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Denmark Vikings Axios Euro Cup Champions

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After a mostly cloudy and wet day of competition on October 4th at The London Irish’s Hazelwood Centre facility, an almost faultless performance throughout the tournament by the Denmark Vikings gave them the 2014 Axios Euro Cup.

Although they did not compete in last year’s edition in Bordeaux, France, the Danes were looking to avenge their one point loss in the finals two years ago in Edinburgh to Ireland. The hard-fought Grand Final against the usually dominant Croatian Knights was an offensive display from Troels Ottesen, who scored half his team’s goals.

The Vikings dominant showing was showcased by a 109-point shutout over bottom but courageous Catalunya, which included 17 goals and 7 behinds, meaning The Vikings scored once every minute during the 25-minute game. Their defense was strong as well, as only the Welsh Dragons were able to score more than 2 goals on them.

Many attribute Denmark’s dominance to their youth development. Their competitive league begun in 1991. Only two other countries, Canada and Great Britain, had competitive football before Denmark. Now 23 years later, some of Denmark’s players have been playing since their childhood, something rare for European AFL athletes. This was undoubtedly the strongest team in their history. Performances of the European Legion talents Danes Mikkel Kjoge and Aksel Bang as well as Croat Josip “Pain Train” Habljak were congratulated.

16 Men’s team participated in this year’s cup. The German Black Eagles, Swedish Elks, Scottish Clansmen, Welsh Dragons, and champion Denmark Vikings all returned to this year’s competition after missing out in Bordeaux. The Netherlands Flying Dutchmen returned for the first time since 2011. Players from Czech Republic, Finland and Iceland were represented in the Crusaders team that was topped off by additional English players. We hope those teams return to the future Euro Cups.

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Scores of the 2014 Axios Euro Cup:

Prince Charles Group

Italy Azzurri 5.6 (36) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Netherlands: BGC van Schie
Italy: Denis Conte, Filippo Bolognese, Luigi Arnulfo, Andrea Lorenzi, Filippo Allosio
Best:
Netherlands: Daniel van Der Putten, MIchael van Eijk, Miguel Zuidberg Dos Martires
Italy: Daniele Gennara, Filippo Allosio, Andrea Lorenzi

France Les Coqs 4.4 (28) – German Black Eagles 5.5 (35)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Jakob Friedman 2, Johannes Mast
France: Henry Tiefenbach 2, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier, Pierre-Etienne Dandaleix
Best:
Germany: Ruben Stricher, Simon Assmus, Gannon Borchers
France: Pierre-Etienne Dandaleix, Pierre Boscart, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier

Italy Azzurri 2.2 (14) – German Black Eagles 5.5 (35)
Goals:
Germany: Martin Schettoff 2, Jakob Friedman 2, Matthias Kluseman
Italy: Luigi Arnulfo, Federico Bernasconi
Best:
Germany: Martin Schettoff, Ruben Stricher, Florian Naumann
Italy: Federico Bernasconi, Luigi Arnulfo, Denis Conte

Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 0.0 (0) – France Les Coqs 3.2 (20)
Goals:
France: Loïc Besnard-Gonthier 2, Julien Dagois
Best:
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandaleix, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier, Alban Schieber
Netherlands: Michael van Eijk, Daniel van der Putten, BGC van Schie

German Black Eagles 7.4 (46) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 0.1 (1)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Martin Schettoff 2, Ruben Stricher, Simon Assmus
Best:
Germany: Martin Schettoff, Gannon Borchers, Simon Assmus
Netherlands: Michael van Eijk, Daniel van der Putten, Renier J.M Vriend

Italy Azzurri 4.6 (30) – France Les Coqs 3.4 (22)
Goals:
Italy: Denis Conte, Christian Tiranti, Andrea Lorenzi, Daniele Gennara
France: Henry Tiefenbach, Simon Mondin, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier
Best:
Italy: Andrea Lorenzi, Christian Tiranti, Denis Conte
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandaleix, Alban Schieber, Julien Gil

Winston Churchill Group

Ireland Warriors 6.3 (39) – Scotland Clansmen 0.3 (3)
Goals:
Ireland: Gavin Murray 3, Coilin O Londrían 2, Cillian Conboy
Best:
Ireland: Gavin Murray, Declan Alder, David Miller
Scotland: N/A

Swedish Elks 7.8 (50) – Norwegian Trolls 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Norway: Jorgen Boro
Sweden: Michael Larsson 5, Johan Lantz 2
Best:
Norway: Tobias Limseth, Brage Blomdal, Jorgen Boro
Sweden: Michael Larsson, Max Larsson, Tobias Slahl

Ireland Warriors 9.8 (62) – Norwegian Trolls 1.3 (9)
Norway: Andre Michaelsen
Ireland: Cillian Conboy 2, Coilin O Londrían 2, Richard MacSweeney, Padraic O’ Connell, Ronan Moran, Declan Alder, Roch Hanmore
Best:
Norway: Anders Thomt, Andre Klaffmo, Klas Harris
Ireland: Kevin O’ Brien, Gerard Walh, Declan Alder

Swedish Elks 2.13 (25) – Scotland Clansmen 2.1 (13)
Goals:
Scotland: Cameron Goodall, Scott O’Hara
Sweden: Michael Larsson, Johan Lantz
Best:
Scotland: Ross Thomson, John McIntyre, Alexander Clark
Sweden: Max Larsson, Michael Larsson, Johan Lantz

Norwegian Trolls 0.3 (3) – Scotland Clansmen 3.8 (26)
Goals:
Scotland: Alex Young 2, John McIntyre
Best:
Scotland: Alex Young, Cameron Goodall, Daniel Connor
Norway: Anders Thomt, Haarkon Molvig, Atle Brevik

Ireland Warriors 7.7 (49) – Swedish Elks 1.2 (8)
Goals:
Ireland: Kevin O’Brien 3, Ciaran Caffrey, Roch Hanmore, Declan Alder, Cillian Conboy
Sweden: Jacob Lantz
Best:
Ireland: Kevin O’Brien, Rock Hanmore, Eoin O’Sullivan
Sweden: Max Larsson, Michael Larson, Jacob Lantz

Captain Cook Group

England Dragonslayers 11.12 (78) – Crusaders 0.0 (0)
Goals:
England: Sam Willatt 2, Luke Booth 2, Ash Swift, Graham Bickerdike, Myles Hudson, Ross Ashman, Matt Whiteley, David Hastie, Luke Murchie
Best:
England: Will Worthington, George Dibble, Dave Hastie
Crusaders: James Clayton, Tomas Nemec, Jens Lofbancica

Spanish Bulls 0.1 (1) – Welsh Dragons 13.6 (84)
Goals:
Wales: Andrew Atack 4, Chris James 3, Sam Jones 3
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Christopher James, Liam Payne
Spain: N/A

England Dragonslayers 3.3 (21) – Welsh Dragons 2.5 (17)
Goals:
Wales: Quad Boal, Chris James
England: N/A
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Tort Case, Quad Boal
England: N/A

Spanish Bulls 1.1 (7) – Crusaders 2.9 (21)
Goals:
Spain: Pedro Hernando
Crusaders: Joni Kinnari, Alex Overton
Best:
Spain: Pablo Màs, Juan Jose Martin de Cabo, Pedro Hernando
Crusaders: James Clayton, Alex Overton, Kristjan Blondal

Welsh Dragons 9.11 (65) – Crusaders 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Wales: Chris James
Crusaders: N/A
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Nick Lewis, Quad Boal
Crusaders: Alex Overton, Tomas Nemec, Warmon Pliestlic

England Dragonslayers 8.12 (60) – Spanish Bulls 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Spain: Juan Palencia de Sarria
England: N/A
Best:
Spain: Juan Palencia de Sarria, Juan Jose Martin, Pablo Màs
England:N/A

Adam Goodes Group  

Croatian Knights (50) – Catalunya Llops (0)
FORFEIT

Denmark Vikings 13.10 (88) – Austrian Avalanche 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Denmark: Victor Petersen 3, Jonas Nielsen 2, Morten Meroj 2, Nicolai Secher 2, Mathias Biron, Mekkel Kjoge, Troels Ottensen
Best:
Denmark: Morten Meroj, Mikkel Kjoge, Jonas Nielsen
Austria: Markus Mayer, Lukas Holzegger, Konrad Traby

Croatian Knights 4.9 (33) – Austrian Avalanche 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Austria: Markus Mayer
Croatia: David Lazanin, Tomislav Tonsetic, Josip Kravar, Zvonimir Marinovic
Best:
Austria: Martin Schittegg, Bernhard Voller, Markus Mayer
Croatia: Ivan Molnar, Zvonimir Murkovic, Josip Kravar

Denmark Vikings 17.7 (109) – Catalunya Llops 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Denmark: Victor Petersen 4, Mikkel Kjoge 3, Nicolai Secher 3, Nathan Campion 2, Morten Engsbye 2, Jakob Oversgaard, Aksel Bang, Jens Djernes
Best:
Denmark: Victor Petersen, Mathias Biron, Mikkel Kjoge
Catalunya: N/A

Austrian Avalanche 13.9 (87) – Catalunya Llops 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 4, Bernhard Voller 2, Richard Claassen, Michael Jud, Lukas Holzegger, Martin Schitegg, Daniel Hansmann, Robert Greimer
Best:
Austria: Martin Schittegg, Daniel Hansmann, Erwin Shober
Catalunya: N/A

Croatian Knights 1.5 (11) – Denmark Vikings 2.5 (17)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottensen, Nicolai Secher
Croatia: N/A
Best:
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge, Troels Ottensen, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A

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PLATE

Norwegian Trolls 3.9 (27) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Norway: Rene Jensen, Amund Lundesgaard, Anders Thomt
Netherlands: Renier J.M Vriend
Best:
Norway: Rene Jensen, Anders Thomt, Amund Lundesgaard
Netherlands: Jort Kolman, Michael van Eijk, Gerrit Blanken

Spanish Bulls 5.4 (34) – Catalunya Llops 3.6 (24)
Goals:
Spain: Jose Domingo Fernandez Diaz 3, Pedro Palencia de Sarria
Catalunya: N/A
Best:
Spain:
Jose Domingo Fernandez Diaz, P. Palencia de Sarria, J. Palencia de Sarria
Catalunya: N/A

Norwegian Trolls 8.14 (62) – Spanish Bulls 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Norway: Andreas Berge 2, Rene Damborg Jensen, Jorgen Boro, Klas Harris, Liam Hardy, Tobias Limseth, Haakon Molvig
Best:
Norway: Anders Thomt, Rene Damborg, Tobias Limseth
Spain: Juan Jose Martin de Cabo, Pablo Màs, Joaquin Campuzano Gomez

Catalunya Llops 7.8 (50) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.6 (12)
Goals:
Netherlands: Jort Kolman
Catalunya: N/A
Best:
Netherlands: Jort Kolmn, Pedro Miguel Zuidberg Dos Martires, Michael van Eijk
Catalunya: N/A

PT2_0001L

BOWL

France Les Coqs 5.5 (35) – Scotland Clansmen 1.6 (12)
Goals:
France Goal: Henry Tiefenchach 2, Jeremy Sardim 2, Clement Bouchet
Scotland: Daniel Connor
Best:
France: Jeremy Sardim, Julien Dagois, Gregoire Chatel
Scotland: Cameron Goodall, David Gramble, Michael Douglas

Austria Avalanche 9.6 (60) – Crusaders 2.3 (15)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 3, Andreas Jauk 2, Michael Jud 2, Markus Mayer, Richard Claasen, Bernhard Plank
Crusaders: Tomas Nemec 2
Best:
Austria: Bernhard Plank, Michael Jud, Andreas Jauk
Crusaders: Tomas Nemec, Dominic Meny, Alex Overton

Austria Avalanche 4.1 (25) – France Les Coqs 4.8 (32)
HT: Austria Avalanche 4.0 (24) – France Les Coqs 1.2 (8)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 2, Michael Jud, Markus Mayer
France: Julien Gil, Pierre Boscart, Gregoire Chatel
Best:
Austria: Markus Mayer, Erwin Schober, Michael Jud
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandeleix, Gregoire Chatel, Alban Schieber

Crusaders 0.1 (1) – Scottish Clansmen 8.12 (60)
Goals:
Scotland: Daniel Connor 2, Scott O’Hara 2, Ross Thomson, Alex Young, Gus Thomson
Best:
Crusaders: James Clayton, Tomas Nemec, Warmon Pliestic
Scotland: N/A

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QUARTER FINALS EURO CUP

German Black Eagles 4.2 (26) – Swedish Elks 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Florian Naumann
Sweden: Jacob Nilsson
Best:
Germany: Florian Naumann, Martin Schettoff, Johannes Mast
Sweden: Hampus Olsson, SIgurd Kristisansen, Jens Ebbesson

Croatian Knights 4.1 (25) – England Dragonslayers 3.4 (22)
Goals:
Croatia: Tomislav Cvetko 2, Lovre Cudina, Josip Kravar
England: N/A
Best:
Croatia: Tomislav Cvetko, Josip Kravar, Tompa
England: N/A

Italy Azzurri 0.1 (1) – Ireland Warriors 5.10 (40)
Goals:
Ireland: David Miller, Roch Hanmore, Cillian Conboy, Gareth Carragher, Gavin Murray
Best:
Italy: Filippo Allosio, Andrea Lorenzi, Thomas Diana
Ireland: David Miller, Gareth Carragher, Ciaran Caffrey

Denmark Vikings 5.3 (33) – Welsh Dragons 3.2 (20)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottesen 4, Jens Djenes
Wales: N/A
Best:
Denmark:Troels Ottesen, Jens Djenes, Thore Lauritzen
Wales: N/A

England Dragonslayers 2.5 (17) – Welsh Dragons 7.6 (48)
N/A

Swedish Elks 6.9 (45) – Italy Azzurri 2.2 (14)
N/A

SEMI AND FINALS EURO CUP

Croatian Knights 7.9 (51) – German Black Eagles 2.4 (16)
HT: Croatian Knights 4.4 (28) – German Black Eagles 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Croatia: Josip Kravar 3, Josip Habljak, Jan Dolezal, Tomislav Cvetko, Misel Lubina, Zvone Marinovic
Germany: Stefen Risse, Matthias Kluseman
Best:
Croatia: Josip Habljak, Josip Kravar, Ivan Lijovic
Germany: N/A 

Ireland Warriors 2.1 (13) – Denmark Vikings 7.10 (52)
HT: Ireland Warriors 1.1 (7) – Denmark Vikings 4.4 (28)
Goals:
Ireland: Roch Hamore 2
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge 3, Nicolai Secher 2, Troels Ottesen, Mathias Biron
Best:
Ireland: Eoin O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Brien, Roch Hanmore
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge, Troels Ottesen, Thore Lauritzen

Ireland Warriors 7.6 (48) – German Black Eagles 2.2 (14)
HT: Ireland Warriors 2.2 (14) – German Black Eagles 1.1 (7)
Goals:
Ireland: Coilin O’Londrian 3, Roch Hanmore 2, Kevin O’Brien 2, Gerard Walls
Germany: N/A
Best:
Ireland: Gerard Walls, Coilin O’Londrain, Ciaran Caffrey
Germany: N/A 

Denmark Vikings 6.4 (40) – Croatian Knights 2.4 (16)
HT: Denmark Vikings 2.3 (15) – Croatian Knights 1.1 (7)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottesen 3, Nathan Campion, Mikkel Kjoge, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A
Best:
Denmark: Nathan Campion, Mikkel Kjoge, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A

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AEC Men's Scores

Women’s Axios Euro Cup 2014

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This year’s edition of the Women’s Axios Euro Cup was a breakthrough success. It was headlined by a hard-fought final game between the England Vixens and Ireland Banshees, who stayed undefeated throughout the tournaments five matches shutting out both the Denmark Valkyries and Les Gauloises early in their campaign.

The Vixens knew they were up for a fight as they had lost by 16 points earlier in the tournament. They managed to keep the final game to a one goal spread but under the leadership of Marie Keating’s three goals, The Banshees seized their fourth Euro Cup win.

But some of the tournament’s most important highlights were not made during match play, but rather before it all even started. 2014 had the highest participation for the Women’s tournament since its conception. Newcomers to the tournament included the Denmark Valkyries, Scotland Sirens and finalist Vixens. With 5 teams participating, each team saw action at least four times. Due to low participation, in the past the Women’s tournament was limited to only one game, usually including a Crusaders team (2012 and 2013), which was disbanded and expanded into the three new participating teams.

An Italian player, Federica Robbiano joined the Sirens team, in order to top off their numbers. The same situation arose with a few Swedish athletes who played for the Valkyries. Hopefully, Robbiano and the Swedes will help the growth and development of the sport in their countries and return to next years Euro cup with full teams of their own, as did those Ex –Crusaders.

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France Les Gauloises 0.2 (2) – England Vixens 7.8 (50)
Goals:
England: Vanessa Temple 4, Michelle Healy, Rania Ramadan
Best:
France: Camille Portal , Coline Duquet, Stephanie Durand
England: Vanessa Temple, Rania Ramadan, Polly Moane

Ireland Banshees 4.7 (31) – Denmark Valkyries 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Ireland: Rachel McGee 2, Carolann Cassidy 2, Paula Keatley
Best:
Denmark: Elizabeth Nielson, Maria Mose, Anne Sofie Friedberg
Ireland: Rachel McCann, Aimee Hazley, Paula Keatley

Scotland Sirens 7.1 (43) –  France Les Gauloises 1.0 (6)
Goals:
France: Berengere Portal
Scotland: Erin Walter 3, Kristy Gray, Hazel Stevenson
Best:
France: Camille Portal, Chloe Raso, Berenger Portal
Scotland: Eve Shao, Helen Cameron, Carolyn Baker

England Vixens 1.1 (7) – Ireland Banshees 3.5 (23)
Goals:
England: Rania Ramadan
Ireland: Marie Keating 2, Emma Kelly
Best:
England: Lisa Mchugh, Vanessa Temple, Rania Ramadan
Ireland: Marie Keating, Emma Kelly, Paula Keatley

Denmark Valkyries 0.0 (0) – Scotland Sirens 4.5 (29)
Goals:
Scotland:Erin Walter 3, Federica Robbiano
Best:
Scotland: Erin Walter, Hazel Stevenson, Carolyn Cameron
Denmark: Elizabeth Nielson, Maria Mose , Josefin Larson

France Les Gauloises 0.0 (0) – Ireland Banshees 9.11 (65)
Goals:
Ireland: Aimee Hazley 4, Marie Keating 2, Emma Kelly 2, Carolann Cassidy 2, Rachel McGee
Best:
France: Charlene Charmale, Camille Portal, Anne Pille
Ireland: Marie Keating, Emma Kelly, Paula Keatley

England Vixens 11.7 (73) – Denmark Valkyries 0.0 (0)
Goals:
England: Laura Turner 5, Rania Ramadan 2, Vanessa Temple 2, Polly Moane
Best:
England: N/A
Denmark: Anne Sophie Friedberg, Katharina Wittenberg, Stine Magnussen 

Ireland Banshees 3.5 (23) – Scotland Sirens 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Ireland: Emma Kelly, Paula Keatley, Aimee Hazley
Scotland: Eve Shao
Best:
Ireland: Emma Kelly, Marie Keating, Fiona Roarty
Scotland: Helen Cameron, Kristy Gray, Eileen Myles

France Les Gauloises 1.0 (6) – Denmark Valkyries 1.2 (8)
Goals:
France: Berengere Portal
Denmark: N/A
Best:
France: Charlene Charnal, Berengere Portal, Camille Portal
Denmark: Anne Sophie Friedberg, Kathie Aepkers, Mettle Haurum

England Vixens 4.4 (28) – Scotland Sirens 0.2 (2)
Goals:
England: Rania Ramadan  4
Best:
England: Rania Ramadan, Chalotte Ellen Eales, Vanessa Temple
Scotland: N/A

Grand Final

England Vixens 4.2 (26) – Ireland Banshees 5.1 (31)
Goals:
Ireland: Marie Keating 3, Rachel McGee 2
England: N/A
Best:
Ireland: Marie Keating, Rachel McGee, Aimee Hazley
England: N/A

 

AEC Women's Scores

2014 Axios Euro Cup Review

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The fifth annual Axios Euro Cup drew to a close over the weekend, with over 350 players from 19 nations competing at the London Irish Rugby Club facilities. The Denmark Vikings took out the mens competition defeating the Croatian Knights in a hard fought contest in which the Danish proved their class with a young and rapidly developing collection of players. The final score was 6.4.40- 2.4.16 to the Vikings.

The Irish Banshees managed to hold on to the lead beating first timers the English Vixens by just 5 points with a final score of 5.1.31- 4.2.26 in the Women’s Division.

France took took out Division 2 to take home the Euro Bowl and in Division 3 Norway defeated Spain to claim the Euro plate.

2014 Axios Euro Cup was the biggest Euro Cup in the history with 16 men’s and 5 women’s national teams represented, including the new women’s teams the English Vixens, Denmak Valkyries and Scottish Sirens.

Irish Banshees

2014 Axios Euro Cup Team of the Tournament:

Mens
Anders Thomt – Norway
Michel Van Eijk – Netherlands
Micheal Larsson – Sweden
Micheal Douglas – Scotland
Pierre Etienne Dandaleix – France
Myles Hudson – England
Kevin O’brien – Ireland
Bernhard Plank – Austria
James Clayton – Crusaders
Josip Habljak – Croatia
Mikkel Kjoge – Denmark
Aleix Ferrer – Catalunya
Florian Neuman – Germany
Juan Jose Martin – Spain
David Saunders – Wales
Andrea Lorenzi – Italy

Golden Whistle – Oscar Ayaddi
Team Manager – Martin Schittegg
Coach – Morten Ensbye

Womens
Elizabeth Nielsen – Denmark
Helen Cameron – Scotland
Vanessa Temple – England
Camille Portal – France
Marie Keating – Ireland

Team Manager – Morten Merhoj
Coach – Ian Baxter

Scores of the day (click on the picture to enlarge):

Men’s competition:

AEC Men's Scores

Women’s competition:

AEC Women's Scores

2014 Axios Euro Cup ranking:

Men’s:

1- Denmark
2- Croatia
3- Ireland
4- Germany
5- Wales
6- England
7- Sweden
8- Italy
9- France
10- Austria
11- Scotland
12- Crusaders
13- Norway
14- Spain
15- Netherlands
16- Catalunya

Women’s:

1- Ireland
2- England
3- Scotland
4- Denmark
5- France

AFL Europe would like to thank all the umpires and volunteers for their hard work on the day as the event wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Special thanks to our sponsors Axios, Coopers, Belushi’s, St Christophers Inn, Stack Cup, Generator, Strap-Med for their support and many thanks to London Irish Rugby Club and Hazelwood Centre for their collaboration and allowing the teams to use their amazing venue.

The Euro Cup remains a highlight on the European footy calendar and we look forward to the sixth edition in 2015. Stay tuned for more information or if your community would like to find out about submitting a bid please get in touch.