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[Quintessence of Dust]

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[Somewhereistonia]

The second RWCC and Heroes' Cup will most likely start sometime shortly after RLWC IV with bids to host the final open to any entrants.

New nations will most likely get 2 slots in each competition but if there are many entries then there may be qualification games between them.

The last competition was scorinated with Starblaydia's rugby scorinator, but this time I may decide to use Dancougar's modified NSFS.

I want my thunder back!

[Sorthern Northland]

Sorthern Rugby, 2037 season

Sorthern Rugby League

Rugby League One

If the first season of an organised Rugby League in Sorthern Northland was beset by low scoring matches, then the second wasn't. It would appear that a season in teams have finally worked out how to get the ball in the try area a few times a match, much to the delight of everyone I'm sure. Except the defensive coaches, but they're a miserable set of bastards anyway. In terms of the title race it was the same two teams as last season battling it out, with Oosehill looking likely to just about win it for most of the season. They though suffered a collapse late in the season though, losing four of their last seven games, which, to state the obvious, isn't title winning form. Which is probably why they lost the title to Snowspire Trinity. And when Snowspire weren't busy winning the league they were busy being criticised after several of their players took to wearing leggings under their kits during the winter. And quite rightly as well, it only gets down to about -30 °C, bunch of bloody pansies they are. Aaanyway, elsewhere, credit to both Club de Rugby Septentrionien de Finistère, and Fortuna Niew Amsterdam, both in their first season in the top division having won promotion last season, and both doing respectably to finish 11th and 9th respectively. Probably go down next season mind.

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 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Snowspire Trinity         38  27   1  10  945  695  250   55 C
   2  Oosehill                  38  25   1  12  868  597  271   51
   3  Floriana                  38  23   1  14  881  739  142   47
   4  Weybridge Rovers          38  22   1  15  827  762   65   45
   5  L Clotaire Candelarisians 38  20   2  16  818  753   65   42
   6  St. Brendan Rugby         38  21   0  17  740  751  -11   42
   7  Siberene Vale             38  20   1  17  751  738   13   41
   8  Reading Unity             38  18   2  18  937  973  -36   38
   9  Fortuna Niew Amsterdam    38  18   2  18  739  782  -43   38
  10  CR Sept. de Finistère     38  19   0  19  798  845  -47   38
  11  Slanigrad Wanderers       38  17   3  18  786  757   29   37
  12  Beningrad Rovers          38  18   1  19  951  923   28   37
  13  Osle                      38  18   0  20  809  770   39   36
  14  Gratnesborugh RLFC        38  16   2  20  848  913  -65   34
  15  Huntshire                 38  16   1  21  724  686   38   33
  16  Siberene Rovers           38  15   2  21  662  852 -190   32
  17  Rugbaí Curadh Corcaigh    38  15   1  22  789  856  -67   31
  18  Denster Town              38  14   3  21  632  778 -146   31
  19  Merrin Hill               38  13   2  23  627  873 -246   28 R
  20  Heathfield                38  11   2  25  805  894  -89   24 R


Highest scoring match: Rugbaí Curadh Corcaigh 57-38 Gratnesborugh RLFC
Largest home win: Merrin Hill 56-12 Weybridge Rovers
Largest away win: Gratnesborugh RLFC 8-52 Beningrad Rovers

Rugby League Two

And speaking of relegation, Beningrad, who were relegated from Rugby League One last season managed to win promotion back at the first attempt despite having lurked between 3rd and 6th for most of the season. Jammy bastards. Sobrinic on the other hand didn't bother with any late season promotion charges as they got themselves into top spot early on and stuck there stubbornly for the rest of the season. Which justifies them having a number of players in the Sorthern Northland squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, hopefully.

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 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Sobrinic                  38  30   0   8  888  648  240   60 C
   2  Beningrad                 38  25   2  11  1035  834  201  52 P
   3  Euskara Zurbitxu          38  22   2  14  930  755  175   46
   4  Dynamo Rhuritania         38  22   2  14  784  639  145   46
   5  Porthdun                  38  23   0  15  734  611  123   46
   6  Beyneu                    38  23   0  15  874  772  102   46
   7  Ashvale                   38  22   1  15  982  786  196   45
   8  Wymshill                  38  19   2  17  802  842  -40   40
   9  Lispole                   38  19   1  18  807  812   -5   39
  10  Wharfdale                 38  19   0  19  814  794   20   38
  11  New Ireland               38  18   1  19  942  890   52   37
  12  Baile an Conghaile        38  18   1  19  815  784   31   37
  13  Letterkilly               38  17   1  20  776  858  -82   35
  14  Derlabat                  38  16   2  20  601  673  -72   34
  15  Durness Rugby             38  15   2  21  732  773  -41   32
  16  Pellingdon                38  15   1  22  803  938 -135   31
  17  Vatnajavik                38  14   1  23  691  834 -143   29
  18  Blemney                   38  12   1  25  724  991 -267   25
  19  Brickinwell               38  11   1  26  509  730 -221   23
  20  Eschburg                  38   9   1  28  761  1040 -279   19


Highest scoring match: Euskara Zurbitxu 40-48 Beningrad
Largest home win: Dynamo Rhuritania 60-10 New Ireland
Largest away win: Lispole 0-39 Beningrad

Sorthern Union Premier

And now Rugby Union, which this season saw a rather tedious expenses scandal which saw just about everyone on the Sorthern Rugby Union board resign. Something to do with claiming too much on gin and tonics apparently. As for the actual rugby, as in the league code the union players scored for fun compared to last season, with no team scoring under 550 points this season. Which, considering no team scored over 450 points last season is some step up.

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 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Northland                 22  15   1   6  643  453  190   31 C
   2  Northern Wastes           22  14   1   7  617  520   97   29
   3  An Mhumhain               22  12   2   8  724  594  130   26
   4  Ibica                     22  13   0   9  625  599   26   26
   5  Inisnadun                 22  11   1  10  585  609  -24   23
   6  Matzuarana                22  10   1  11  667  649   18   21
   7  Cúige Mám                 22  10   0  12  586  510   76   20
   8  Cúige Oirthearach         22  10   0  12  660  641   19   20
   9  Mellasa                   22  10   0  12  548  653 -105   20
  10  Westlands                 22   8   1  13  614  708  -94   17
  11  Southern Northland        22   8   1  13  644  809 -165   17
  12  Cúige Bun Leathan         22   7   0  15  560  728 -168   14


Highest scoring match: Cúige Oirthearach 78-33 Inisnadun
Largest home win: Cúige Mám 62-3 Cúige Bun Leathan
Largest away win: Mellasa 25-53 Westlands

International qualifiers

Rugby World Challenge Cup

Northland
Northern Wastes
An Mhumhain

Heroes Cup

Ibica
Inisnadun

International cup final hosting bids

Rugby World Challenge Cup: James Connolly Stadium, Beningrad, 150,000
Heroes Cup: An Páirc, Baile an Conghaile, 35,000

[Palmouth]

The Palmouth Rugby Union season ended yesterday with the final day of the Super Union League sponsered by Pepsi. Here is the final table (They all played twice againt each other)

First - North Palmouth - 9 points
Second - South Palmouth - 6 points
Third - Western Palmouth - 3 points
Fourth - Eastern Palmouth - 0 points

North Palmouth is the Palmouth Rugby Union champions, after winning the Super Union League and Pepsi Cup. They beat Yorkshire Palmouth 23-21 in the final of the cup.

We look forward to next year, and we hope that North Palmouth will be able to take part in events outside Palmouth this summer.

[Sorthern Northland]

If they played each other twice and Eastern Palmouth lost all their games, how can Western Palmouth only have 3 points?

[Palmouth]

It's one game against each other, sorry I made a mistake

[Taeshan]

Standings
Laketown Krieg
Fadron Flyers
Atlantea AquaStorm
Bayern Foxx
Laketown Chaos
Wiechester Lookouts

International qualifiers just start at top and when you get the quota stop, and then start again for Heroes quota.

[Somewhereistonia]

International Qualifiers
<snip>

Taeshan, you only get 2 places in the RWCC with the possibility of more only if places are available.

[Somewhereistonia]

Rugby is growing quickly in Somewhereistonia, and the clubs will be hoping to build on the results of last season at international level.

Baltijas Regbio

A Lyga

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 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Kabano Bears              38  31   0   7  1074  644  430  124  C/RWCC
   2  Qasarian Sparta           38  27   2   9  983  664  319  112  RWCC
   3  RFK Koltelcia             38  26   0  12  779  595  184  104  RWCC
   4  Karrakiv Warriors         38  23   3  12  862  700  162   98  HC
   5  Karrakiv Wolves           38  24   0  14  834  683  151   96  HC
   6  Dinamo Karrakiv           38  22   1  15  1004  745  259   90
   7  Talla Heretics            38  21   0  17  767  637  130   84
   8  Modraine Sharks           38  18   4  16  674  682   -8   80
   9  Qasarian City             38  18   3  17  848  944  -96   78
  10  Rig Vikings               38  18   2  18  790  815  -25   76
  11  Vairas                    38  18   1  19  687  694   -7   74
  12  Olnavia United            38  18   1  19  782  795  -13   74
  13  Baltrex                   38  17   1  20  824  791   33   70
  14  Island Pirates            38  16   2  20  643  680  -37   68
  15  Mazeikiai Regbio          38  17   0  21  658  770 -112   68
  16  Kabano Marauders          38  16   1  21  719  735  -16   66
  17  Kuka Regbio               38  11   2  25  600  812 -212   48
  18  Old Suvisians             38  10   2  26  633  902 -269   44
  19  Kabano Knights            38  11   0  27  548  845 -297   44  R
  20  Birzai Tigers             38   5   1  32  520  1096 -576   22  R


It was the second season of the Baltijas Regbio A Lyga in Somewhereistonia. With Kabano Bears expanding their squad, they seemed on course to win the title for the second time. Koltelcia and Qasarian Sparta pushed them for the title, but the Bears strength was there for all to see throughout the season.

Whilst the top 3 teams all go in for their second attempt at the RWCC (Kabano Bears hoping to win it this time); the winner of the fourth spot was predicted by few at the start of the season, with Karrakiv Warriors taking in with the Wolves and Dinamo making up the next two spots in the league giving a curious 4,5,6 for Karrakiv teams. Dinamo will be disappointed after finishing 6th and just missing out on a Heroes' Cup place, as will Talla Heretics who were so impressive in the first competition.

The Kabano Knights were so close to staying up, but in the end the points difference of an extra -2 was enough to give the fans the devastating feeling of being relegated. Birzai Tigers were never in that position, with the relegation seeming obvious from very early on in the season after repeated poor performances.

B Lyga

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 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Põlema Klaipaada          38  29   2   7  963  604  359  120  C
   2  Balakas Birzai            38  29   0   9  1098  559  539  116  P
   3  Kursiai Regbio            38  26   2  10  983  619  364  108
   4  Mažeikiai Heretics        38  23   2  13  819  585  234   96
   5  Vijaki Regbio             38  21   2  15  683  545  138   88
   6  Žiguri                    38  21   2  15  700  573  127   88
   7  Olimpiskais Lazvia        38  21   1  16  763  582  181   86
   8  Saku Regbio               38  19   2  17  748  683   65   80
   9  Kihnu                     38  19   2  17  667  655   12   80
  10  RFK Kubuli                38  19   1  18  659  656    3   78
  11  Scuodas Regbio            38  19   1  18  686  800 -114   78
  12  RFK Šalcininkai           38  18   2  18  715  650   65   76
  13  Talsi Regbio              38  17   2  19  619  683  -64   72
  14  RFK Rucava                38  15   3  20  680  826 -146   66
  15  Qasarian Baltijas         38  15   0  23  561  716 -155   60
  16  Kretinga                  38  12   2  24  443  591 -148   52
  17  RFK Valga                 38  13   0  25  517  930 -413   52
  18  Torgu                     38  10   2  26  465  813 -348   44
  19  RFK Bejuva                38  10   0  28  585  882 -297   40  R
  20  Haanja                    38  10   0  28  597  999 -402   40  R


The B Lyga was a facinating competition, with all of the clubs putting so much into every game. Põlema Klaipaada showed great strength all season to claim the title, with the controversial Balakas Birzai grabbing second place with some rough performances. Kursiai Regbio will feel they could have done more, but are sure to be aiming for the title next season hopefully with less injuries to hold them back.

RFK Bejuva and Haanja both struggled to finish out games, giving away far too many crucial points. Haanja really struggling to hold the defense together, something they really have to work on if they want to win a place in the B Lyga next season.


Now, to Rugby league, where teams will be looking to enter their own version of the RWCC/Heroes' Cup.

A Lyga 13

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 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Karrakiv Warriors         38  29   1   8  870  494  376   59 C
   2  Kabano Bulls              38  27   3   8  783  486  297   57
   3  Qasarian Eagles           38  27   0  11  716  498  218   54
   4  Kabano Marauders          38  25   4   9  598  464  134   54
   5  Talla Heretics            38  23   3  12  698  451  247   49
   6  Modraine Sharks           38  23   0  15  562  440  122   46
   7  Karrakiv Wolves           38  20   3  15  671  590   81   43
   8  Qasarian City             38  20   3  15  562  557    5   43
   9  Rig Vikings               38  20   2  16  667  612   55   42
  10  Qasarian Sparta           38  19   1  18  594  590    4   39
  11  Qasarian Tigers           38  18   1  19  528  595  -67   37
  12  Olnavia United            38  18   0  20  562  543   19   36
  13  Dinamo Karrakiv           38  15   1  22  612  752 -140   31
  14  Koltelcia RLFK            38  13   2  23  500  596  -96   28
  15  Birzai Rebels             38  13   1  24  413  546 -133   27
  16  Lazvoria Wizards          38  13   0  25  492  642 -150   26
  17  Island Pirates            38  12   0  26  566  738 -172   24
  18  Kabano Knights            38  11   0  27  478  721 -243   22
  19  Modraine Llamas           38  10   2  26  417  737 -320   22  R
  20  Old Suvisians             38   9   3  26  425  662 -237   21  R


Karrakiv warriors narrowly held off the Kabano Bulls as they won the first ever Baltijas Regbio 13 A Lyga.

[Lurikastan]

Here's the results from Our Regular Season.

Code: Select all

Salor Brewers Championship Circut 1st Season

 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L  Pts 
   1  A.R.C de Ville Blec       14   7   4   3   18               
   2  Rooster De Lis R.C.       14   8   2   4   18         
   3  Weston R.C.               14   7   2   5   16         
   4  Azeroth Mountains R.C.    14   8   0   6   16         
   5  Ile-De-Sunnydale          14   7   1   6   15         
   6  Stromgarden R.C.          14   7   1   6   15         
   7  Atalanta R.C.             14   6   3   5   15
   8  El Que R.C.               14   6   2   6   14
   9  Fuji Samurai              14   6   2   6   14
  10  Texas City                14   5   4   5   14
  11  CSKA Salo R.C.            14   5   3   6   13
  12  Lurikastani Texican R.C.  14   6   1   7   13
  13  Montreal Expos R.C.       14   4   4   6   12
  14  Hades United R.C.         14   3   4   7   10
  15  R.C. Olympikos            14   3   1  10    7

LUGBY League 2  1st Season

 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L  Pts
   1  Dats R.C.                 16  10   0   6   20               
   2  Artican R.C.              16   8   3   5   19
   3  Ciudad de San Fuemirgo    16   7   5   4   19
   4  Edo United R.C.           16   7   5   4   19
   5  Apetonshire R.C.          16   9   0   7   18
   6  Stromgarde Warriors       16   6   6   4   18
   7  New New York City R.C.    16   7   3   6   17
   8  Gorl R.C.                 16   7   2   7   16
   9  Bigton R.C.               16   6   3   7   15
  10  Kokohona R.C.             16   6   3   7   15
  11  The Communists            16   6   3   7   15
  12  Longville R.C.            16   5   4   7   14
  13  Antarctican R.C.          16   4   6   6   14
  14  Ciudad de Jopos           16   6   2   8   14
  15  Syracusa R.C.             16   6   2   8   14
  16  West Lake Warriors        16   5   3   8   13
  17  Salo United               16   4   4   8   12

A.R.C de Ville Blec and Rooster-de-Lis will represent us in major Rugby League Club Competitions.

[West Zirconia]

It was hoped that the second season of the West Zirconian Rugby Union Championship would be as closely fought as the first, where four teams were separated at the top by just three points.

Well, let us see....

It was certainly the case this season. Seven points separated all twelve teams at the half-way point, with last season's strugglers Redwood surprise leaders by a single point. The teams grew closer before growing apart, and by the last match Flockton Flavell lead Stanley Park by two points. The points difference was such that a Stanley win and a Flockton Flavell loss would give the title to the Stanley outfit. Worse still, that last match saw Flockton Flavell host Stanley Park. To see this happen last season was strange enough, but twice is frightening.

The final, all-decisive result:

Flockton Flavell 34-11 Stanley Park

giving Flockton Flavell the title.

Code: Select all

 Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   PF   PA    PD  Pts
   1  Flockton Flavell          22  15   0   7  328  273   55   30
   2  Stanley Park              22  12   2   8  357  304   53   26
   3  Moorcroft                 22  12   1   9  403  352   51   25
   4  Mort Park                 22  11   1  10  416  383   33   23
   5  Currie Celtic             22  11   0  11  340  325   15   22
   6  Bradley and Elwell        22  11   0  11  454  509  -55   22
   7  Buckby                    22  10   1  11  398  372   26   21
   8  St. Martin Bees           22  10   1  11  399  381   18   21
   9  Redwood                   22  10   1  11  343  367  -24   21
  10  Oakley                    22  10   0  12  385  405  -20   20
  11  Clwb Rygbi Caernewydd     22   9   0  13  382  437  -55   18
  12  Snaith Marlins            22   7   1  14  335  432  -97   15


Provisionally, the RWCC entrants will be Flockton Flavell and Stanley Park, with Moorcroft and Mort Park going into the Heroes' Cup, subject to confirmation from the organisers.

[Somewhereistonia]

Some News for the Rugby World Challenge Cup (RWCC) and the Heroes' Cup (HC). As some of you may be aware, my internet connection has been unreliable in recent weeks (moving etc). I will probably scorinate the second version of the two tournaments when I have reliable internet in my new place (in around 2 weeks time).

For those who don't know. The RWCC is basically a rugby version of the Champions league with the Heroes' Cup being similar to the UEFA Cup. A new nation will probably get two nations in each tournament whilst those with higher coefficients will get more places.

In the RWCC there is a group stage with 32 teams (in groups of 4), each team plays the others twice. The top two from each group then go through to the next round whilst the third placed teams qualify for the Heroes' Cup. Both tournaments then run with two-legged knockout rounds (home and away) to get to the final. The exact format of the Heroes' Cup (and RWCC qualification) is dependent on the numbers of sign-ups (and so can change season to season).

To sign up, post your results in this thread, a scorinator can be found in Dancougar's sig. Anyone who needs help can telegram me with questions regarding signing up or the tournaments in general. You can bid for a stadium to host the final of one of these cups with the venue decided randomly (this doesn't require any effort from you). The finals for the last two were both held in Somewhereistonia and I would like to have them move around.

These are Rugby Union tournaments. A rugby league club cup may be in the works with SN hosting/scorinating (I don't want to do both). Please make in clear which type of game your league is, otherwise they could be missed out. Lurikastan: Is yours a Rugby League table or a Rugby Union league table?

[Somewhereistonia]

*Bump*

Sign-ups anyone?

If there are not enough clubs entered then all those nations currently with less than 4 qualifying spots will be allowed more teams. Nations from top of the list will get +1 teams until all have at least three and then four until we have enough sign-ups. No nations will be allowed more than four clubs in the RWCC and no more than two in the HC.

If not enough sign-up then puppets will be allowed (one per nation).

Dancougar's modified version of NSFS that simulates Rugby can be found here

[Graziland]

Rugby Union in Graziland

Rugby Union, like many of the "exotic" sports in the world, is relatively new to Graziland. It was thought to be brought to the small area of the Roundbusch Province around the time of the "Great Awakening" , and it is in the collection of villages that the game has been most popular. A few years ago, the locals in each of the 4 villages that make up the province (Roundbusch Proper, Roundbusch Minor, Hagglebusch and Windhamton) each sent a local XV to a local park in Roundbusch Proper and held a tournament. The tournament proved to be wildly successful locally, and soon a league was formed with those teams plus the local police force (Xerods Roundbusch) and the local offices of famous Graziland paper company (Patret Roundbusch). It was thought that the powerful doctors of the Medivac Corporation would also send a team, but they thought the game too brutal.

After a couple of seasons word leaked around to the rest of the country, and soon clubs from the capital (Weitchland) and Hamacker were entering teams in the competition, made up of players usually rejected by the then Town League football clubs, and played on their fields. The "foreign" teams are still not very good, but they are improving over time. The next season (the 7th) of the league (which retains the name "Roundbusch" despite the inclusion of the 2 other towns teams) is set to begin shortly, and we will have the results for you here.

As an added bonus for this season, the Roundbusch Rugby Union became aware of an international club tournament set to be held after the conclusion of the season. It has been therefore established that the top 2 teams from this seasons Roundbusch League will enter said tournament.

[Graziland]

Roundbusch League Season 7 in review

Roundbusch Minor Win First League Title

For many seasons now, the XV from Roundbusch Minor were oh-so-close to winning the league, but it was always something that got in the way. There was the infamous incident at the Jailhouse Field against Xerods. The shocking last minute defeat against a very sorry Weitchland side a few seasons ago when they couldn't hold a pass to save their lives. And of course, always Roundbusch Proper, the "big brothers" who stepped on Minor's dreams whenever they could. So when the fixture list came out and the opening match of the season was the big Minor v Proper shindig, they knew they needed to get off to a bright start. 3 tries to the good 20 minutes into the season and the league was put on notice. The final was 32-6 on that day, and from there Minor was never dislodged from the top of the table. Xerods certainly pushed them early, and a late charge from Proper (despite losing the return leg to minor) made the table close, but by then Minor were playing some youngsters and the league belonged to them!

Proper's late charge was enough to earn them 2nd place and a place in the international Rugby World Club Challenge. We all hope that both Minor and Proper do the fine folks here and Roundbusch, as well as Graziland in general, proud!

Final Table

Pos  Team                        P   W   D   L   PF   PA  PD    Pts
   1  Roundbusch Minor          14  11   0   3  241  134  107   55 Champions/RWCC Qual
   2  Roundbusch Proper         14  10   1   3  181  151   30   52 RWCC Qual
   3  Patret Roundbusch         14   7   2   5  221  198   23   39
   4  Xerods Roundbusch         14   7   0   7  146  121   25   35
   5  Windhamton                14   6   1   7  161  155    6   32
   6  Hagglebusch               14   5   2   7  138  160  -22   29
   7  Weitchland                14   5   0   9  124  154  -30   25
   8  Hamacker                  14   1   2  11  117  256 -139    9

[Swartaz]

Swartaz Season 2 Rugby Union League

Division 1

Division 1 this season saw a sharp increase of young, local players breaking into first teams and bringing a sleek and exiting brand of attacking rugby into the league

Code: Select all

Division 1
1. Jasmuur Ospreys
2. Storvansten Hawks
3. Montegresko Eagles
4. Harlequin Gothebourg
5. Tranzversa Falcons
6. Gosta Sparrows
-----------------------------------
7. Mauntenborg Wolves
8. Prut Lions
-----------------------------------
R. Ostanter Kiwis
R. RFC Storvansten

Code: Select all

Division 2
C. Vargunsmich
P. Biobleteque
-------------------------------------
3. Lions of Bersamuch
4. Vaajumfrenchury Tigres
5. Montegresko Samaritans
6. Braun
7. Sankrenko Panthers
8. Namenko RFC
9. Jimmersau
10. Massauber Kroke Cauntre

[Candelaria And Marquez]

Candelarias Rugby Union Championship: Season 18

Oh yes, this. We’d forgotten about this.

So, the main innovation (a-hem) this season was the debut introduction of promotion and relegation between the CRUC itself and National Division One – an attempt to liven the stale bottom of the table, with no more than half the sides in the top-flight expected to battle for the four play-off positions.

Newcomers may wish to poke about here, if they really have nothing better to do. Otherwise, the brief reminder for those who care at all is that the CRUC currently employs a play-off system to determine the ultimate direction of the championship title itself, involving the top four clubs. Which we said in the previous paragraph, come to think of it. Never mind.

Pos  Team                        P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  El din Bulls              22  18   0   4  626  330  296   72  P-O
   2  Warne Hogs                22  17   0   5  592  436  156   68  P-O
   3  Arrigo Eagles             22  14   2   6  663  423  240   60  P-O
   4  Liverpool Panthers        22  14   2   6  546  306  240   60  P-O
   5  Bove Bats                 22  13   1   8  571  452  119   54
   6  Allemali Black Rats       22  10   1  11  433  428    5   42
   7  Clotaire Stags            22  10   1  11  364  415  -51   42
   8  Caires Hedgehogs          22   7   1  14  300  490 -190   30
   9  Zapata Turtles            22   7   0  15  322  445 -123   28
  10  Vo Rugby Club             22   6   2  14  384  521 -137   28
  11  Albrecht Zpinh            22   7   0  15  354  537 -183   28
  12  Bass King Sharks          22   4   0  18  283  655 -372   16  REL

As it turned out, the regular season provided some surprises – principal among them being the form of the Warne Hogs, one of the more recently established franchises, who were competitive throughout. The Bulls were the real stars, however; their young side breaking the duopoly of the Eagles and Panthers for the first time in four seasons, but the two giants of recent years were still ominously consistent in their bids for play-off finishes.

As for the rest, it was almost as you were – with the bottom six finishing in exactly the same positions as last year, and the woeful Sharks justly sent to the oblivion that is the semi-professional divisions.

Championship Semi-Finals

El din Bulls 0-24 Liverpool Panthers
@ La Decimotercia, El din

Warne Hogs 25-35 Arrigo Eagles
@ Reuben Swan Insurance Park, Warne

And wasn’t that nothing if not predictable… For the second match in a row, the Panthers from the Albrecht ‘burbs beat the Bulls and made their third straight final with a chance of lifting their third title in a row. As for the Eagles, this was their eighth final in eleven – their victory over the Hogs ensuring a repeat of the CRUC17 championship decider. How dull.

CRUC 18 Championship Final

Liverpool Panthers 10-27 Arrigo Eagles
New Sausages Arena, Allemali

Aaaand that’s the Eagles’ seventh championship, stretching their all-time lead over the Panthers. It’s also only the third time since the play-offs were introduced for CRUC7 that the league winners haven’t converted that honour into the all-important chunk of silverware, in the first final involving two clubs from outside the league’s top two. How nice.

International Qualification

World Challenge Cup and Heroes’ Cup organisers should select Candelariasian qualifiers in the following order:

1. Arrigo Eagles
2. Liverpool Panthers
3. El din Bulls
4. Warne Hogs
5. Bove Bats
6. Allemali Black Rats
etcetera…

National League One

Pos  Team                        P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Hanlon Rugby Club         30  25   1   4  756  305  451  102  PROMOTED
   2  Fuentes Foxes             30  21   1   8  693  512  181   86
   3  Onwere Glory Pheasants    30  21   0   9  768  475  293   84
   4  Blackwell Town RFC        30  20   1   9  676  497  179   82
   5  Brian Treeshrews          30  18   3   9  690  524  166   78
   6  Sloane Goats              30  18   2  10  569  511   58   76
   7  Gentlemen                 30  17   2  11  677  527  150   72
   8  Cleal Beck RFC            30  17   1  12  594  478  116   70
   9  Romans United             30  14   3  13  536  464   72   62
  10  Irish Street Mules        30  13   2  15  577  539   38   56
  11  Gómez RAC                 30  10   1  19  439  722 -283   42
  12  Marbles Recreativo Rugby  30   9   2  19  448  528  -80   40
  13  Wikeley New Rugbonians    30  10   0  20  499  650 -151   40  RELEGATED
  14  Gassett Hounds            30   9   0  21  506  811 -305   36  RELEGATED
  15  Webley Otters             30   5   1  24  418  901 -483   22  RELEGATED
  16  Brayton Badgers           30   3   0  27  325  727 -402   12  RELEGATED

National League Two

Pos  Team                        P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  Condory Bantams RFC       30  26   0   4  789  340  449  104  PROMOTED
   2  Hatton Rugby Club         30  24   1   5  861  484  377   98  PROMOTED
   3  Melin Sortherners         30  24   0   6  735  359  376   96  PROMOTED
   4  Lesperance Northlandish   30  23   1   6  637  418  219   94  PROMOTED
   5  Clotaire Pigmen           30  21   0   9  727  388  339   84
   6  Saurin University         30  21   0   9  754  537  217   84
   7  Bulent GBC Rugby          30  16   0  14  574  565    9   64
   8  Albrecht University       30  15   0  15  513  484   29   60
   9  Ssotapel Bkyka            30  11   1  18  537  657 -120   46
  10  Dyce Lizards              30  11   1  18  509  656 -147   46
  11  Catherin Bears            30   9   0  21  432  644 -212   36
  12  Downtown Giant Toads      30   8   0  22  564  803 -239   32
  13  Lavange Evening Telegraph 30   7   2  21  419  668 -249   32
  14  Alvery Christians         30   8   0  22  448  766 -318   32  RELEGATED
  15  Rosasharn Hotspur         30   7   0  23  520  824 -304   28  RELEGATED
  16  Alvery Heathens           30   6   0  24  353  779 -426   24  RELEGATED

[Somewhereistonia]

The RWCC will start on Monday at around 14:00 UTC. Currently there is only 1 bid for the final. We are still short of sign-ups so we may end up with most nations getting 4 teams.

[Kelssek]

If you don't mind me not having fully scorinated a league, I'd like to enter Outineau Nordiques and Mazinaw Stallions as Kelssek's representatives, being the league champion and cup champion respectively.

EDIT:
League info: http://www.nswiki.net/index.php?title=Rugby_Superleague

Entrants:
RWCC: Outineau Nordiques, Mazinaw Stallions, Glen Eira
HC: Burnaby Lions, Kirkenes Crusaders

[Somewhereistonia]

If you don't mind me not having fully scorinated a league, I'd like to enter Outineau Nordiques and Mazinaw Stallions as Kelssek's representatives, being the league champion and cup champion respectively.

That is fine, you will probably have 3 places in the RWCC and then two in the Heroes' Cup if you want them. I expect at least one more sign up in time for the competition. As it stands I think all nations will have at least 3 sign-ups this includes Palmouth (yes, I know but he signed up). Lurikastan's league team reads as Rugby League so I am assuming that this is not to take part in the Union code RWCC.

[Quintessence of Dust]

Quintessential Premier League

Season Review with Brian Gobbleson and William Bentley.

A new champion, both promoted sides finishing mid-table while long-time QPL holdouts sank to the bottom, myriad transfers, the buzz of international success...yet this season's QPL saw, by all accounts, relatively little change overall. Toonmar had showed off their back line's potency last year, and no one found their ascendancy unexpected this time around. Similarly, with their lone assets - respectively fullback Bill Gerhard and centre Bernard Franks - gone, the demise of Albersau and the Cellists was all too predictable. But it created an embarrassing situation for the QRFU: with Priassa crashing out last season, the latest set of relegations would leave the country's most popular sports league without a single Eastern team. As such (and, no doubt, with an eye for the potential cash value of such a move) they decided to expand the league to 12 teams from next season, allowing promotions but freezing relegations.

.Pos  Team           P   W   D   L   PF   PA   PD  Pts
   1  Toonmar       18  13   1   4  478  319  159   54 WCC
   2  HCI           18  13   0   5  466  387   79   52 WCC
   3  NCD           18  11   0   7  498  323  175   44 WCC
   4  Tourseilles   18  10   0   8  455  376   79   40 WCC
   5  Zzubs         18   8   1   9  451  450    1   34 HC
   6  CV            18   7   2   9  388  431  -43   32 HC
   7  Ballat        18   7   1  10  424  481  -57   30
   8  Biscuits      18   7   0  11  328  375  -47   28
   9  NOC           18   7   0  11  342  542 -200   28
  10  Albersau      18   4   1  13  359  505 -146   18

WCC Qualifiers

1. Toonmar
Toonmar had the bad luck to be drawn in by far the strongest group in the inaugural World Challenge Cup, featuring both of the eventual finallists. Still they ended up winning 3 games, and lost out only on a single, heartbreaking bonus point. Given a second chance, they scratched two single-point victories over Norwellia's Winston Wasps in the Heroes Cup, crushed Ad’ihani CRVX Modna Nord in the Round of 16, but ended up losing to Nestor River in the quarter-finals.

2. Highmark City Irish
HCI started badly and picked up steam as the WCC went on. They lost their first two matches and ended up second in the group to Septentrionians CS-R Sept-Onze Ourseville; and they scratched the narrowest of victories over the El din Bulls, Tommy Donegan kicking a last-minute drop goal to lead by 2 on aggregate. They survived nother squeaker - this time by 4 points - in the quarter-finals, and found themselves pitted against eventual winners Dôme Rugby in the semi, who allowed just 6 points over the two legs to end Irish hopes.

3. New Cleethorpes Deathshriek
NCD survived a close group - 6 points separated the four teams - to make it to the Round of 16, but found themselves drawn against Sorthern champions the Northern Wastes. They managed a surprising away win thanks to their resilient back row, but couldn't hold on to their lead at Deathshriek park, scoring only 1 tries to the Wastes' four.

4. Tourseilles
Hotly tipped after the season victory, Tourseilles hoped to prove themselves not just the best team in the country but in the world. In this, they were entirely unsuccessful. They won their group, but it was a close run thing, and were bloodied at home by CRUC runners-up Arrigo Eagles, eventually slipping ahead by a single point thanks to a 46-yard Ignace Durand penalty. They were stronger on the road, winning 38-19, and held on to beat fellow Francophone side CS-R Sept-Onze Ourseville at home, a draw good enough for the second leg. The second Quodite team to make the semi-finals, they left the second Quodite team to lose in the semi-finals, dismissed by hosts Kabano Bears at home.

HC Qualifiers

1. Highmark Zzubs
The Zzubs are new to the international scene (though some will recognise prop Klaus Kastner from the 12th Rugby World Cup), having only been promoted to the QPL last season.

2. Combined Veterans
The Veterans should get a chance to defend their Heroes' Cup title, which they won through victories over An Mhumhain (SNO), Merseault (NOR), Illusqué and Nestor River (MAC), and Rugby Dullham (ADN). Still, they would probably prefer to have graduated up to the WCC, and a weak domestic season will leave questions as to whether a side that lost half of its matches can manage wins against foreign regular season champions.

(I hope to expand on this a bit later, but here it is for now.

Note: if we do not get our full allotment of WCC berths, I would ask that the Highmark Zzubs, and not the Combined Veterans, be bumped from the Heroes Cup place, so that the latter have a chance to defend their title. I respect the organizers' right to deny this request.)

[Septentrionia]

Pos  Team                       P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
   1  CS-R Sept-Onze Ourseville 30  17   3  10  474  341  133   74
   2  Dôme Rugby                30  18   0  12  415  301  114   72
   3  US Septentrionalis        30  17   1  12  345  344    1   70
   4  RFC Ourseville 1093       30  14   3  13  366  347   19   62
   5  Rugby Club du Stade       30  10   1  19  310  406  -96   42
   6  Union d'Ourseville RFC    30   9   2  19  271  442 -171   40

Sept-Onze were able to defend their title acquired last year, although in a very close way, as Dôme and Le Club Asiatique were quite close to the winners of the league.

To the Coupe du Défi Mondial de Rugby:
1. Dôme Rugby (Defending champions)
2. CS-R Sept-Onze Ourseville
3. US Septentrionalis
4. RFC Ourseville 1093

To the Coupe des Héros:
1. Rugby Club du Stade
2. Union d'Ourseville RFC

Final bid:
Complexe SR de Septentrionalis, Septentrionalis, Septentrionia

[Nethertopia]

So, yeah... Somewhereistonia forced me to post here. Right. Cor. Err... Rugby... I guess we have at least four teams... Somewhere... Let's pick a random area on the Nethertopian map, where they actually have... Clubs?
...
East? ... Yeah, east will do fine. Or maybe south-east. Yes, we'll go with some minor cities in the south-east.
Cor. Four club names. Err...

1. Argon Wanderers (yes, same club as the football one)
2. Nimor Hangovers
3. Groot Ran Tigers
4. Klein Ran Cats

There. Wasn't that difficult, wazzit?

[Somewhereistonia]

signups closed. Group draw, final locations and group results coming at various times tomorrow.

[Somewhereistonia]

Final hosting sites

Rugby World Challenge Cup: James Connolly Stadium, Beningrad, 150,000
Heroes Cup: An Páirc, Baile an Conghaile, 35,000

There was only one other bid for the final, but it lost the coin toss, the organisers hope for more bids to host the final next year.

Group draw

Code: Select all

A
Toonmar
Fadron Flyers
El Din Bulls
Mazinaw Stallions


Code: Select all

B
Flockton Flavell
Roundbush Proper
US Septentrionalis
North Palmouth


Code: Select all

C
Kabano Bears
Liverpool Panthers
Jasmur Ospreys
RFC Ourseville 1093


Code: Select all

D
Northland
NCD
Argon Wanderers
South Palmouth


Code: Select all

E
Arrigo Eagles
Stanley Park
HCI
An Mhumhain


Code: Select all

F
Laketown Krieg
CS-R Sept-Onze Ourseville
RFK Koltelcia
Nimor Hangovers


Code: Select all

G
Dôme Rugby
Northern Wastes
Outineau Nordiques
Storvansten Hawks


Code: Select all

H
Roundbush Minor
Qasarian Sparta
Moorcroft
Tourseilles


As with last time, the winner group A plays second place group B etc. Third place in the group qualifies you for the Heroes' Cup.