Split Hosts Decisive Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Finale

Posted : 24 July 2026

The second and final leg of the 2026 Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series gets underway on Friday in Split, Croatia, with Europe's top men's and women's teams beginning three days of action that will decide this year's continental champions.

Hosted at Park Mladeži Stadium from July 24 to 26, the Split tournament follows the opening leg in Hamburg earlier this month. Results from both events will determine the overall champions, with every pool match carrying significant importance in the race for the title and the battle against relegation.

In the men's competition, Germany arrives in Croatia at the top of the standings after winning the Hamburg title. The Germans lead the series with 20 points and hold a narrow advantage over France on 18 points and Italy on 16. Belgium, with 14 points, also remains within reach of the championship if it produces a strong performance in Split.

The relegation battle is equally intense. Poland and Lithuania occupy the bottom two places after the opening leg and must earn valuable points this weekend to avoid dropping into the Rugby Europe Sevens Trophy Series for the 2027 season. Ukraine and Czechia are also under pressure as they look to secure their top-flight status.

The women's championship remains just as competitive. France tops the standings with 20 points after lifting the trophy in Hamburg, while Poland follows on 18 points and Belgium sits third with 16. All three nations remain firmly in contention for the overall European title heading into the decisive weekend.

At the opposite end of the table, Türkiye, Sweden and Great Britain begin the tournament in danger of relegation. Denmark and Portugal will also be aiming to collect enough points during the pool stage to remove any concerns before the knockout rounds.

Friday's programme consists entirely of pool matches, with every team playing three games to determine qualification for Saturday's Cup quarter-finals and the placement matches.

Among the headline fixtures in the women's tournament, defending series leaders France face Türkiye and Czechia as they seek to maintain their advantage. Poland opens against Sweden before meeting Portugal, while Belgium takes on Great Britain and Denmark in two important contests. Spain also begins its campaign with matches against Denmark and Great Britain as it looks to challenge the leading teams.

The men's pool stage will also provide several crucial encounters, particularly among the teams fighting to avoid relegation, while Germany, France and Italy continue their pursuit of the European crown.

With aggregate points from Hamburg and Split deciding the final standings, every victory could prove decisive. If teams finish level on series points, overall points difference across both tournaments will determine the final rankings.

Split Hosts Decisive Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Finale

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