Rugby Europe saves biggest shock for final weekend as World Cup hopes dashed

The biggest surprises of the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship 2025 were saved for the final weekend, as Belgium knocked out the Netherlands in Amsterdam to secure a place in the World Rugby Repechage tournament this November.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Switzerland staged a brilliant comeback to seal a sensational victory on the final play of the match.

Switzerland one step closer to REC retention

Against all odds, the Swiss overcame Germany, earning a 20-17 win thanks to a brilliant last-second drop goal from fly-half Jules Porcher, stunning the home fans.

It was a remarkable comeback, particularly since Germany dominated early territory and scored the first try from a rolling maul, with Nikolai Klewinghaus adding the conversion.

Porcher slotted Switzerland’s first three points, but Germany managed a second try five minutes before halftime.

Though everything seemed to be going Germany’s way, the second half told a completely different story. The visitors mounted a sensational comeback, beginning with a maul drive that ended over the try line.

Klewinghaus scored Germany’s only points of the second half, while Switzerland drew level with four minutes remaining. Thomas McCarthy muscled over the line for Switzerland’s second try, which Perrod converted.

With time running out, the hosts had one last chance, but Klewinghaus’s kick drifted wide, and Switzerland decided to keep playing. In under four minutes, they moved the ball from their own try area to the opposite end, where Porcher delivered a brilliant offload to clinch Switzerland’s first-ever win at this level.

Belgium World Cup hopes still alive

Welsh icon Lyn Jones had aimed to guide the Netherlands to World Cup qualification, but the Dutch dreams came to a screeching halt as Belgium claimed the repechage ticket with a 31-10 victory.

The Diables Noirs arrived at Amsterdam’s National Arena seemingly unfazed, racing to a 21-point lead in the opening half-hour following tries from Simeon Soenen, Maximilien Hendrickx, and Jens Torfs. Fly-half Hugo de Francq added the conversions and a penalty.

Former Emirates Lions hooker Robbie Coetzee powered over from a rolling maul, providing a glimmer of hope for the Netherlands.

Credit: Belgium Rugby Union

However, it was short-lived. Belgium quickly wrested back control of the game, scoring their fourth try through a sensational run by Florian Remue. The former Stade Toulousain centre eluded four tacklers before placing the ball down to make it 31-5.

Not even Mees van Oord’s try could spark a Dutch comeback, as they struggled to counter Belgium’s strategy. Laurent Dossat’s Diables Noirs stayed composed and held firm until the final whistle of the Low Countries derby.

Having sealed their qualification for November’s World Rugby Repechage tournament, Belgium now await potential opponents from the Oceania and Americas qualification processes.

Bronze Stejarii nullify Portuguese threat

After three consecutive defeats to Portugal, Romania finally got the better of their European rivals with a commanding 21-7 win at CAR Jamor in Lisbon.

David Gérard’s side put the first points on the board through Alin Conache’s boot, with the scrum-half converting an early penalty. Just before the 20-minute mark, lock Jacob Immelman pierced the Portuguese defence to touch down for Romania’s first try.

Credit: Romania Rugby Union

The hosts couldn’t find a way back into the game, conceding eight more points before halftime.

Early in the second half, the Lobos scored their only try when Nuno Mascarenhas finished off a well-worked lineout move. However, repeated Portuguese indiscipline allowed Romania to add another penalty and control the match until the final whistle.

This victory secured Romania’s first podium finish since 2022—a vital step forward for one of Europe’s most historic rugby nations.

Georgia claims 17th European title

Spain led for much of the first half, but Georgia eventually triumphed 46-28 in front of 10,000 fans at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, hoisting their 17th Rugby Europe Championship trophy.

Early ill-discipline by the hosts handed Spain several penalties, and Gonzalo López Bontempo of RC Massy converted two to give Los Leones an initial advantage.

Richard Cockerill’s side responded by constructing a rolling maul for Montpellier’s Vano Karkadze to cross the try line. Yet Spain fought back, with Iñaki Mateu stripping the ball from Akaki Tabutsadze and offloading to Martinian Cian, who sprinted in for a try.

Trailing by eight points with 10 minutes left in the first half, Georgia found their spark. Karkadze claimed his second try, followed by the inevitable Akaki Tabutsadze. The winger would go on to add two more tries, matching Rory Underwood’s mark of 50 among all-time leading Test try scorers.

Credit: Irakli Tkemaladze / Georgia Rugby Union

Georgia seized control of the tempo and widened their lead beyond Spain’s reach, though Spain did cross the whitewash twice more. Ultimately, it was Georgia’s eighth consecutive Men’s Rugby Europe Championship title—a testament to their ongoing dominance in the competition.