Preview: Nations Cup in Bucharest

The IRB Nations Cup 2008 is back in Bucharest and kicks off on Wednesday, 11 June 2008, with six teams taking part.

This year Uruguay will take part for the first time. The teams taking part are Russia, Georgia, Romania, Italy A, Emerging South Africa and Uruguay.

Last year the Emerging Springboks won the tournament. This year there has been a difficulty in getting players released as the Currie Cup starts next week and so the team has been called Emerging South Africa.

The Tournament, which features triple headers on each of the three match days, will again be hosted at the Arcul de Triumf Stadium in the capital Bucharest, where for the first time on Romanian soil international matches will be played under floodlights. Another first will be the round one fixture between Romania and Uruguay, the first Test match between the two countries.

IRB Tournament Director Beth Coalter said: “The IRB is delighted that the Nations Cup is returning to Bucharest. Last year’s Tournament was the first international rugby competition to be staged in the country for almost 70 years and generated a great deal of interest and clearly highlighted the continued growth of rugby in Romania.

“In addition to increased playing numbers and support for the game, the development of Rugby in Romania can also be seen in the expansion of the Arcul de Triumf Stadium to include additional seating and international standard floodlights. I am sure that the venue will prove to be a fitting and welcome host for a tournament which will provide nine high quality matches over three competition days."

Italy A, runners up in the inaugural competition in 2006, and Russia get the Tournament under way at 4 o'clock (local time) on Wednesday, before Emerging South Africa start their title defence against Georgia at 6 o'clock. The final round one match sees the hosts take on Uruguay at 8 o'clock.

Fixtures
 
Match Day 1 - Wednesday, 11 June

Italy A vs Russia
Emerging South Africa vs Georgia
Uruguay vs Romania

Match Day 2 – Sunday, 15 June

Georgia vs Uruguay
Italy A vs Emerging South Africa
Russia vs Romania

Match Day 3 - Friday, 20 June

Russia vs Uruguay
Italy A vs Georgia
Emerging South Africa vs Romania