Switzerland Men to win the Rugby Europe Sevens Conference 1 - Swiss Women ranked 5th

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  • National Teams
  • 05 Jun 2022

Rugby Europe Sevens Conference 1

Women & Men | June 4-5, 2022 |  King Peter Stadium | Belgrade (Serbia) 

After two days of cracking ties, it was Switzerland who came out on top in the Rugby Europe Men’s Conference 1 tournament, seeing off Moldova 12-0 in a tight final. In the Rugby Europe Women’s Conference 1 tournament it was Austria who were the best side over the weekend and they showed that in the final by seeing off Bulgaria 50-0. The Swiss Women's 7's national team took on the 5th place after beating Croatia by 0:15 points.

Both teams deserve a big round of applause for their achievements. A special thanks to all persons involved supporting the teams in Serbia.

 

Men's competition

During the first day of the Rugby Europe Sevens Conference 1 tournament, the Swiss men's team won easily its two matches against Austria (33:15) and Finland (41:7). A bumpy start against Moldova (19:17) with 2 tries conceded in the first minutes deprived the Swiss selection of a third victory in its group. But the loss did not hold back Switzerland from finishing 1st in its group following Moldova's slip-up against Austria and from qualifying for the final four.

On Sunday, the Swiss men 7’s team started with an easy victory in the quarter-final against Serbia (43:7) and qualified for the semi-final against Monaco. Stressed by the stakes, the squad made some doubtable decisions. Although the suspense of 2 players (each for 2 minutes), the Swiss players led the team not only to close victory (15:14) and its qualification for the final, but also resulted in a promotion to a higher division for next season – the Rugby Europe Trophy Sevens competition.

The final and the rematch against Moldova was a formality as all players stuck to the game plan well prepared by coach Simon Berruyer - the enthusiastic support of the Swiss women's team in the stands surely contributed to the 12:0 victory and winning the competition.

MEN's Team (in alphabetical order)

  • Arnaud KOOGER
  • Arnaud THIEBAUD
  • Arthur DONZE
  • Axel GOUDET
  • Gaetan HIRSCH
  • Hadrien BOBILIER
  • Henry PHARAONY
  • Hugh KISIELEWSKI
  • Leny FAVRE BONVIN
  • Louis PHARAONY
  • Tomaso VOLTA
  • William MEYER

Team Support

  • Coache: Simon BERRUYER
  • Physio: Laure BADY
  • Manager: Sébastien DUPOUX

 

Women's competition

After the Swiss Women’s Team was not able to participate in the 7s European Competition due to the pandemic for the past two years, the newly formed squad – many players were newbies to international rugby - returned full of potential to the Rugby Europe Conference 1 in Belgrade.

After a difficult start into the competition on the first day with a small win against Andorra (12:5) and a one-try loss against Latvia (0:7), the Swiss team finally found confidence in its abilities, improved game after game and concluded its third and final match of day 1 with a strong win against Malta (27:12), setting the mark for day 2 of the tournament. Unfortunately, the defeat against Latvia was to deprive the Swiss women’s team of the play-offs.

On the second day, the Swiss women team clearly outperformed its opponents - first Slovakia (29:5) and then Croatia (15:0) - to finish 5th in the tournament. The quality of the game performed by the squad was satisfactory and promising for the next season.  The format of the Conference 1 tournament did not allow the Swiss women’s national team to go for the play-offs although the young team was undoubtedly the most successful one following the winners Austria.

WOMEN's team (in alphabetical order)

  • Anne THIEBAUD
  • Claire OESTREICHER
  • Elena LUETHI
  • Johanne GIRARD
  • Julie GAUDIN
  • Julie LUZI
  • Kim GEISSBUEHLER
  • Lea BADEL
  • Louise KUSS
  • Rebekka HOSCH
  • Soléne FAHRNI
  • Sorica O'DONNELL

Team Support

  • Coaches: Rahel BOSSHARD, Mike CONWAY
  • Physio:Vivien Erb
  • Manager: Carole CASPARIS