Round one of the men’s Rugby Europe Championship for 2024 was sensational, so round two has a lot to live up to, but the four matches to come at the weekend certainly whet the appetite and look exciting.
First up on Saturday, Georgia take on Netherlands at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi in Pool A at 2pm local time (10am UTC).
Georgia go into this one after a win away to Germany, but they were pushed hard and did not get a bonus point, so will be keen to be ‘on it’ from the first minute here.
Netherlands lost to Spain last time out, but can take heart from lots of parts of their performance. This is 13 in the world versus 29 and last year Georgia won the corresponding match 40-8.
Romania and Belgium then meet in Saturday’s second game, the Pool B clash taking place at the Arcul de Triumf stadium in Bucharest at 2.30pm local time (12.30pm UTC).
Romania laboured to a win in Poland while Belgium had the biggest win in their history at home to Portugal. This is 26 against 20 in the world and last year Romania won the corresponding group phase game 56-5.
The competition then stays in Pool B for the Saturday evening match when Portugal welcome Poland to the Estadio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon at 7pm local time (7pm UTC).
Both sides lost last time out, but Poland will have taken more positives from their performance. Portugal won 65-3 in the group stage game between these sides in 2023 and they are 16 in the world now with Poland at 33.
Spain versus Germany in Pool A on Sunday rounds off the weekend of action. The match is being played at the Estadio Universidad Complutense in Madrid at 12.45pm local time (11.45am UTC). Spain are 19th in the world with Germany sitting 32nd and when the sides met in the group phase last year the Spanish team won 32-14.
