2012 Cup of Nations (rugby union)

Not to be confused with 2012 IRB Nations Cup.
2012 Cup of Nations
Venue                 The Sevens, Dubai             
Countries United Arab Emirates

 Belgium
 Hong Kong

 Zimbabwe
Date8–14 December 2012
Champions Belgium (1st title)
Runners-up Hong Kong
Matches played6
← 2011
2015 →

The 2012 Emirates Cup of Nations is the second Cup of Nations tournament to be hosted by the United Arab Emirates and will be again held at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai. This tournament acts as a year ending tournament for tier 3 teams from different continents and provides greater preparation for teams to play in their regional competitions.[1][2]

The tournament is a joint initiative of the UAE Rugby Federation and the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union.[3]

The four competing teams are hosts UAE, 2012 Asian Five Nations runners up Hong Kong, 2012 Africa Cup champions Zimbabwe and 2010-2012 European Nations Cup Division 1B champions Belgium.

Zimbabwe will send a weakened squad to the tournament, due to the clash with the 2012 South Africa Sevens, for which Zimbabwe has qualified.[4]

An earlier draw for the event [5] had six teams playing, with Papua New Guinea and Mexico playing alongside the four competing nations. However, both teams withdrew due to financial problems.

Belgium won the tournament, defeating defending champions Hong Kong on the third and final match day, 24-12. Hong Kong were runners up, with Zimbabwe taking third place, defeating United Arab Emirates.

  1. ^ "Belgium XV to Emirates Airline Cup of Nations in Dubaï". Rugby Redefined. 2012-11-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  2. ^ "Emirates Airline Cup of Nations kicks off for second year". AMEinfo.com. 2012-11-22. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  3. ^ "EACON - Emirates Airline Cup Of Nations 2012". EACON. Archived from the original on 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  4. ^ "Sables depleted ahead of Emirates Airline Cup of Nations". The Standard (Zimbabwe). 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  5. ^ "Sables lament poor funding". The Standard (Zimbabwe). 2012-10-28. Retrieved 2012-12-03.