Friday, May 2, 2008


The European Nations Cup, also referred to as the "Six Nations B" or simply ENC, is a second-level competition for European rugby union nations, some of which where it is still an amateur sport. It is administered by FIRA-AER.
Despite the name the European Nations Cup is in fact a series of 4 divisions of 6 teams with promotion and relegation between them. There is, however, at present little prospect of any of the teams being promoted to the Six Nations as the gap in terms of playing standards is probably too big. Division One usually uses the same weekends as the Six Nations Championship; other divisions play throughout the year.
Initially started as one-year competition, the championship is now decided over two years with each team playing each other home and away. The format change occurred at the end of the 2001 championship. Georgia is still regarded as the 2001 winner, but the results from that season count in the final standings of the 2001-2002 tournament.

Current divisions

The thirties: the first three tournaments

The fifties: the European Cup

The Nations Cup 1966-1973

The FIRA Trophy 1974-1997

First Division championships

European Nations Cup (rugby union) 2000

2001

2001-2002

European Nations Cup (rugby union) 2003-2004

Results by nation

Antim Cup
FIRA - Association of European Rugby
Six Nations Championship

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the United Kingdom's thirty-two NHS Foundation Trusts. It provides healthcare for people in the Preston area and surrounding area in northwest England. The trust itself consists of Royal Preston Hospital on the northern outskirts of the city in the Fulwood area and Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital, it is distinguished as being the only trust in the North West to offer some neurology services, and Royal Preston hospital is the only hospital in the United Kingdom to possess some advanced cancer scanning units, thanks to the Rosemere cancer foundation, a local charity. Besides being a major healthcare services provider to over 350,000 people the Foundation Trust also provides clinical education for medical students from the University of Manchester and University of St Andrews. The Trust uses the Single Transferable Vote voting system to elect its Members' Council.