'Six Nations B' kicks off in Ukraine

All the fixtures

The European Cup of Nations, popularly known as the 'Six Nations B', starts this weekend when champions Portugal play newly promoted Ukraine.

Last season Portugal, for the first time, ended top, followed by Romania, Georgia, Russia, Czech Republic and Spain. Spain were relegated and replaced by Ukraine leaving Portugal the only non-Eastern Bloc country in the competition.

The season is starting now as last year's competition was much disrupted by frozen fields.

In the second match this weekend there is the derby/grudge match between Russia and Georgia in Krasnodar, a city in Southern Russia.

The fixtures for this season are:

20 November 2004:

Ukraine vs Portugal in Odessa
Referee: Stefano Mancini (Italy)
Touch judges: Alberto Bruzzone, Gianluca Bonacci (both Italy)

Russia vs Georgia in Krasnodar
Referee: Frank Maciello (France)

27 November 2004

Czech Republic vs Romania in Prague
Referee: Jean-Christophe Gastou (France)

5 February 2005

Portugal vs Georgia in Lisbon
Referee: (Italy)

26 February 2005

Portugal vs Czech Republic in Lisbon
Referee: Johnny Meersman (Belgium)

Romania vs Russia
Referee: Didier Mene (France)

Georgia vs Ukraine
Referee: Hervé Dubes (France)

12 March

Ukraine vs Czech Republic
Referee: Bernd Gabbei (Germany)

Georgia vs Romania
Referee: (France)

19 March 2005

Ukraine vs Romania
Referee: Gérard Borreani (France)

4 June 2005

Russia vs Portugal in Krasnoyarsk or Moscow
Referee: Daniel Dartigeas (France)

11 June 2005

Russia vs Ukraine in Moscow
Referee: Sean Mallon (Netherlands)

Georgia vs Czech Republic
Referee: (Italy)

Romania vs Portugal
Referee: (Italy)

Date to be confirmed

Czech Republic vs Russia in Prague
Referee: (Italy)