FIRA - Association of European Rugby
Encyclopedia
The FIRA - Association Européenne de Rugby (FIRA–AER) is the administrative body for rugby union in Europe. It was formed in 1999 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby in Europe under the authority of the International Rugby Board
(the world governing body of rugby union
).
The predecessor to FIRA–AER was the Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur (FIRA). FIRA was formed in 1934 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby union
in Europe outside the authority of the International Rugby Football Board (as the International Rugby Board was then called), and quickly came to spread outside the continent. FIRA agreed to come under the auspices of the IRB in the 1990s, changed its name and returned to being a European body.
Until its eventual merger with the IRB, FIRA was the most multinational rugby organisation in the world, partly because the IRB had concentrated far too much on the English speaking Home Nations, Tri Nations and France. FIRA has generally been a positive force in spreading sport beyond the Anglosphere
. In 1987, the IRB' Rugby World Cup
helped make the body a more international concern.
In 1934 the Association was formed at the instigation of the French. It was designed to organise rugby union outside the authority of the International Rugby Football Board (as it was known at the time). The founder members were , , , , , , and .
The European championship organised by FIRA included the national teams of Italy
, France
, Spain
, Catalonia
(later abolished by Franco), Czechoslovakia
, Romania
and Germany
.
Unfortunately because of this Continental European rugby came under the influence of hard right wing regimes, such as Fascist Italy, and authoritarian Romania, and Nazi Germany. A few years later, Catalonia was replaced by Spain, when Generalissimo Franco forcibly merged Catalonia into Spanish rugby.
After the war, with the demise of the Axis, the hard right influence more or less stopped (with the exception of Spain), but FIRA instead would end up contending with the Communist domination of the Warsaw Pact
countries. Of these states, four would cease to exist - the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia dividing into their component countries, and East Germany merging with the West. In 1979, members of FIRA included the Soviet Union, Romania, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.
In 1965, FIRA inaugurated the FIRA Nation's Cup, and in 1974 the FIRA Championship, which provided valuable international competition for European countries outside the 5N. This was played in three divisions, including virtually every country in Continental Europe. It would later expand its horizons, taking in Morocco
, Tunisia
and other non-European countries. France invariably entered a team into it, as well as the Five Nations
, usually a France A-team, and , before joining the Six Nations Championship also used to play in it. The Tier 2 nations of and Romania currently compete in the championship, as well, as Spain and Portugal both of whom have been in Rugby World Cups. The first division competition was nearly always won by France, although the won it once, and Romania won it at least five times, and Italy won it once or twice.
In the 1980s, the IRB began to drop its Anglo-Saxon bias, and started inviting every rugby playing country to join it. This, along with the IRB's decision to embrace the concept of a Rugby World Cup
.
and Junior World Trophy in 2008.
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3 Unions are associate IRB members
4 Unions are not affiliated with the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
(the world governing body of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
).
The predecessor to FIRA–AER was the Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur (FIRA). FIRA was formed in 1934 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Europe outside the authority of the International Rugby Football Board (as the International Rugby Board was then called), and quickly came to spread outside the continent. FIRA agreed to come under the auspices of the IRB in the 1990s, changed its name and returned to being a European body.
Until its eventual merger with the IRB, FIRA was the most multinational rugby organisation in the world, partly because the IRB had concentrated far too much on the English speaking Home Nations, Tri Nations and France. FIRA has generally been a positive force in spreading sport beyond the Anglosphere
Anglosphere
Anglosphere is a neologism which refers to those nations with English as the most common language. The term can be used more specifically to refer to those nations which share certain characteristics within their cultures based on a linguistic heritage, through being former British colonies...
. In 1987, the IRB' Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
helped make the body a more international concern.
FIRA
For many years, the sport’s authorities had suspected that the governing body of French rugby union, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) was allowing the abuse of the rules on amateurism, and in 1931 the French Rugby Union was suspended from playing against the other IRB nations. As a result, Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur (FIRA) was founded in 1932.In 1934 the Association was formed at the instigation of the French. It was designed to organise rugby union outside the authority of the International Rugby Football Board (as it was known at the time). The founder members were , , , , , , and .
The European championship organised by FIRA included the national teams of Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
, France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, Spain
Spain national rugby union team
The Spain national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Spain, representing them at rugby union. Spain have been playing rugby since the late 1920s, playing their first international against Italy in 1929. They have qualified for one Rugby World Cup, in 1999 where they were pooled with...
, Catalonia
Catalonia national rugby union team
The Catalonia national rugby union team is the national rugby team of Catalonia. It was a founding member of FIRA in 1934, but since 1941 is a former official national team. It is currently trying to be official again.-History:...
(later abolished by Franco), Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national rugby union team
The Czechoslovakia national rugby union team was the national rugby team of Czechoslovakia, before the country was split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia...
, Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
and Germany
Germany national rugby union team
Germany is a third-tier Rugby Union playing nation. Germany currently plays at the second level of European rugby but has never managed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup...
.
Unfortunately because of this Continental European rugby came under the influence of hard right wing regimes, such as Fascist Italy, and authoritarian Romania, and Nazi Germany. A few years later, Catalonia was replaced by Spain, when Generalissimo Franco forcibly merged Catalonia into Spanish rugby.
After the war, with the demise of the Axis, the hard right influence more or less stopped (with the exception of Spain), but FIRA instead would end up contending with the Communist domination of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
countries. Of these states, four would cease to exist - the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia dividing into their component countries, and East Germany merging with the West. In 1979, members of FIRA included the Soviet Union, Romania, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.
In 1965, FIRA inaugurated the FIRA Nation's Cup, and in 1974 the FIRA Championship, which provided valuable international competition for European countries outside the 5N. This was played in three divisions, including virtually every country in Continental Europe. It would later expand its horizons, taking in Morocco
Rugby union in Morocco
Rugby union in Morocco is a significant, and popular, sport.-Governing body:The Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation was formed in 1916, joined the IRFB in 1988.-History:...
, Tunisia
Rugby union in Tunisia
Rugby union in Tunisia is a significant sport. They are currently ranked 35th in the world, with 15,057 registered players , and 72 clubs.-Governing body:...
and other non-European countries. France invariably entered a team into it, as well as the Five Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, usually a France A-team, and , before joining the Six Nations Championship also used to play in it. The Tier 2 nations of and Romania currently compete in the championship, as well, as Spain and Portugal both of whom have been in Rugby World Cups. The first division competition was nearly always won by France, although the won it once, and Romania won it at least five times, and Italy won it once or twice.
In the 1980s, the IRB began to drop its Anglo-Saxon bias, and started inviting every rugby playing country to join it. This, along with the IRB's decision to embrace the concept of a Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
.
FIRA to FIRA–A.E.R.
In 1990s the FIRA recognised the IRB as the governing body of rugby union world wide and after negotiations with the IRB, it agreed to integrate itself within the IRB. In 1999 it changed its name to "FIRA – Association of European Rugby" (FIRA–AER.), to promote and rule over rugby union in the European area and to run the junior world championship. FIRA-AER. organised both the under-19 and under-21 world championships until IRB folded them into the under-20 Junior World ChampionshipIRB Junior World Championship
The IRB Junior World Championship is an international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by 12 men's junior national teams , with an under-20 age requirement. The inaugural tournament was held in June 2008,...
and Junior World Trophy in 2008.
Member Unions
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3 Unions are associate IRB members
4 Unions are not affiliated with the IRB
Competitions
- Seniors Championship also known as European Nations CupEuropean Nations Cup (rugby union)The European Nations Cup is the European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations. The Championship is split into 7 divisions with 5 or 6 teams in each. The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away...
- Women's European Championship
- European Regions Cup
- European VIIs Circuit
- European Sevens ChampionshipEuropean Sevens ChampionshipThe European Sevens Championship is an annual competition organised by FIRA – Association of European Rugby, the governing body of European rugby union.-2002-2010:...
also known as Sevens Grand Prix SeriesSevens grand prix seriesThe Sevens Grand Prix Series is a European competition of 7-a-side rugby. It was formerly known as the FIRA European Sevens. It's organized as a series of tournament, following the model of the IRB Sevens World Series.... - European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
- European U20 Championship
- European U18 Tournament & Championship
- World U19 Championship (defunct)
- European U19 Tournament
- European U20 Tournament
- U21 Rugby Union World Cup (defunct)