Resolution criteria

The Rugby Europe Trophy is contested by six teams for the chance to gain promotion to the men's Rugby Europe Championship. The promoted team will be determined by final standings at the conclusion of the 2025-26 Trophy season. The competition will continue until November 22nd, pause briefly until February, and resume on February 28th, with the closing round scheduled for April 10th. Results can be verified at Rugby Europe's official Trophy page.

Background

Poland, Czechia, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia, and Lithuania are the 2025/2026 contestants. Poland won the previous edition of the Trophy, with Sweden closing in second place, while Czechia took the podium's last place. Currently in the Trophy division there is a fierce battle to get promotion to the next Rugby Europe Championship as the teams complete their two-year cycle, with Poland and Sweden vying for top-spot. Sweden has finished second in the table for three straight seasons, while Czechia took last place in the previous edition.

Considerations

Only one team can be promoted from the Trophy to the Championship. The Championship will carry relegation jeopardy, with the bottom-ranked side across the 2025 iteration and next year's Championship dropping into the Trophy division, meaning promotion stakes are particularly high for Trophy competitors.