The Three Nations I (Closed to signups, but please RP!)

[Kulverint]

OOC: Anyone may RP in here, as long as it is to do with the games. Although your team will not be taking part, it will be a good place for you to practice your RPing skills if you're relatively new.

IC:
Welcome to the opening edition of the Three Nations tournament. This is a tournament that has been collectively organised between the KRFU, SWRFU & the MORFU, the governing bodies for Rugby Union in each of the three nations.

THE SQUADS
(Team - Rank - Captain - Other Notable Player)
KULVERINT - 3 - Jeroen Berdoas (#10) - Wilhelmus Farransza (#14)
SWARTAZ - 4 - Benedikt Klum (#10) - Viktor Jackal (#9)
MAROHIROHI - U/R - Petera Wir'mu (#11) - Hohepa Wir'mu (#10)

Schedule
Matchday 1: Swartaz vs. Marohirohi - Göteborg
Matchday 2: Kulverint vs. Marohirohi - Transversa
Matchday 3: Swartaz vs. Kulverint - Transversa
Matchday 4: Marohirohi vs. Swartaz - Murihiku
Matchday 5: Marohirohi vs. Kulverint - Otauahi
Matchday 6: Kulverint vs. Swartaz - Derastüun

(Note: No two cities may host more than one match EXCEPT for Transversa, where one match may be played on the Swartazian side, and one on the Kulverintian side.)

Scorination for matchday one will be done by Kulverint tomorrow at 21:00 BST.

[Kulverint]

Kulverintian Rugby Squad For The First Edition Of The Three Nations

Coach: Tommi Junkuarlaski

(#: Name - Club)
Forwards:
1: Ekke Mirolasvi - Der Kapital Brachtia
2: Jüllart@ Kré@ana - Kulverint Schkots
3: Mika Jundara - Dragonai Brachtia Transversa
4: Lippo Hirvonas - Kulverint Schkots
5: Junni Lapparski - Der Kapital Brachtia
6: Tommi Ulakarviks - Kulverint Schkots
7: Jos Markalavska - Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus
8: Heynza Milltarana - VDS Rugby Brachtia

Backs:
9: Christijan Uibeck - Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus
10: Jeroen Berdoas - Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus (C)
11: Jos Ferana - Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus
12: Martijn Kouralavska - Kulverint Schkots
13: Christophan Dominica - Der Kapital Brachtia
14: Wilhelmus Farransza - Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus (VC)
15: Hülltérän@ Millian@a - Kulverint Schkots

Subs
Forwards:
16: Jarri Koulevski - Derastüun
17: Tommi Koulevski - Der Kapital Brachtia
18: Wilhelm Maartena - Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus

Backs:
19: Erik Johnsaa - Kulverint Schkots
20: Daanjik Moultaravsta - Kulverint Schkots
21: Johnaki Missenta - Dragonai Brachtia Transversa

Reserves
Forwards:
22: Jody Zenter - Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus
23: Klaus Hunadra - Oulo Brachtia
24: Giannamora Hammelsy - Kulverint Schkots
25: Beredout Makkaloussa - Dragonai Brachtia Transversa

Backs:
26: Jody Zubaur - Der Peninsula de la Kulverint Brachtia
27: Ekke Hansgladoufransza - Derastüun
28: Adrian@a Redran - Vyknov
29: Arie Qweraszs - Der Peninsula de la Kulverint Brachtia
30: Wilhelm Drackardia - Dragonai Brachtia Transversa

[Marohirohi]

Marohirohi Rugby Aquad For The First Edition Of The Three Nations

Coach: Joana Milli@a

FIRST TEAM
Forwards
1: Paora Hohepa
2: Tama Tane
3: Hemi Mikaere
4: Moana Hohepa
5: Moana Anaru
6: Tane Tipene
7: Anaru Wir'mu
8: Patariki Tane

Backs
9: Piripi Tama
10: Hohepa Wir'mu (K)
11: Petera Wir'mu (C)
12: Piripi Timote
13: Mikaere Tipene
14: Timote Anaru
15: Patariki Hohepa

SUBSTITUTES
Forwards
16: Tipene Paora Wir'mu
17: Anaru Tipene
18: Tamati No'nu

Backs
19: Whetu Anaru
20: Poara Tane
21: Ruihi Ngaire
22: Anaru Roimata

RESERVES
Forwards
23: Deoridh Bruce
24: Ruiha Kiri
25: Ngaio Timote
26: Maxime Chastaine

Backs
27: Anahera Kiri
28: Moana Maata
29: Hemi Tamati
30: Santino Constanzo

[Kulverint]

RESULTS FOR MATCH 1: SWARTAZ VS. MAROHIROHI

Hosted in Göteborg, by Swartaz:

Swartaz 21 - 20 Marohirohi

Team                    P   W   D   L  For  Ag +/- Pts
1 Swartaz               1   1   0   0   21  20 +1    4
2 Marohirohi            1   0   0   1   20  21 -1    1
3 Kulverint             0   0   0   0    0   0  0    0

[The Kiaser Colonies]

(OOC: AHH! I can't believe i missed this.)

[Kulverint]

(OOC: AHH! I can't believe i missed this.)

OOC: There were never any signups. Please try to avoid posting here unless you're going to RP.

Which reminds me, I'll need to get one done for my first match this evening.

[Kulverint]

Thrilling Opening Night to First Three Nations Tournament!
Marohirohi make stunning international debut against Swartaz

Perhaps we should have seen it coming, perhaps it was too hazy too envisage, but somehow, on the opening night of the Three Nations, we got a statement of intent.

If you were like me, and many other die-hard fans, and were tuning in only because this was the first match ever of this tournament and you wanted to say "I watched that," then boy were you in for a shock. Marohirohi, a tiny island nation in the 10000 islands region, far south of the equator, were only meant to be in this tournament to make up the numbers. We were meant to get high scoring games against them which, although boring, may have been crucial in deciding the winner. He who scores wins, was the supposed idea.

It didn't turn out that way.

From the off, the teams were surprisingly even. Particularly the forwards of Marohirohi were getting some excellent ball in for the backs to play with, and they did play. They played very nicely indeed, catching out Klum early on to make a line break that was only eventually stopped by the fullback. A mark of intent indeed, but it seemed this rebellion had been quelled when, in the 15th minute, Klum made up for it with a scintillating line break to score right in the middle of the park. Oh dear, we sighed, this was indeed going to be the bore-fest we'd envisaged. The kick went over easily, and Klum went back on his way, smiling.

They weren't smiling for long. After some singing of the Swartazian national anthem around the stadium the team responded. Unfortunately, for Swartaz at least, that team was Marohirohi. The forwards pushed and pushed as if their lives depended on it, and finally got the ball turned over, just inside their own half. After some quite brilliant play, the line was broken by Piripi Timote, who passed out to Petere Wir'mu to score in the corner. Perhaps fittingly, it was the captain who got the team's first ever international points, with cousin Hohepa scoring the conversion . Thus began the most remarkable debut possibly ever seen in Rugby history. Swartaz had to really fight to get through and eventually relied on a penalty to get themselves up the pitch. Full credit to them, though, once they got that ball down there, they were not leaving without points. Eventually, Klum managed to place one in the corner, and convert it in difficult circumstances.

Oh no, we though, as it began to snow lightly. The pacific islanders surely couldn't survive this! But they could, continuing, throughout the cold such as they had never before suffered, they continued to play, and do so with such gusto that everyone in the world must have been with them at this point. When Swartaz gave away a penalty on their own 22 metre line, Hohepa Wir'mu calmly stepped up to convert it into three points. The score remained at 14-10 into half time.

The problem for the Swartazian management at half time was there was not much to say. Swartaz had not played badly, but Marohirohi had played extraordinarily. So, when the teams went out for the second half, although the temperature was just -3, they continued their stunning performance. The ball stayed around the middle of the park for the first 15 or so minutes of the half, before the men in black began an attack. However, a try seemed unlikely, so Hohepa Wir'mu calmly stepped into the pocket, and waited before calling around the 22-metre line. The kick was simple, and it was now only 14-13. This game was getting hot, despite the conditions.

Swartaz, however, should never be discounted. Just as we'd all decided to give up on their performance, and that this was Marohirohi's day, they produced far and away the best piece of Rugby I'd seen them do since World Cup 14. A brilliant string of passing moves and powerful rucks meant that, when Jackal got the ball, there was to be only one outcome. A brilliant try was followed up by a wonderful conversion, and the score became 21-13. Swartaz were now going to take more care of their lead.

However, Marohirohi were not giving up, either. They pushed hard, putting everyone they could into their attacks and, at 73 minutes, were duly rewarded. The try this time came from an extraordinary run from Hohepa Wir'mu, who broke through 3 or 4 tackles to reach the line. He confidently converted his own try and, in the last 7 minutes, the game was on.

Unfortunately, that was to be it for proceedings. A wonderful Hohepa Wir'mu kick (Just after he'd been named man of the match) was oh so nearly caught on the tryline by Petera, but the bounce went wrong and, full credit to Swartaz, they pounced on it immediately. Scary stuff, not just for the Swartazians, but also for us.

There was no single area where Swartaz were clearly lacking, and Marohirohi gaining, just a general trend that this team had come to play. The Kulverintian management must take note. Swartaz did little training up to this match, envisaging it as a warm up game for Kulverint, next week, and this showed. Marohirohi took advantage of simple weakness' in the line and exploited them well, something Kulverint must take note of.

That said, there were some weakness' shown by Marohirohi, too. Klum's weight, even when not coupled with speed, was enough to generally cause some panic amongst their defence, and with Wilhelmus Farransza being a couple of kilograms heavier than Benedikt, and a lot faster, he should be key player later on this evening. As he usually is.

Whatever happens, we'll be hoping for some cracking rugby to set us up for the first Kulverint-Swartaz fixture. If Kulverint can win big enough, then surely that'll be just the disheartener that we need to give the Swartazians ahead of one of 2 probable deciders. Although, based on tonight's performance, I wouldn't go betting just yet.

---

Swartaz 21-20 Marohirohi

Swartaz: 21
Tries: Klum (15, 28); Jackal (57)
Conversions: Klum (3)
Drop Goals: 0
Penalties: 0

Marohirohi: 20
Tries: P. Wir'mu (24); H. Wir'mu (73)
Conversions: H. Wir'mu (24, 73)
Drop Goals: H. Wir'mu (54)
Penalties: H. Wir'mu (33)

[Kulverint]

RESULTS FOR MATCH 2: KULVERINT VS. MAROHIROHI

Hosted in Transversa, by Kulverint:

Kulverint 34 - 3 Marohirohi

Team                    P   W   D   L  For  Ag +/- Pts
1 Kulverint             1   1   0   0   34   3  +31  4
2 Swartaz               1   1   0   0   21  20   +1  4
3 Marohirohi            2   0   0   2   23  46   -1  1

[Kulverint]

RESULTS FOR MATCH 3: SWARTAZ VS. KULVERINT

Hosted in Transversa, by Swartaz:

Swartaz 9 - 20 Kulverint

Team                    P   W   D   L  For  Ag +/- Pts
1 Kulverint             2   2   0   0   54  12 +42   8
2 Swartaz               1   1   0   1   30  40 -10   4
3 Marohirohi            2   0   0   2   23  46  -1   1

[Krumbia]

As a reward for playing very well, the Erorius R.U.F.C. has been taken by their coach to The Three Nations competition. They managed to win the Krumbian Premier League after sompeting with around 60 other teams. Now, they are going to watch the tournament and perhaps play a few training matches with local teams, and meet some of the players. (Let's just suppose they were here from the start)

Each player has tickets to every match, and so do several of the assisting staff. The total people reaches 32. They have so far enjoyed watching the matches, and are betting on Kulverint to win.

[Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk]

The ABK Men's rugby sevens team has come to the Three Nations I to watch previous to their matches at I World Games. So far they have enjoyed the matches and even got the autograph of Wilhelmus Farransza, who was the idol of many players growing up. The players are very excited to see this tournament and hope for more good rugby. Hopefully, it will inspire them to victory at I World Games.

[Kulverint]

Kulverint Win Thrilling Encounter
Kulverint beat rivals in first punch-up

Well, that was rather breathless wasn't it?

The first all-Scandinavian Three Nations fixture was something to get the heart going. The Union Cup for Rugby, it was billed as in Swartaz, in Kulverint, however, Rugby has a different meaning. In Swartaz, football comes first, but in Kulverint, its all about the Rugby. Rugby is, for us, the thing we strive for second only to national supremacy. In Kulverint the game was billed simply as "The Decider: Part 1" Perhaps a little unfair to Marohirohi, but certainly building the tension up nicely ahead of the game.

Going into it, Tommi Jakinen said he felt "Confident. We've beaten Marohirohi comprehensively, whilst the Swartazians struggled to show any kind of superiority." True, but this was different. Swartaz would be ready for this. It was the big one, the greatest rivalry, and it was all happening inside the shared city.

When the game kicked off, both sides would be ready to fight to the death. Kulverint, certainly, showed this in the singing of their anthem.

Swartaz, unusually, set the pace at the beginning, pushing forward heavily after catching their own kick off, and their forwards dominating, until a snatch in the maul by Ekke Miroslavi, one of the men present at the very beginning of Kulverintian international rugby, got it to our side. We pushed forward, but to no avail, an intercept by Swartaz immediately put us back on the back foot. They pushed hard, and it eventually became rather static until Viktor Jackal made a superb run up the middle was only stopped very late on by Wilhelmus Farransza. It had, however, set Benedikt Klum up nicely for a neat drop goal. The noise in the stadium was deafening. Swartaz had made their mark: They were here to win.

But so were Kulverint, pushing immediately after retaining possession at the restart, they immediately set about the obvious task of getting the ball out to Wilhelmus Farransza, waiting patiently on the left wing. When Kulverint got into the Swartazian half, the backs burst, Berdoas breaking the line and sending a brilliant series of passes which ended with Martijn Kouralavska being tackled superbly, however, the offload went to the key man. Wilhelmus got the ball brilliantly and pushed through several well-aimed tackles, before pushing the Swartazian fullback out of the way in a high-energy push, diving over the line for a spectacular try which underlines his reputation as the best player in the world, quite possibly ever.

When Jeroen Berdoas, most probably the world's best fly-half, slotted the conversion from right on the sideline, Kulverint had, in 2 minutes of madness, managed to overhaul the Swartazian lead, and go up to 7-3 in front. For the rest of the half, though, both teams seemed to let the occasion get to them, dropping some simple balls. When Jackal knocked on and the resulting scrum collapsed, Berdoas was on hand to slot the penalty and make it 10-3. With the scores staying that way into the break, Kulverint had made their mark, and walked in a full converted try ahead. It would take quite some power to break them.

After the break, Swartaz caught the Kulverintian kick-off, and immediately set about the task of scoring against this definitively brilliant squad. When Christophan Dominica was called for offside, they elected to go for the three points, neatly scored by Klum to make it 10-6 in Kulverint's favour. However, Berdoas, being the excellent captain that he is, called for Kulverint to "Krét@ der Frana Gijala," or "Create a drop goal." The team responded by getting just inside the Swartazian 22, checking Jeroen was in the pocket, and shooting the pass out to him. The kick was simple enough, and put Kulverint 7 points ahead once more. The Swartazian scare, however, had caused some concern for Jeroen Berdoas. He knew, with all his experience, that Kulverint needed another score. With the Swartazian defence firmly focused on Wihlelmus Farransza, and rightly so, he needed to risk it on the new boy. "Détüla!" He shouted. "Left Wing" would be the rough translation.

Knowing what this call meant, the Kulverintians immediately started to create space on the right, feining as if to give it to Farransza. However, when the ball went out, Kouralavska went down, with Farransza diving in to secure the ball as if a forward. It was then passed smoothly and calmly to the left, leaving Jos Ferana open for his first international test try, and a well deserved one at that. Berdoas, knowing he could convert, was delighted. When he did so, the score became 17-6 in Kulverint's favour. The game seemed to be slipping away from Swartaz.

To be fair, though, they never gave up. Slipping it supremely back into the middle of the pitch, and seeing a tight defence as they had never before seen, Klum went for the drop goal again. He scored it, and Swartaz were at least back within 10 points, albeit 2 scores behind at least.

Most Swartazians, however, had sensed defeat was now inevitable, and it was probably fitting that it was Berdoas who screwed the final nail into the coffin. A drop goal with 5 minutes left meant the score was 20-9. Swartaz would not get the losing bonus point, and Kulverint had put themselves in a very strong position ahead of the 2nd half of the tournament.

The Three Nations makes its first foray into the Southern Hemisphere next time, with Marohirohi hosting Swartaz in Murihiku (And hoping to go one, or should I say, 2 better than the game before!) followed by Kulverint on the neighbouring island of Otauahi. Both games are expected to be packed, and not just with fans of Marohirohi or Swartaz/Kulverint, either. Then we move on to the first game in the Stadia de la Kulverint in Derastüun. This old stadium, built in 1924, has hosted many a big game before, and it is perhaps fitting that it should be hosting "The Decider: Part II"

With a capacity well in excess of 100,000 we'll hope to see you there.

---

Swartaz 9-20 Kulverint

Swartaz: 9
Tries: 0
Conversions: 0
Drop Goals: Klum (21, 68)
Penalties: Klum (44)

Kulverint: 20
Tries: Wilhelmus Farransza (25); Jos Ferana (64)
Conversions: Jeroen Berdoas (25, 64)
Drop Goals: Jeroen Berdoas (75)
Penalties: Jeroen Berdoas (32)

[Kulverint]

As a reward for playing very well, the Erorius R.U.F.C. has been taken by their coach to The Three Nations competition. They managed to win the Krumbian Premier League after sompeting with around 60 other teams. Now, they are going to watch the tournament and perhaps play a few training matches with local teams, and meet some of the players. (Let's just suppose they were here from the start)

Each player has tickets to every match, and so do several of the assisting staff. The total people reaches 32. They have so far enjoyed watching the matches, and are betting on Kulverint to win.

The ABK Men's rugby sevens team has come to the Three Nations I to watch previous to their matches at I World Games. So far they have enjoyed the matches and even got the autograph of Wilhelmus Farransza, who was the idol of many players growing up. The players are very excited to see this tournament and hope for more good rugby. Hopefully, it will inspire them to victory at I World Games.

Kulverint Nederlandes Verenigen Bus (KNVB), Kulverint's Dutch rugby club and current league champions, would be delighted to invited both the ABK Men's Rugby Sevens Team and the Erorius RUFC for a training session during the week preceding the Kulverint - Swartaz match. KNVB is traditionally the top club in Kulverint, and includes the likes of Christijan Uibeck, Jeroen Berdoas, Jos Ferana and Wilhelmus Farransza to name but a few.

[Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk]

The ABK Sevens team has gratefully accepted and is getting the logistics ready to take part in this training session. The players are reportedly very excited by the prospect of meeting these stars and learning from them.

[Krumbia]

Erorius is too excited. They are preparing the team for the session, and they are now even more excited at the chance of playing one of the best teams, in the world.

[Kulverint]

RESULTS FOR MATCH 4: MAROHIROHI VS. SWARTAZ

Hosted in Murihiku, by Marohirohi:

Marohirohi 23 - 17 Swartaz

Team                    P   W   D   L  For  Ag +/- Pts
1 Kulverint             2   2   0   0   54  12 +42   8
2 Swartaz               3   1   0   2   47  63 -16   5
3 Marohirohi            3   1   0   2   46  63 -17   5

OOC: As usual, I'm going to be very busy on Monday night, and scorination will be late, if at all. I apologise profusely to all who are planning on RPing in this, and will definitely have scorination up the day after if I can't get it done tomorrow.

[Krumbia]

(OOC: I only just realised, I play Rugby everyday but Monday and Saturday. At present, I play for 3 teams.)

The team watched the match, and were excited at the outcome. They managed to get the autographs of some of the players, aswell as congratulating Marohirohi on the way out. They then chatted to Swartaz's coach, before his television interview.

[Kulverint]

RESULTS FOR MATCH 5: MAROHIROHI VS. KULVERINT

Hosted in Otauahi, by Marohirohi:

Matchday 5: Marohirohi 10 - 37 Kulverint

Team                    P   W   D   L  For  Ag  +/- Pts
1 Kulverint             3   3   0   0   91  22  +69   12 (C)
2 Swartaz               3   1   0   2   47  63  -16   5
3 Marohirohi            4   1   0   3   56  100 -44   5

Kulverint are, therefore, crowned champions of the 1st ever Three Nations Championship, however, it is not all over yet, as Marohirohi are not confirmed at bottom.

In the second "killer clash," Swartaz will take on Kulverint, and if they lose by 28 points or more, they will come 3rd, and last place.

[Kulverint]

RESULTS FOR MATCH 6: KULVERINT VS. SWARTAZ

Kulverint 29 - 8 Swartaz

Team                    P   W   D   L  For  Ag  +/- Pts
1 Kulverint             4   4   0   0  110  30  +69 16 (C)
2 Swartaz               4   1   0   3   55  95  -40  5
3 Marohirohi            4   1   0   3   56 100  -44  5