2008–2010 European Nations Cup Third Division

The 2008–2010 European Nations Cup (ENC) Third Division (a European rugby union competition for national teams) was contested over two years during which all teams met each other home and away. The Third Division consisted of four levels, which effectively constituted the 5th through 8th levels of European international rugby. The winner of each division was promoted to the next highest division. Due to changes in the competition, the last placed team was not relegated to the next division lower.

The leader of each division (excluding 3D) at the end of the 2008–2009 season received the opportunity to participate in the qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The previous champion of Division 3A, Sweden, was promoted to the Second Division and replaced with relegated side Andorra.

Table – Division 3A

Promoted to Division 2B for 2010–2012 and qualified for 2011 RWC Qualifying
Place Nation Games Points Table
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1  Lithuania (37) 7 7 0 0 198 50 +220 21
2  Armenia (UR) 8 4 0 4 151 154 −3 16
3  Serbia (59) 8 3 0 5 92 153 −133 14
4  Andorra (66) 8 3 0 5 122 173 −51 14
5   Switzerland (58) 7 2 0 5 79 112 −33 11

Serbia were ranked ahead of Andorra based on 39–28 aggregate score in their two matches as the series was tied 1–1.

Matches

Date Match Result Venue
2008-09-13 Serbia – Armenia 0–41 Smederevo, Serbia
2008-10-18 Armenia – Switzerland 35–15 Abovyan, Armenia
2008-11-08 Andorra – Lithuania 10–26 Andorra la Vella, Andorra
2008-11-15 Lithuania – Switzerland 33–0 Vilnius, Lithuania
2008-12-06 Serbia – Andorra 32–7 Smederevo, Serbia
2009-03-14 Switzerland – Andorra 32–9 Bern, Switzerland
2009-03-21 Andorra – Armenia 36–10 Andorra la Vella, Andorra
2009-04-04 Switzerland – Serbia 6–12 Nyon, Switzerland
2009-05-02 Lithuania – Serbia 50–9 Vilnius, Lithuania
2009-05-09 Armenia – Lithuania 19–24 Abovyan, Armenia
2009-10-10 Lithuania – Andorra 40–12 Šiauliai, Lithuania
2009-10-24 Serbia – Switzerland 13–8 Belgrade, Serbia
2009-10-31 Lithuania – Armenia 25–01 Klaipėda, Lithuania
2009-11-22 Switzerland – Armenia 18–0 Switzerland
2009-11-29 Andorra – Serbia 21–7 Andorra la Vella, Andorra
2010-04-03 Armenia – Andorra 26–17 Abovyan, Armenia
2010-04-10 Armenia – Serbia 20–19 Abovyan, Armenia
2010-04-17 Switzerland – Lithuania Postponed2 Switzerland
2010-04-24 Serbia – Lithuania 5–773 Serbia
2010-05-08 Andorra – Switzerland 10–0 Andorra la Vella, Andorra

1 Armenia were unable to show up for the match due to a pilot's strike in Armenia; Lithuania were awarded a 25–0 victory and Armenia received a point for the loss.
2 The match was originally scheduled for 17 April 2010, but was postponed due to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.
3 Lithuania's win in this match set a new world record in men's International Rugby for the most consecutive wins with 18 wins.

Table – Division 3B

Promoted to 3A for 2010–2012 and Qualified for 2011 RWC Qualifying
Place Nation Games Points Table
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1  Slovenia (71) 8 6 0 2 143 121 +22 20
2  Hungary (64) 8 5 0 3 202 146 +56 18
3  Denmark (67) 8 4 0 4 149 148 +1 16
4  Norway (78) 8 3 0 5 111 130 −19 14
5  Austria (92) 8 2 0 6 87 147 −60 12

Matches

Date Match Result Venue
2008-09-13 Slovenia – Hungary 32–26 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2008-09-27 Norway – Hungary 15–26 Ekebergsletta, Oslo, Norway
2008-10-11 Norway – Austria 11–3 Ekebergsletta, Oslo, Norway
2008-10-18 Hungary – Denmark 39–12 Kecskemét, Hungary
2008-11-01 Denmark – Slovenia 19–25 Odense Atletikstadion, Odense, Denmark
2008-11-08 Austria – Slovenia 9–18 Hohe Warte Stadium, Vienna, Austria
2009-04-11 Denmark – Norway 20–18 Odense Atletikstadion, Odense, Denmark
2009-04-18 Hungary – Austria 25–13 Esztergom, Hungary
2009-04-25 Austria – Denmark 6–27 Trauner Stadion, Traun, Austria
2009-04-25 Slovenia – Norway 14–10 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2009-10-10 Hungary – Slovenia 17–11 Pecs, Hungary
2009-10-17 Slovenia – Austria 13–15 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2009-10-17 Norway – Denmark 15–8 Fana stadion, Bergen, Norway
2009-10-31 Denmark – Hungary 27–18 Odense, Denmark
2009-11-14 Austria – Norway 9–12 Vienna, Austria
2010-04-24 Denmark – Austria 24–13 Denmark
2010-05-01 Hungary – Norway 34–17 Esztergom, Hungary
2010-05-15 Slovenia – Denmark 14–12 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2010-05-15 Austria – Hungary 19–17 Vienna, Austria
2010-05-22 Norway – Slovenia 13–16 Aksla Stadion, Ålesund, Norway

Table – Division 3C

Promoted to 3B for 2010–2012 and Qualified for 2011 RWC Qualifying
Place Nation Games Points Table
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1  Israel (81) 8 8 0 0 257 59 +198 24
2  Greece (UR) 8 5 0 3 145 141 +4 18
3  Bulgaria (82) 8 5 0 3 162 162 +0 18
4  Luxembourg (94) 8 2 0 6 96 150 −54 12
5  Finland (95) 8 0 0 8 79 227 −148 8

Greece were ranked ahead of Bulgaria based on 56–36 aggregate score in two head to head matches as the series was drawn 1–1.

Matches

Date Match Result Venue
2008-10-04 Finland – Luxembourg 19–27 Helsinki, Finland
2008-10-11 Finland – Greece 10–12 Helsinki, Finland
2008-11-15 Bulgaria – Israel 8–11 Pernik, Bulgaria
2008-11-22 Greece – Israel 10–25 Zirineio Municipal Stadium, Kifissia, Greece
2008-11-29 Luxembourg – Bulgaria 10–18 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2009-03-21 Israel – Luxembourg 30–0 Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2009-04-11 Greece – Bulgaria 41–18 Alexandroupoli, Greece
2009-04-25 Bulgaria – Finland 29–10 Pernik, Bulgaria
2009-04-25 Luxembourg – Greece 14–17 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2009-05-02 Israel – Finland 70–8 Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2009-10-03 Finland – Bulgaria 13–36 Myllypuro, Helsinki, Finland
2009-10-24 Bulgaria – Luxembourg 25–12 Pernik, Bulgaria
2009-11-07 Luxembourg – Finland 9–3 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2010-02-27 Greece – Finland 31–10 Greece
2010-03-13 Greece – Luxembourg 17–9 Greece
2010-04-10 Israel – Bulgaria 50–10 Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2010-04-17 Israel – Greece 39–0 Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
2010-04-24 Bulgaria – Greece 18–15 Pernik, Bulgaria
2010-05-01 Luxembourg – Israel 17–19 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
2010-06-12 Finland – Israel 6–13 Myllypuro, Helsinki, Finland

Table – Division 3D

Promoted to 3C for 2010–2012
Place Nation Games Points Table
points
played won drawn lost for against difference
1  Cyprus (UR) 6 6 0 0 187 17 +170 18
2  Bosnia and Herzegovina (89) 6 4 0 2 113 48 +65 14
3  Monaco (92) 6 1 0 5 59 153 −94 7
4  Azerbaijan (UR) 6 1 0 5 27 168 −141 5

On 23 September 2009, Slovakia withdrew from the remainder of the competition, and their record was expunged.

Matches

Date Match Result Venue
2008-10-11 Monaco – Bosnia 5–50 Stade Val d'Anaud, Menton, France
2008-11-15 Slovakia – Bosnia 32–46 Slovakia
2008-11-22 Bosnia – Azerbaijan 18–7 Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia
2008-11-29 Azerbaijan – Cyprus 3–37 Sports Academy Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
2008-12-06 Cyprus – Monaco 24–3 Episkopi, Cyprus
2009-01-31 Monaco – Azerbaijan 38–12 Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France
2009-03-14 Cyprus – Slovakia 33–7 Cyprus
2009-03-21 Slovakia – Monaco 11–10 Slovakia
2009-03-21 Bosnia – Cyprus 6–8 Zenica, Bosnia
2009-05-09 Azerbaijan – Slovakia 6–0 Baku, Azerbaijan
2009-10-10 Bosnia – Monaco 23–8 Kamberovica polje, Zenica, Bosnia
2009-11-07 Azerbaijan – Bosnia 5–16 Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
2009-11-14 Monaco – Cyprus 5–44 Menton, France
2010-01-30 Azerbaijan – Monaco 6–0 1 Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
2010-03-06 Cyprus – Azerbaijan 50–0 Paphos, Cyprus
2010-03-27 Cyprus – Bosnia 15–0 Paphos, Cyprus

1 Monaco forfeited the match due to player illness; Azerbaijan received a 6–0 win, and Monaco were given a point for the loss.

See also