2012 FIRA-AER Sevens Grand Prix Series

2012 Sevens Grand Prix Series was the 11th round of the Sevens Grand Prix Series (formerly known as the European Sevens Championship) for rugby sevens organised by the FIRA – Association of European Rugby. The series was held in three phases (GPS 1-3) hosted by France (Lyon), Russia (Moscow) and Denmark (Odense).[1] The tournament was won by France, who defeated Portugal 21–12 in the final. England, winner of the first two phases of the tournament, were considered to be favourites but eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. England were the overall champions of the tournament.

2012 FIRA-AER Sevens Grand Prix Series
Hosts France
 Russia
 Denmark
Date2 June 2012 - 8 July 2012
Nations16
Final positions
Champions England
Runners-up Portugal
Series details
Top try scorerEngland Nick Royle, Wales Tom Williams (GPS 1)
Wales Williams Thomas (GPS 2)
Portugal Duarte Moreira (GPS 3)
2011
2013

Qualification

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The top 12 teams in 2011 qualified for GPS 1 in Lyon.[2] Team rankings after GPS 1 decided the standings for GPS 2 in Moscow, which decided rankings for GPS 3.[3] For GPS 3, Denmark got direct 16th spot and three more teams from Division A promoted for the Grand Prix Series.[3][4]

GPS 1
# Teams
1   Portugal
2   England
3   Spain
4   Russia
5   France
6   Georgia
7   Scotland
8   Italy
9   Wales
10   Ukraine
11   Netherlands
12   Germany
GPS 2
# Teams
1   England
2   France
3   Russia
4   Spain
5   Portugal
6   Ukraine
7   Wales
8   Scotland
9   Germany
10   Italy
11   Georgia
12   Netherlands
GPS 3
# Teams
1   England
2   France
3   Russia
4   Spain
5   Portugal
6   Ukraine
7   Wales
8   Scotland
9   Germany
10   Italy
11   Georgia
12   Netherlands
13   Romania
14   Belgium
15   Lithuania
16   Denmark

Results

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Date Venue Winner Runner-up Third Ref
2–3 June Matmut Stadium (Lyon)   England   Portugal   Spain [5]
30 June and 1 July Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)   England   France   Russia [6][7]
7–8 July Odense Stadium, (Odense)   France   Portugal   Wales [8]

GPS 1

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The twelve teams were divided into two pools (A and B), with six members each. Each of the teams played with the other members in its pool once and then the two top teams in each of the two pools moved over to semifinals, the winners of which played against each other in the finals.[9]

Portugal and England succeeded to final. Portugal lost only one pool (pool A) match against France with a points difference of nil to 31, whilst English team did not lose a single match.[5][10] In the semifinals, England played against fellow home nation Wales and Portugal faced Spanish team.[11] The final of Grand Prix Series 1 was played in between England and Portugal on 3 June 2012, which was won 14–26 by England and thus won the first leg of the 2012 Sevens Grand Prix Series.[12]

Final match details
3 June 2012
17:26
Portugal  14–26  England
Try: Valente 4'
Leal 20'
Con: Leal 5'
Leal 20'
ReportTry: Vilk 2'
Vilk 10'
Brake 12'
Royle 16'
Con: Bibby 3'
Bibby 10'
Bibby 12'
Matmut Stadium
Referee: Alexander Ruiz

GPS 2

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The Grand Prix Series 2 held in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on 30 June and 1 July 2012. England and France were the top teams of pool A and pool B, respectively. Both of the teams won all their pool matches. England defeated Spain in the semifinal with a points difference of 22 to 7, and France entered the final after winning the lowest-scoring match of the GPS 2 against Russia, winning the match by 7–0.[7] The final of the GPS 2 held on 1 July between England and France, which was won by the English team by 21–15.[13]

Final match details
1 July 2012
18:50
England  21–15  France
Try: Rodwell 1'
Bibby 8'
Bibby 16'
Con: Bibby 1'
Bibby 8'
Bibby 16'
ReportTry: Candelon 3'
Albaladejo 14'
Dall Igna 19'
Luzhniki Stadium
Referee: C. Passacantando

GPS 3

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Sixteen teams participated in the Grand Prix Series 3 held in Odense on 7 and 8 July 2012. It was the final phase of the 2012 Sevens Grand Prix Series. The sixteen teams were divided into four pools (A, B, C and D), with four members each. Each of the teams played with the other members in its pool once and then the two top teams in each of the four pools moved over to quarter-finals. The winner of each quarter-final match succeeded to semifinals and the winners of which played against each other in the finals.[14]

England, winner of the first two rounds of the competition, were considered to be the favourites, but they lost to France in quarter-finals.[15][16] In the final, France and Portugal competed for the Championship Cup. France, maintaining their winning streak, defeated Portugal by 21–12.[17][18]

Final match details
8 July 2012
18:58
Portugal  12–21  France
Try: Moreira 16'
Valente 20'
Con: Leal 16'
ReportTry: Candelon 1'
Mazoue 3'
Dall Igna 9'
Con: Albaladejo 2'
Albaladejo 3'
Albaladejo 9'
Odense Stadium
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Final standings

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# Teams
1   England 50
2   Portugal 48
3   France 45
4   Spain 43
5   Wales 36
6   Russia 34
7   Scotland 22
8   Georgia 20
9   Ukraine 12
10   Italy 10
11   Germany 8 (-96)
12   Netherlands 8 (-187)
13   Belgium
14   Romania
15   Lithuania
16   Denmark

Notes

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  1. ^ "2012 - Grand Prix Series". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  2. ^ Men's 7’S Grand Prix Series 2012 Tournament Manual, p. 19.
  3. ^ a b Men's 7’S Grand Prix Series 2012 Tournament Manual, p. 8.
  4. ^ "Last 7's Grand Prix Series in Odense in live on Dailymotion". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  5. ^ a b "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 1 - Lyon (FR)". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Moscow to Host European Rugby Sevens Tournament". Moscow: en.ria.ru. RIA Novosti. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 2 - Moscow (RU)". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  8. ^ "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 3 Odense (DK)". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  9. ^ Men's 7’S Grand Prix Series 2012 Tournament Manual, pp. 19–21.
  10. ^ "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 1 Lyon (FR) – Pools matchs – Pool A". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  11. ^ "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 1 Lyon (FR) – Semifinals – Cup". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  12. ^ "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 1 Lyon (FR) – Finals – Cup". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  13. ^ "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 2 Moscow (RU) – Finals – Cup". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  14. ^ Men's 7’S Grand Prix Series 2012 Tournament Manual, p. 24.
  15. ^ Lestang, Rémi (6 July 2012). "Seven's : L'étape d'Odense en direct ce week-end" (in French). lerugbynistere.fr. Le Rugbynistère. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  16. ^ "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 3 Odense (DK) – Quarter-Finals – Cup + Plate". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  17. ^ "2012 Grand Prix Series – GPS 3 Odense (DK) – Finals – Cup". fira-aer-rugby.com. FIRA – Association of European Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  18. ^ "La France remporte le tournoi d'Odense" (in French). lerugbynistere.fr. Le Rugbynistère. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.

References

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