Russian players took control of the match very early on when their full-back and team captain, Anastasiya Mukharyamova launched a counterattack from the 22 metre line and a few passes later, Anna Gottseva finished between the posts. Throughout the tournament Russia produced some splendid clean, creative and collective play. The speed and agility of their backs meant that they emerged as the team with the best attacking play. Their players took major risks and didn't hesitate in launching counterattacks from anywhere on the pitch. It was no surprise when they won this afternoon in Amsterdam. Congratulations also to the Russian full-back Natalia Selyvtina, a very impressive “sidestepper”, who succeeded in scoring eleven tries during her team's five games. An incredible turnabout took place in the match for third place. Ten minutes from the end of the match, the Belgians were leading 15 to 7 and were expecting victory. However, they hadn't counted on the courage of the Germans who scored two late tries, taking the lead in the last minute and eventually winning the match 19 to 15. In the match for fifth place, Romanian won 12 – 5 against Finland.

FIRA-AER officials also selected the best players of the Championship. The jury, made up of Technical Directors and Match Commissioners selected:

• Group A, Barbara Pla, Spanish Back Row
• Group B, Anastasiya Mukharyamova, Russian full-back and also team Captain.

The Fair-play prize was awarded to Russia

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	17 May – Amsterdam
	England	80
					20 May – Drachten
	Sweden	3
					England	22
	17 May – Amsterdam
					Ireland	11
	Ireland	41
									13 May – Amsterdam
	Spain	7
									England	12
	17 May – Amsterdam
									Wales	6
	Netherlands	3
					20 May – Leiden
	France	24
					France	10
	17 May – Amsterdam
					Wales	18			Third place
	Scotland	10
									13 May – Amsterdam
	Wales	27
									Ireland	22 (4T)
									France	22 (3T)

	Semi-finals				Final
	20 May – Leiden
	Netherlands	0
					24 May – Amsterdam
	Scotland	26
					Scotland	27
	20 May – Drachten
					Spain	25
	Sweden	0
	Spain	22
					Third place
					24 May – Amsterdam
					Netherlands	7
					Sweden	6

2008-05-17

England	80–3	Sweden

Amsterdam

2008-05-17

Netherlands	3–24	France

Amsterdam

2008-05-17

Scotland	10–27	Wales

Amsterdam

2008-05-17

Ireland	41–7	Spain

Amsterdam

2008-05-20

England	22–11	Ireland

Drachten, Netherlands

2008-05-20

France	10–18	Wales

Leiden, Netherlands

2008-05-20

Sweden	0–20	Spain

Drachten, Netherlands

2008-05-20

Netherlands	0–26	Scotland

Leiden, Netherlands

2008-05-24

Netherlands	7–6	Sweden

Amsterdam

2008-05-24

Scotland	27–25	Spain

Amsterdam

2008-05-24

France	22–22 [1]	Ireland

Amsterdam

2008-05-24

England	12–6	Wales

Amsterdam

Pos	Nation	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	France Defence	2	2	0	0	22	5	+17	4
2	Germany	2	1	0	1	10	17	−7	2
3	Belgium	2	0	0	2	0	10	−10	0

2008-05-19

Belgium	0–5	Germany

Castricum, Netherlands

2007-05-19

Germany	5-17	France Defence

Castricum, Netherlands

2007-05-19

Belgium	0-5	France Defence

Castricum, Netherlands

Pos	Nation	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Russia	2	2	0	0	71	3	+68	4
2	Romania	2	1	0	1	16	37	−21	2
3	Finland	2	0	0	2	5	52	−47	0

2008-05-19

Finland	5–13	Romania

Utrecht, Netherlands

2008-05-19

Finland	0–39	Russia

Utrecht, Netherlands

2008-05-19

Romania	3–32	Russia

Utrecht, Netherlands

Pos	Nation	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Russia	2	2	0	0	51	0	+51	4
2	Belgium	2	1	0	1	15	29	−14	2
3	Romania	2	0	0	2	7	44	−37	0

2008-05-21

Belgium	0–22	Russia

Tilburg, Netherlands

2008-05-21

Belgium	15–7	Romania

Tilburg, Netherlands

2008-05-21

Romania	0–29	Russia

Tilburg, Netherlands

Pos	Nation	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	France Defence	2	2	0	0	39	7	+32	4
2	Germany	2	1	0	1	46	13	+33	2
3	Finland	2	0	0	2	3	68	−65	0

2008-05-21

Finland	0-29	France Defence

Driebergen, Netherlands

2008-05-21

Finland	3–39	Germany

Driebergen, Netherlands

2008-05-21

Germany	7-10	France Defence

Driebergen, Netherlands

2008-05-23

Finland	5–12	Romania

Amsterdam

2008-05-23

Belgium	15–19	Germany

Amsterdam

2008-05-23

Russia	31-14	France Defence

Amsterdam

• Women's international rugby union

• FIRA 2008 (Netherlands RFU)^{[permanent dead link‍]}