The UK flavour to the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship
Howard Packman (Germany) has made 12 appearances for National Two East leaders Tonbridge Juddians this term
©Karl Lincoln
The spotlight shone brightly on the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship at the weekend with Georgia, Romania, Spain and Portugal all securing qualification for the 2027 World Cup.
The four nations will be heading ‘Down Under’ in two years time but interest in the Men’s REC seems heightened in 2025 with some of the stars of the championship playing their domestic rugby in the UK.
Whilst Georgia booked their place in Australia with a 40-7 victory over the Netherlands, three players in the Dutch national team are based in the British Isles; Cardiff Met’s fly-half Vikas Meijer, Richmond lock Tommaso Fricano and London Scottish loose forward Marijn Huis.
Vikas Meijer has been projected as one of the biggest talents in the Rugby Europe universe, having previously helped the Oranje win the Under-20 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship.
The 21-year-old has a canon for a foot, able to send the ball far and wide, allowing his team to get a breather or have time to pressure the opposition more effectively.
His game management skills and quick wits are some of the other strengths that the fly-half has, enough to explain why Lyn Jones rates the talented back so highly. Meijer has already scored more than 70 points in this year’s BUCS Super Rugby campaign, making sure that each kick counts.
London Scottish’s Huis is a utility forward who has the necessary skills to be a useful tool to the Dutch setup.
Portugal - who won the hearts of many during the 2023 Rugby World Cup - will be back on the global stage in two years time after beating Germany 56-14.
But included in the German ranks, there have been a couple of recognisable names to National League Rugby followers.
Esher loosehead prop Henry Pearson and Tonbridge Juddians outside back Howard Packman are the two names in question while Maidenhead RFC’s loose forward Shawn Ingle has also represented Germany.
Both Pearson and Packman were back on National One and National Two East duty at the weekend but 21-year-old Pearson was a shining light in Germany’s opening 48-10 defeat to Romania having finished the match with 16 successful tackles.
Packman and Ingle also made their debuts against Romania and both finished the game with positive stats. Ingle clocked in 15 tackles and one successful jackal, while Packman ran 20 metres, beat two tacklers and collected five punts.
Finally, to newcomers Switzerland who were beaten 43-13 by a Spain side who booked their place at the World Cup for the first time since 1999.
But within the Swiss set-up, National Two East club Oxford Harlequins have been well-represented with flanker Benjamin Bodinham and lock Jorn Vögtli both included while Hartpury University lock Cameron Holenstein continues to be a regular for Oliver Nier’s side.
The former Harlequins and Section Paloise player has played a vital role in the Swiss scrum for the past three years, helping the Edelweiss win promotion to the Rugby Europe Championship.
Donovan O‘Grady of Blackheath, one of Switzerland’s most loyal servants, has electrified his side’s attack with suave passing skills while Scottish club Gordonians RFC have had representation from centre Harry Stevens and wing Campbell Swanson.
Even if the quartet who have qualified for the 2027 World Cup - Georgia, Portugal, Spain and Romania - have no English-based players in their current rosters, a few of their stars have had stints with a UK-based club, with José R. de Andrade (Nottingham Rugby), Mario Pichardie (Loughborough University) and Nika Abuladze (Exeter Chiefs) all spending time on these shores.
