2003 European Nations Cup
{{Infobox rugby league international tournament
| year = 2003
| title = European Nations Cup
| image =
| imagesize = 250px
| finalists = 6
| winners = England
| count = 13
| matches = 7
| attendance =
| points =
| tries =
| topscorer-flag =
| topscorer =
| top try scorer-flag =
| top try scorer =
| tournaments = Rugby League European Cup
| last = 1996
| next = 2004
}}
The European Nations Cup returned in 2003, being the first tournament since England last won it in 1996. The last European Nations Cup held, in 1996, followed traditional structures presented from previous tournaments, involving just three nations, England, France and Wales, all teams only playing each other once.
The 2003 tournament saw a revised structure, with Ireland, Scotland and Russia all joining.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.rlef.eu.com/rlef|website=rlef.eu.com|publisher=Rugby League International Federation|accessdate=24 August 2014}} The new structure formed the basis of two groups of three, each nation playing a total of two games, where the winner of each group meets in a final.
Pre-tournament favourites England easily won the final against France.
Group 1
=Results=
{{Rugbybox |
date = 26 October |
home = {{Rl-rt|SCO}} |
score = 22 – 24 {{cite web|title=History|url=http://rli.ie/history|website=rli.ie|publisher=Rugby League Ireland|accessdate=24 August 2014}} |
away = {{Rl|IRE}} |
stadium = Old Anniesland, Glasgow |
attendance = 1,123 |
referee = Thierry Alibert {{flagicon|FRA}} |
}}
{{Rugbybox |
date = 1 November |
home = {{Rl-rt|IRE}} |
score = 18 – 26 |
away = {{Rl|FRA}} |
stadium = Dalymount Park, Dublin |
attendance = 1,082 |
referee = Richard Silverwood {{flagicon|ENG}} |
}}
{{Rugbybox |
date = 9 November |
home = {{Rl-rt|FRA}} |
score = 6 – 8 |
away = {{Rl|SCO}} |
stadium = Parc des Sports, Avignon |
attendance = 2,200 |
referee = Richard Silverwood {{flagicon|ENG}} {{cite web|title=Richard Silverwood|url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/more/match_officials/full_time_match_officials/richard_silverwood|website=therfl.co.uk|publisher=Rugby Football League|accessdate=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113907/http://www.therfl.co.uk/more/match_officials/full_time_match_officials/richard_silverwood|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}} |
}}
=Final standings=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Team !! Played !! Won !! Drew !! Lost !! For !! Against !! Diff !! Points |
| bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|align=left| {{Rl|France}} | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 26 | +6 | 2 |
| align=left| {{Rl|Scotland}}
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 2 |
| align=left| {{Rl|Ireland}}
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 2 |
France advanced to the final on points differential.
Group 2
=Results=
{{Rugbybox |
date = 26 October |
home = {{Rl-rt|WAL}} |
score = 74 – 4 |
away = {{Rl|RUS}} |
stadium = Talbot Athletic Ground, Port Talbot |
attendance = 1,082 |
referee = Glen Black {{flagicon|NZL}} |
}}
{{Rugbybox |
date = 2 November |
home = {{Rl-rt|ENG}} |
score = 102 – 0 |
away = {{Rl|RUS}} |
stadium = Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
attendance = 1,376 |
referee = Richard Silverwood {{flagicon|ENG}} |
}}
{{Rugbybox |
date = 9 November |
home = {{Rl-rt|ENG}} |
score = 22 – 4 |
away = {{Rl|WAL}} |
stadium = Headingley, Leeds |
attendance = 2,124 |
referee = Thierry Alibert {{flagicon|FRA}} |
}}
=Final standings=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Team !! Played !! Won !! Drew !! Lost !! For !! Against !! Diff !! Points |
| bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|align=left| {{Rl|England}} | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 4 | +120 | 4 |
| align=left| {{Rl|Wales}}
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 26 | +52 | 2 |
| align=left| {{Rl|Russia}}
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 176 | −172 | 0 |
England advanced to the final.
Final
{{Rugbyleaguebox
| bg = #eeeeee
| date = 16 November
| team1 = {{rl-rt|ENG}}
| points1 = Tries:
Mark Calderwood (4)
Rob Burrow (2)
Gareth Hock
Martin Aspinwall
Ade Gardner
Andy Lynch
Rob Parker
Goals:
Danny Tickle (9)
Jamie Rooney (1)
| score = 68 – 6
| team2 = {{rl|FRA}}
| points2 = Tries:
Teddy Sadaoui
Goals:
Laurent Frayssinous (1)
| stadium = Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington
| attendance = 2,536
| referee = Karl Kirkpatrick {{flagicon|ENG}}
| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/european-championship-2003/final/england-vs-france.html report]
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/european-championship-2003/summary.html European Championship 2003] at rugbyleagueproject.org
{{Enc}}
{{2003 in rugby league}}