1996 FIRA Women's European Championship

{{Infobox rugby tournament

| type = Women

| logo =

| pixels = 50px

| dates = {{start date|1996|04|10|df=y}}–
{{end date|1996|04|14|df=y}}

| host = Spain

| nations = 5

| champion = France

| runnerup = Spain

| matches = 7

| top scorer =

|name=1996 FIRA European Championship|preceded by=1995|succeeded by=1997}}

The 1996 FIRA Women's European Championship was the second edition of the Women's European Championship. It saw the debut of Germany and a five-nation event.

The competition was initially a three-team two pools system but Russia withdrew a few days before the start.Championship info in Mundo Deportivo Wednesday 10 April 1996 page 50 - spanish With no time for finding substitutes Pool B was left with only two teams, becoming in a "semi-final" for deciding the final place. The other final place was decided on a three-team pool (Pool A), won by Spain with wins over Netherlands and Germany.

On the competition calendar 5th/6th and 3rd/4th place matches were planned, but with the non participation of Russia a three-team pool was created. Italy played Netherlands and Germany, the results of these games being combined with the earlier match between Netherlands and Germany to decide 3rd-5th places.

Results

=Pool A=

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|team_header=Nation

|for_against_style=points

|winpoints=2

|team1=ESP|name_ESP={{Ruw|ESP}}

|team2=NED|name_NED={{Ruw|NED}}

|team3=GER|name_GER={{Ruw|GER}}

|col_QF=#ccffcc|text_QF=Final

|result1=QF

|col_QP=inherit|text_QP=Play-off

|result2=QP|result3=QP

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{rugbybox

| date = 1996-04-10

| team1 = {{ruw-rt|ESP}}

| score = 53–0

| team2 = {{ruw|GER}}

| stadium = Madrid

}}

{{rugbybox

| date = 1996-04-11

| team1 = {{ruw-rt|NED}}

| score = 29–11

| team2 = {{ruw|GER}}

| stadium = Madrid

}}

{{rugbybox

| date = 1996-04-12

| team1 = {{ruw-rt|ESP}}

| score = 29–0 {{cite news | publisher=abc.es | title=ABC, 13 April 1996, page 83 - Deportes en Breve - Rugby | url=https://www.abc.es/archivo/periodicos/abc-madrid-19960413.html | accessdate=2022-10-17 | date=1996-04-13 |language=es}}

| team2 = {{ruw|NED}}

| stadium = Madrid

}}