Rugby European Championship in Hannover

HANNOVER, Germany - On 11 and 12 July 2009, Hannover Will be the Venue for the Sevens European Championship for the Second Time

Following last year’s successful event, which was attended by about 26,000 visitors, the European Rugby Association FIRA-AER awarded the men’s Sevens European Championship to the provincial capital of Lower Saxony for the second time in a row. And this year, for the first time, women, too, will be chasing a title of their own.

Under the motto “Rugby, family and friends”, the best European teams will be competing for the European title in the AWD Arena during the course of the two-day tournament. Matches are divided into two halves of seven minutes each and the play is fast- moving and easy to follow - ideal conditions for spectators to experience everything up close.

Altogether ten teams will start, with the men’s teams having to earn their participation in the European Championship through qualifying competitions taking place in the run-up to the event. Currently, in addition to hosts Germany, the European champions Portugal, France, Spain, Georgia and Romania have all secured their places. On the women’s side, the reigning European champions, England, as well as France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Russia, Moldova, Sweden, Portugal and hosts Germany, will be taking part.

Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) is supporting the city’s great rugby event with posters and fliers, distributed as supplements in various newspapers, and is also offering an attractive package, which combines a visit to the tournament with an overnight stay in the city centre.

Spectators who need a break from all that high-performance sport can enjoy the biggest Schutzenfest (marksmen’s festival) in the world, which takes place on the neighbouring fairground. The funfair is an official fringe event of the Sevens European Championship. The stadium can be revisited with a valid entrance ticket at any time, as the tickets are good for both days and all matches in the AWD Arena and Sports Park.

For further information, visit www.hannover.de/rugby Media contact: Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH Bahnhofstrasse 6/7 30159 Hannover +49(0)511-123490-0 presse@hannover-marketing.de

Source: Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH

Media contact: Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH, Bahnhofstrasse 6/7, 30159 Hannover, +49(0)511-123490-0, presse at hannover-marketing.de