Portugal face Georgia in Lisbon

Portugal, the current holders of the European Nations title, play Georgia in Lisbon on Saturday. It is the fourth match of the championship.

There is a gap to avoid the disasters of last year when freezing weather led to the disruption of the championship in which five of the six nations previously belonged to the Eastern Bloc.

Ukraine were newly promoted this year, in the place of Spain, and started their campaign against Portugal in Odessa. Portugal beat them 36-6.

Georgia then beat Russia 27-15 in Krasnodar, and Romania beat the Czech Republic in Prague.

Clearly the championship is between Romania, who dominated the championship for so long and were the 2003 champions, Georgia, who were the 2002 champions, and Portugal.

Coach Tomaz Morais has announced the Portuguese squad.

Portugal (squad): Nuno Garvão, Paulo Santos, Cristian Spachuk, Lourenço Andrade, Diogo Mateus, António Cunha e Sebastião Cunha (Belenenses), Joaquim Ferreira, Marcello D"Orey (CDUP), Gonçalo Malheiro (UCM Canoe Madrid),João Correia, Pedro Leal, Gonçalo Uva, Vasco Uva, Diogo Coutinho,  José Pinto, Martim Tomé, Pedro Carvalho, Frederico Sousa, Miguel Portela (GD Direito), Miguel Moura (Benfica), Paulo Murinello (CDUL), Luis Pissarra (AEIS Agronomia)

Date: Saturday, 5 February 2005
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Estádio Universitário de Lisboa - Engº. Vasco Pinto de Magalhães
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Touch judges: Salvatore De Falco, Alberto Bruzzone (both Italy)