Rugby_League_European_Shield
The European Championship B (formerly the European Shield), is a rugby league football competition. The competition is organised by the European Rugby League and is the second tier of the European Championship competition. It was first held in 2006 as the Central Europe Development Tri-Nations.
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Current season, competition or edition: 2023 Rugby League European Championship B | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006; 18 years ago (2006) |
| Organising body | European Rugby League |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | Europe |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Serbia (4th title) |
| Most titles | Serbia (4 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | European Championship A |
| Relegation to | European Championship C |
The competition was first held in 2006 under the name of Central Europe Development Tri Nations, with the aim of developing teams in central and eastern Europe. Up until 2009 the competition was made up of only three teams, until it was expanded in 2010 to six teams split into two conferences - East and West. In 2011 the competition was reverted back to three teams with Norway and Malta making their debuts. The competition was expanded again the year after though with four teams playing in winter between 2012–13. This was repeated again in the 2014–15 edition of the competition and was used for qualification for the 2017 World Cup. The 2018 competition was the last year of its current incarnation after a two-year hiatus. In 2020, it was announced promotion and relegation would be introduced with three teams in each division, expanding to six for 2023, with the top team being promoted and the bottom relegated.[1]
| Team | Appearances | Debut | Most recent | Best result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Germany |
7 | 2006 | 2013 | Champions (2006, 2011) |
| Serbia |
5 | 2010 | 2020 | Champions (2007, 2010 West, 2014–15, 2020) |
 Russia |
5 | 2010 | 2020 | Champions (2010 East, 2012–13, 2018) |
 Czech Republic |
4 | 2007 | 2010 | Runners-up (2009) |
 Italy |
4 | 2008 | 2013 | Champions (2008, 2009) |
 Ukraine |
3 | 2010 | 2020 | Runners-up (2014–15, 2020) |
 Austria |
1 | 2006 | 2006 | Runners-up (2006) |
 Estonia |
1 | 2006 | 2006 | Third place (2006) |
 Latvia |
1 | 2010 | 2010 | Third place (2010 East) |
 Malta |
1 | 2011 | 2011 | Runners-up (2011) |
 Norway |
1 | 2011 | 2011 | Third place (2006) |
 Spain |
1 | 2018 | 2018 | Runners-up (2018) |
Championship era (2006–2018)
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | Number of teams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Details |  Germany |  Austria |  Estonia | – | 3 | ||||
| 2007 Details |  Serbia | Germany |  Czech Republic | – | 3 | ||||
| 2008 Details |  Italy | Germany | Czech Republic | – | 3 | ||||
| 2009 Details | Italy | Czech Republic | Germany | – | 3 | ||||
| 2010 Details | West | Serbia | Germany | Czech Republic | – | 3 | |||
| East |  Russia |  Ukraine |  Latvia | – | 3 | ||||
| 2011 Details | Germany |  Malta |  Norway | – | 3 | ||||
| 2012–13 Details | Russia | Italy | Serbia | Germany | 4 | ||||
| 2014–15 Details | Serbia | Russia | Italy | Ukraine | 4 | ||||
| 2018 Details | Russia |  Spain | Serbia | – | 3 | ||||
Promotion and relegation era (2020–present)
| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia |
4 (2007, 2010 West, 2014–15, 2020) | — | 1 (2018) | — |
| Russia |
3 (2010 East, 2012–13, 2018) | 1 (2014–15) | 1 (2020) | — |
| Italy |
2 (2008, 2009) | 1 (2012–13) | 1 (2014–15) | — |
| Germany |
2 (2006, 2011) | 3 (2007, 2008, 2010 West) | 1 (2009) | 1 (2012–13) |
| Czech Republic |
— | 1 (2009) | 3 (2007, 2008, 2010 West) | — |
| Ukraine |
— | 2 (2010 East, 2020) | — | 1 (2012–13) |
| Austria |
— | 1 (2006) | — | — |
| Malta |
— | 1 (2011) | — | — |
| Spain |
— | 1 (2018) | — | — |
| Estonia |
— | — | 1 (2006) | |
| Latvia |
— | — | 1 (2010 East) | — |
| Norway |
— | — | 1 (2011) | — |
This list shows the performances of all teams from all four divisions of the European Championships during the promotion and relegation era only.
– Promoted
– No movement
– Relegated
| National team | Season | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020[lower-alpha 1] | 2023 | |||
| LG | P/NM/R | LG | P/NM/R | |
| Czech Republic |
D |  |
B | |
 England |
N/A[lower-alpha 2] | A | ||
 France |
A |  |
A | |
| Germany |
C | |
B | |
 Greece |
N/A | B | ||
 Ireland |
A | |
A | |
| Italy |
A | |
A | |
| Malta |
D | |
N/A | |
 Netherlands |
D | |
B | |
| Norway |
C | |
B | |
| Russia |
B | |
Suspended | |
 Scotland |
A | |
A | |
| Serbia |
B | |
A | |
| Spain |
A | |
A | |
 Turkey |
D | |
N/A | |
| Ukraine |
B/C[lower-alpha 3] | |
B | |
 Wales |
A | |
A | |
- The 2020 tournaments were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Euro B and D took place in 2021, while Euro C took place in 2022. Euro A did not take place as teams were competing in the 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup. Expansion for 2023 meant that some teams were promoted despite not winning their competition.
- Between 2005 and 2021 England did not compete in the European Championship, instead favouring the Four Nations.
- Ukraine played in both Euro B and Euro C in 2020.
- "Men's European Rugby League Championships expanded in 2020". Rugby League Planet.