It is the inaugural Championship under its new format, that saw Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Romania, Russia and Spain compete for the title.

The team with the best record across the 2017 and 2018 Championships qualifies as Europe 1.

In respect of matters relating to the eligibility of players, following a full review of the evidence, including statements and submissions from World Rugby, Rugby Europe, Belgium, Romania, Spain and Russia, the independent committee found: Belgium had fielded one or more ineligible players on 7 occasions during the 2017 and 2018 Rugby Europe Championships (of which 6 matches related to Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying) Romania has fielded one ineligible player on 8 occasions during the 2017 and 2018 Rugby Europe Championships (of which 6 matches related to Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying) Spain had fielded one or more ineligible players on 9 occasions during the 2017 and 2018 Rugby Europe Championships (of which 8 matches related to Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying) In respect of the sanctions, pursuant to Regulation 18, the independent committee determined the following: The deduction of 5 points for any match in which a union fielded an ineligible player (40-point deduction for Spain, and a 30-point deduction for both Belgium and Romania).

Therefore, based on a re-modelling of the Rugby Europe Championship tables in the context of Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying, Russia would qualify as Europe 1 into Pool A replacing Romania and Germany will replace Spain in the European play-off against Portugal.

[2] Touch judges: Dely Mathieu (France) Vallon Alexandre (France) Touch judges: Sean Brickell (Wales) Stuart Kibble (Wales) Touch judges: Nigel Correll (Ireland) Richard Kerr (Ireland) Touch judges: Filippo Bertelli (Italy) Stefano Roscini (Italy) Touch judges: Nicolas Datas (France) Bruno Gabaldon (France) Touch judges: John Catteau (Belgium) Kevin Sulejmani (Belgium) Touch judges: Kieran Barry (Ireland) Karol Collins (Ireland) Touch judges: Wayne Davies (Wales) Justin Williams (Wales) Touch judges: Jorge Molpeceres (Spain) Marc Riera (Spain) Touch judges: Stefano Bolzonella (Italy) Francis Giacomini (Italy) Touch judges: Greame Ormiston (Scotland) Bob Nevins (Scotland) Touch judges: Steve Lee (England) Nigel Carric (England) Touch judges: Radu Petrescu (Romania) Alexandru Ionescu (Romania) Touch judges: Thomas Charabas (France) Thomas Dejean (France) Touch judges: Sean Brickell (Wales) Wayne Davies (Wales)