Europe's U18 tournament to start

The FIRA-AER Under-18 European Rugby Championship for the Justin Bridou Trophy starts in Madrid on Friday, 30 March with 24 countries taking part. This is the first time that the tournament will take place in Spain.

The teams, confined to players born in 1994 and 1995, are divided into three pools of eight each. It will be played over three rounds, ending on Saturday, 7 April.

The pools are labelled Elite Division, Division A and Division B.

Each division is ranked by last year's performance when Ireland won in France.

Elite Division: 1. Ireland, 2. England, 3. Wales, 4. France, 5. Scotland, 6. Italy, 7. Georgia, 8. Portugal

Division A: 1. Germany, 2. Belgium, 3. Romania, 4. Spain, 5. Russia, 6. Sweden, 7. Lithuania, 8. Czech Republic

Division B: 1. Poland, 2. Ukraine, 3. Netherlands, 4. Serbia, 5. Switzerland, 6. Hungary, 7. Luxembourg, 8. Latvia

The first round is by way of a quarterfinal, the second round a semifinal, with a final to end the tournament. Each team will play three matches.

Fixtures, Round 1

Elite Division:

All matches will be played at the Ciudad Universitaria where Spain plays its international matches.

Friday, 30 March
10.40: England vs Georgia
12.15: Ireland vs Portugal
14.30: Wales vs Italy
16.15: France vs Scotland

Division A:

The matches will be played at Yuncos, Alcobendas, Segovia and in Ciudad Universitaria.

Saturday, 31 March
15.00: Germany vs Czech Republic at Yuncos
17.15: Belgium vs Lithuania at Yuncos
16.30: Romania vs Sweden at Alcobendas
16.30: Spain vs Russia at Ciudad Universitaria

Division B:

Saturday, 31 March
16.30: Poland vs Latvia in Puerta de Hierro
16.30: Ukraine vs Luxembourg in Toledo
16.30: Holland vs Hungary in Segovia
16.30: Serbia vs Switzerland in Hortaleza