- IRB Nations Cup
Infobox sports league
logo=
caption=
sport=Rugby union
founded=2006
teams=6
country=ruA|ARG
ruA|ITA
ru|NAM
ru|GEO
ruA|RSA
ru|ROM
champion=Emerging SpringboksThe Nations Cup is arugby union competition that was first held in 2006 at Estadio Universitario de Lisboa,Lisbon with Argentina A, Italy A, Portugal and Russia taking part. The tournament is part of theInternational Rugby Board 's US $50 million Strategic Investment programme, which also includes thePacific Nations Cup ,North America 4 and thePacific Rugby Cup .The Nations Cup is aimed at providing more competition for tier one A sides, as well as offering opportunities for third tier nations such as Portugal, Russia, Namibia and Romania. The IRB expanded the tournament in 2007 to include 6 teams. The Nations Cup is an important tournament for both Italy and Argentina, who between the two sides, have only nine players that do not play in their respective domestic competitions. The inaugural tournament was won by Argentina A.
The Nations Cup was expanded in 2007, with six teams instead of four. Argentina A and Italy A returned, along with Namibia, Georgia, Romania and the
Emerging Springboks . This was in part to allow Namibia, Georgia and Romania to warm up for the2007 Rugby World Cup . All fixtures were played at the Tineretului Stadium inBucharest .2008 tournament
[http://www.rubaisport.com/union/matches.php?competition=1051&year=2008 Fixtures/Results]
2007 tournament
Current standings
:
External links
* [http://www.irb.com/EN/Tournaments+and+Events/Nations+Cup/060612+DR+Nations+Cup.htm Nations Cup set for kick-off]
* [http://planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_1932947,00.html IRB Nations Cup for 2007]
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