After a tournament full of powerhouse defence, jaw-dropping tries, and nail-biting games, the stage was set for a truly unforgettable finals day! Who would rise to Division A, and who would fight to stay in Division B?
Kicking off Finals Day, hosts Finland clashed with Austria for 7th and 8th place. It was neck-and-neck from start to finish, with both teams leaving everything on the court. In the end, Finland pulled ahead for a 53-49 win, finishing strong on home turf!
Then came the thriller of the tournament—the 5v6 battle between Israel and Spain. With the stakes high as the unsuccessful team joining Finland and Austria in the drop down to Division C, neither team was willing to back down. Try for try, turnover for turnover, and just when it looked like we were heading into overtime, Spain made a lightning-fast drive in the final seconds to secure a heart-pounding 50-49 win!
Czech Republic and Italy then fought it out for bronze and a shot at Division A. Czech Republic came out swinging, but Italy regrouped and turned up the heat, sealing their win at 46-41. Italy takes bronze and the promotion!
And finally… the moment we were all waiting for—the Gold Medal Match! In a gripping battle between Poland and Sweden, Poland came out strong and never looked back. Sweden fought valiantly, but it was Poland who claimed the top spot with a 52-44 victory. Both teams are now Division A bound!
MVPs of the Tournament
Let’s give a huge round of applause to the incredible players who received Most Valuable Player awards!
- 🏅 0.5 MVP: Sweden #5, Claes Bertilsson
- 🏅 1.0 MVP: Israel #9, Ziv Ben Ishay
- 🏅 1.5 MVP: Spain #11, Pau Navarro
- 🏅 2.0 MVP: Czech #8, Filip Varton
- 🏅 2.5 MVP: Sweden #22, Tomas Hjert
- 🏅 3.0 MVP: Poland #10, Łukasz Rękawiecki
- 🏅 3.5 MVP: Italy #6, Ahmed Raourahi
To all teams moving up to Division A or heading down to C, we wish you the best of luck. To those staying in Division B, you made us proud! A massive thank you to everyone who made this tournament possible. Until next time, Wheelchair Rugby fans!