Catégorie : Rapports de tournoi

Feu & Glace – Revue de Février

Grab a coffee (or an apparently traditional Scottish breakfast burrito) and settle in for a February catch up. This month, the European mid-tier was on fire, with 3 pivotal tournaments: Skate Around 7 in Namur, Vie de bloc de fer in Helsinki, and the Meadowbank Homecoming in Edinburgh.

We made it to 2 out 3 of these fantastic events to make sure we can bring you all the details because, with the April 1st ranking snapshot looming like that aforementioned blast door closing, the European Battle Royale is in full swing. The rankings gap between #9 & #30 is thinner than ever, and at the top, every jam carries the weight of a postseason dream.

Note: All statistics are hand-tracked by the EDN team. Don’t treat them as official – we’re just doing our best to bring you the most complete picture we can!

Namur’s Winter War – Skate Around 7

We kicked off with a mathematical scrap at the Centre Namurois des Sports-Tabora. While the venue was fantastic, boasting a legendary bar and an atmosphere that could warm the coldest Belgian night, the weekend was defined by the biting snow outside and a masterclass in tactical discipline inside.

Falling on February 14th & 15th, it really begged the question…How could anyone want to spend Valentine’s Day anywhere else?

While the rest of the world dealt with overpriced roses, we had the true romance of waterfall recycling and apex jumps. This was a rehearsal for the WFTDA European Championships coming to this very track in June; Namur is effectively building the fortress where the elite will fight for their lives this summer. And what amazing hosts they are! Belgium in June – get it in your diary.

Ranking vs. Reality

While Namur entered as the statistical favorite, the dark horse SAM emerged as the undisputed giant.

SAM Surged

SAM’s performance was a masterclass in negative derby – the art of preventing the opponent from playing. They committed only five jammer penalties and held Namur to just 76 points in their Sunday rematch.

Pin’Pon (#640) was a wonder & a workhorse, scoring 117 points with a 70% Lead rate. Spoke (#6) was all about consistent contributing, delivering impact points to finish as the top scorer with 201 points and 4.1 points per jam.

Namur’s Volatility

Ninon (#12), recorded the weekend’s only 20-point jam and averaged 3.7 points per jam. However, Namur suffered 69 total scoreless jams against SAM’s heavy defense. Fresh rotations from #89 (Pulp) and #1957 (Batsmash) provided late-game surges, combining for 267 points.

Newcastle’s Endurance

Arriving on a massive win streak (13-0), the Canny Belters hit a Sunday Slump due to a lack of bench depth. Peregrine (#104) shouldered the load with 100 points, while Hoolia (#2122) earned our Resilience Award (55% Lead rate). Pivot Terri Sudron (#86) was heroic, taking passes from four different jammers, including The Rottwheeler (#22) and Eradi-Cait (#495), to stop the opposition from getting on a tear.

A quality weekend and we can’t wait to be back in June!

Hard Block Life or ‘The Group of Death’

The following weekend the action moved to Helsinki at the Ruskeasuon liikuntahalli. While EDN couldn’t attend in person, we’ve spent the weekend glued to Helsinki Roller Derby’s YouTube channel. (Apparently we still have to do our day jobs!)

If you only watch one game from February, make it Lomme vs. Stockholm (Game 6). The comeback is pure derby magic. Absolutely our favourite game of the weekend. Do you disagree? Tell us in the comments.

Hold please…

Helsinki remains top tier but Lomme’s upset over Stockholm was a total shockwave. But not enough to move the rankings.

Lomme’s Resilience

Trailing by 26 at the half against Stockholm, Lomme secured a 145 – 142 win. Light Fury (#29) was the catalyst, providing the essential 16-point hammer to spark the climb. Brutus (#16) and Mapool (#123) provided game-changing offense, combining to become a proper wrecking crew.

Helsinki’s Juggernaut

Piu Piu (#931) hit the 16-point ceiling three times. The defense, anchored by Pale Lee (#4) and Joanna Koskinen (#455), was impenetrable. Gilbert (#777) was an absolute machine, shredding opposing packs all weekend, while Malou (#22) maintained elite consistency with crowd-pleasing apex jumps.

Stockholm’s Patience

Stockholm’s Party-O (#404), Juking (#3) & Slenderwoman (#530) led a deep rotation, but the team suffered from Period 2 fatigue. Smärtan (#20) was ever the tactician, patiently waiting for offensive setups.

Göteborg’s Brains

Fröken Fräken (#11) displayed top notch jammer IQ by riding the wake of opposing jammers to slip through packs, backed by a jammer rotation including Fred Finta (#1618) and Chips (#6). Prinsen (#3) showed out as a fantastic blocker and pivot.

Meadowbank Homecoming – Auld Reekie settle in

Our month actually concluded with a quick (750 mile total) trip to Edinburgh at the newly rebuilt Meadowbank Sports Centre. And boy is it pretty! So shiny, so new and so very accessible. We are impressed. Plus that floor looks like the wooden floor of all our dreams, somehow both grippy and fast.

We were also introduced to a Scottish Roller Derby tradition of getting a legendary Breakfast Burrito after the first morning game (the true fuel of champions that we genuinely missed

once we crossed back over the border), the atmosphere was electric in this fantastic state-of-the-art facility.

Ranking vs. Reality

Composure was rewarded at Meadowbank, where Madrid proved tactical discipline wins the day. But it’s London Brawl Saints who are rewarded with a 2 place move up the rankings.

Madrid Mini Margins

Madrid won two games by 10 points or fewer, highlighting their precision and game management. Dame Veneno (#92) posted a 20-point jam against ARRD and finished with 180 points. Pivot Angie (#81) anchored a line that utilised tactical star passes to mitigate fatigue and control the points damage.

Auld Reekie’s Return

Auld Reekie was the highest-scoring team of the weekend (479 points), including a 102-point blitz against Marseille in Period 2. Sasha de Buyl (#626) came in clutch, averaging 4.5 points per jam and using lead status to control the clock. Blacksmith (#275) also showed explosive bursts, combining with Sasha for 31 points in just two jams.

London Leads

Oblivion Newton-John (#999) set a punishing tempo for the Brawl Saints with 10 leads in 16 jams against Marseille. STRUGGLE (#2305) anchored rotations that secured a 165-148 victory over the hosts.

Marseille Moments

For Marseille, Pumba (#33) delivered the weekend’s highest scoring run with a spectacular 22-point jam, supported by the relentless pivots like Crazy Swann (#42) and Pâle Platine (#66), who were essential in escaping suffocating defenses.

Steady at the top

Despite a busy month of gameplay across 3 tournaments, the WFTDA Europe Top 30 remains remarkably stable. While February’s trilogy of tournaments offered plenty of on-track drama, the resulting shifts in the March 1st rankings were subtle rather than explosive. Most teams successfully defended their territory, leaving the leaderboard largely unchanged as we head toward the post-season.

The exceptions? London Brawl Saints and SAM Mérignac, both of whom managed to manufacture some upward momentum. Brawl Saints climbed two places to #27 following their performance in Edinburgh, while Mérignac’s weekend in Namur was rewarded with a two spot bump to #17. Elsewhere, consistency was the theme; despite a standout weekend, Lomme remains at #12, while Auld Reekie and Madrid All Stars held steady at #21 and #22 respectively.

On the losing end of the maths, Newcastle Roller Derby saw the only downward movement among the featured teams, slipping just one spot to #19. While these shifts are small, they serve as a reminder that with the snapshot approaching, even a single place move can impact your invite.

Beware the games of March

February’s results suggest that the European rankings have reached a point of relative equilibrium, with Helsinki firmly entrenched as a Top 10 force at #9. However, this stability is likely to be short-lived. March is packed with even more high-level sanctioned games that serve as the final gateway to the April 1st ranking snapshot.

The schedule is relentless. This weekend (Mar 7-8) Antwerp Roller Derby is set to host a massive triple-header featuring European heavyweights Crime City Rollers and Paris Allstars, a weekend that could see significant movement at the very top of the table. Simultaneously, Nantes will host West Track Story 11, a tournament boasting a who’s who of elite talent including Toulouse, Rainy City, and London Brawling.

March concludes with EuroClash 2026, hosted by Newcastle. As the final major fixture before the rankings freeze, EuroClash will feature a high-stakes lineup including Tiger Bay Brawlers, Le Roller Derby de Lomme, Göteborg, and Bear City. For teams sitting just outside the top 12 for the European Championships in Namur, these March fixtures represent the final genuine opportunity to break the current deadlock. Keep your spreadsheets ready; the biggest hits of the season are yet to come.

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Skate Around 7 Aperçu

This weekend, February 14 & 15, the Centre Namurois des Sports-Tabora transforms into a ranking battlefield as Namur Roller Derby hosts Skate Around 7.

With the top of the European table currently holding steady, there is drama unfolding in the chasing pack. For the three teams heading to Namur, this weekend is a pure, mathematical scrap for ranking dominance as they fight to climb higher in the international standings.

The Ranking Battle: Who Rules the Top 20?

The three featured teams are currently separated by a razor-thin margin. This weekend is a fabulous round-robin opportunity to leapfrog one another and gain significant ground in the WFTDA rankings.

What you need to know:

Newcastle on a Streak: Newcastle arrives in Belgium as the hottest team in the bracket. They haven’t lost a game in their 2025/26 campaign, and their climb has been relentless. If they sweep this weekend, they could leave Belgium as the highest-ranked team in this group.

Namur’s Home Defence: Known for being a Hosting Hero, Namur is currently in a transition period. While they aren’t chasing a playoff invite this cycle, they are fiercely protecting their Top 15 status. Expect them to use their home-crowd energy to halt Newcastle’s momentum.

SAM’s Physicality: SAM (Mérignac) is the dark horse. Often overlooked in ranking discussions, they are part of the rising French dominance of European Roller Derby. They are looking to solidify their status as a European Tier 1 program.

Plan your viewing

Saturday, Feb 14 (Round Robin)

11:00: Namur A vs. SAM A

13:15: Newcastle vs. SAM A

15:30: Team Belgium M+ vs Team World (Exhibition Game)

17:45: Namur A vs. Newcastle

Sunday, Feb 15 (Rematches)

10:00: Namur A vs. Newcastle

12:15: Namur A vs. SAM A

14:30: Namur B vs. Blackland

16:45: Namur C vs. Lille C

How to Watch & Follow

Streaming Links: You can find direct links to the live streams for Skate Around 7 and other upcoming fixtures at Nouvelles de l'Euro Derby.

Contribute: Know of a stream that isn’t listed? Help the community stay connected by submitting streaming links via the Euro Derby News Contribute Page.

Live Stream: Watch the hits live on the Derby Live Stream YouTube Channel.

Ranking Analysis: Subscribe now and don’t miss our tournament review into how these specific scores move the rankings needle.

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Tyneside Takeover: Your EuroClash 2026 Line Up

The calculation is final, and there is absolutely no room for error.

As we approach the April 1st ranking snapshot, Euro Derby has become a pressure cooker. While we’re fully focused on the Last Chance weekend that will be EuroClash 2026 at the Walker Dome in Tyneside on March 28-29th, the math starts moving much sooner.

With teams fighting for every point at upcoming tournaments like Skate Around 7 and Vie de bloc de fer, the rankings we see today might look very different by the time these five teams line up in Newcastle.

8 Games. 5 Teams. One Final Weekend.

The mission is simple: one final weekend to make a rankings move.

Here is your official EuroClash 2026 line up:

(And we reached out to the teams to ask how they are handling the pressure of the April 1st deadline.)

Tiger Bay Brawlers #8

Evans, Captain of the Tiger Bay Brawlers, gave us a candid look at why EuroClash has become the definitive, high-stakes moment of their season.

“A lot of our skaters were involved in the World Cup, which was an amazing experience, but it did stretch people financially,” Evans explains. “The reality is that regular travel to Europe for games just isn’t accessible for everyone… we’ve ended up with a bit of an all-eggs-in-one-basket situation.”

Despite the scheduling challenges, the Brawlers aren’t backing down.

“That’s a pressure we’re excited about,” says Evans. “Our goal is to… show that, even with fewer games under our belt, we’re still a part of the conversation.”

Lomme Roller Derby #12

Currently holding the most coveted seat in Europe. They are the team with the target on their back. Everyone is hunting their spot.

Göteborg Roller Derby #13

Sitting an agonising 3.95 points away from a qualifying spot. They will be watching the scores from Vie de bloc de fer closely before arriving in Tyneside.

One Team, One Goal. For Göteborg, EuroClash represents the culmination of a massive year following their blockbuster merger. The team is focused on mechanical precision rather than overthinking the math.

“The consolidation of DCR and GBGRD was necessary… Now, a little over a year in, we truly feel like one team and we’re ready to show Europe what that means on track,” says A-Team Captain World’s Okayest Skater.

This unity has translated into a sharper tactical edge and refined communication.

“We have been working on our strategies and improving our on-track communication… stay sharp when things get chaotic. Hard Block Life (and EuroClash later this spring) is our opportunity to put that work to the test.”

For the Swedish powerhouse, the standard is clear: nothing less than a ticket to Belgium for the European Championships.

“Qualifying for Euro Champs is the standard we hold ourselves to.  Anything short of that would be a disappointment.”

Bear City Roller Derby #14

Entering Newcastle as the ultimate Marauders, needing to bridge a massive 42-point GPA gap to steal a postseason ticket.

Newcastle Roller Derby #18

While the visitors are crunching numbers, the hosts are all about hospitality and hustle. Newcastle is riding an incredible 8-0 undefeated streak, but they aren’t interested in playing it safe to protect that record.

“We’re so excited to host EuroClash at the Dome… it’s a brilliant venue and (OK, we might be biased) but North East audiences are the best,” the team shared. “Honestly, we’re not worried about protecting our record, we’re expecting to lose games, and we’re okay with that. We need those challenges to keep growing.”

For Newcastle, the motivation is the rare opportunity to reach the postseason.

“It’s the only way to have a shot at making Playoffs and that chance only comes around every other year, so we’re not going to rest on our laurels and let it pass us by. We might be the underdogs at EuroClash, but we don’t fear losing; we expect it, and we’ll use that loss to motivate and inspire each other.”

The Final Showdown

With the rankings shifting at Skate Around 7 and Vie de bloc de fer, the teams arriving in Tyneside will know exactly what they need to do to secure that Top 12 spot. Whether it’s calculated chaos or a Hail Mary, the Walker Dome is where the 2026 postseason will be decided.

Get your tickets now!

https://www.newcastlerollerderby.co.uk/buy-tickets/euroclash-2026/

Want more? Subscribe to the EDN Substack to get all the Euro Derby News delivered straight to your inbox as we count down to the first (and last) whistle.

The Innsbruck Reflection: A 2025 Roller Derby World Cup retrospective

As we roll into 2026, the European Roller Derby community is still buzzing with the aftershocks of last July. The 2025 Roller Derby World Cup (RDWC) in Innsbruck wasn’t just a tournament; it was a global shifting of the tectonic plates. Forget the ‘gap’. The conversation is no longer about whether Europe can keep up with North America. It’s about how the rest of the world is going to keep up with Europe.

High Stakes in the Mountains

2025 gave us the biggest stage in Derby history. In fact, in the modern (post-2001) era of flat-track, the Roller Derby World Cup 2025 set a new bar for sheer scale.

With 48 teams competing, a jump from 38 in 2018, it was the largest gathering of international squads ever. Including both National teams and Borderless teams like Black Diaspora and Jewish Roller Derby.

Massive infrastructure was required to host this event. Olympiaworld required 5 simultaneous tracks to be running inside the complex. The only possible way to accommodate 80 games across 4 days.

Human Power was the greatest testament to our sport. RDWC 2025 took over 1,600 people to run, including 1,000+ skaters and 600+ tournament crew. The workload was staggering and the stakes couldn’t have been higher but the people made this event the spectacle it was. The crowds, the noise!

Friends, Families and Fans arrived en masse and celebrated every roster read, every point fought for and every apex jump attempted. With over 4,000 spectators, it was the largest international derby crowd in Europe. This logistical feat proved the ‘European model’ of hosting can support our sport’s global future.

Shards of a New World Order

The most significant story of 2025 is the final collapse of the North American monopoly. While USA Roller Derby remains the immovable gold standard, the landscape beneath them has been radically redrawn.

The traditional hierarchy has been dismantled, replaced by a dual-front challenge from the Southern Hemisphere and a surging European contingent.

​For the first time in our sport’s history, the medal race has become a truly global pursuit. Australia has decisively seized the role of primary challenger, securing the world silver and leaving the rest of the top five to a continental takeover.

With England (#3), France (#4), and Sweden (#5) claiming the remaining elite positions, Europe now commands the majority of the world’s top-tier slots.

​This shift was punctuated by the historic descent of Team Canada. Once the perennial silver medallist and the primary rival to the USA, Canada has plummeted to 7th place, finishing behind three separate European nations for the first time.

The old North American mirror has finally shattered; in the shards of Canada’s decline, a more complex global order has emerged. One where Australia leads the charge and Europe fills the ranks.

Game of the Tournament

While the blowouts often grab headlines, such as Selección Colombia’s record-shattering 562 points against Team Desi, the true story of European growth was told in the “grind”.

Opinions will be divided on THE GAME of this thrilling World Cup but one fact is likely to hold true – it involved Sweden.

While their Quarter-Final exit against France (108–138) was a high-octane new “European Classic” that ended their medal hopes, it was Sweden’s defensive masterclass against Argentina that redefined the tournament’s tactical ceiling. In a gruelling 113–111 victory, decided by a mere two points, Sweden’s “Wall of Ice” structure stifled one of the world’s most explosive offenses, proving that elite derby can be won through disciplined defence.

These two performances didn’t just showcase Swedish resilience; they were the mathematical anchors that secured Sweden the #5 global ranking and cemented Europe’s historic claim to three of the world’s top five spots.

The Borderless Revolution

Innsbruck also proved that National teams are no longer the only way to achieve elite status. The debut of Fuego Latino was a revelation, as they skated to a 9th place global finish, outranking veteran programs like Finland, Germany, and Scotland. Alongside Black Diaspora (#14) and Jewish Roller Derby (#16), these teams have added a new layer of competitive density.

Belgian Bounce!

While the bright lights and beautiful backdrop of Innsbruck provided the stage for the most massive World Cup in history, the true heart of the European narrative was the “Belgian Bounce”.

After a frustrating slide to 16th in 2018, Team Belgium staged a phenomenal recovery to finish 8th in the world, proving that their trajectory is firmly back on the ascent. Their 153–122 statement win over Finland wasn’t just a physical upset; it was a tactical declaration that the old European hierarchies have been dismantled.

By reclaiming their status and climbing to the #4 spot in the European power rankings, Belgium has shifted the conversation from “potential” to “proven power.”

They head into the Namur Euro Champs this June with the wind, and the stats, firmly at their backs, having proved that the heart of modern Roller Derby now beats loudest across the Atlantic.

European Power Rankings

The Heart of the World Cup: Innsbruck’s Lasting Legacy

After all the medals had been handed out, after all the tears, the hugs and the selfies. After the after-party and Sock derby. After 48 teams got home to the smell of a kit bag trapped in a European heat wave. The true victory of 2025 belongs to the hosts, Fearless Bruisers Roller Derby.

They didn’t just host a tournament, they staged a 5 track logistical marvel that redefined the scale of the sport. Olympiaworld, a historic venue with Olympic roots, was transformed into a buzzing ‘Derby Bazaar’ for over 4,000 fans. The Bruisers proved that a grassroots, skater-owned league could successfully manage the largest event in our sport’s history.

For Team Austria, their World Cup journey was punctuated, regularly and frequently, by a thunderous home crowd roar, especially deserved after their massive 429-53 victory over Vietnam. This helped them to secure 26th, a 6 place improvement on 2018.

This momentum was anchored by the meteoric rise of Roller Derby de Vienne, whose A team, the Oysters, surged into the European Top 20 with an 11-6 sanctioned record. Their climb to a #16 regional ranking by October 2025 proved that the Austrian scene isn’t just a world-class host, but an unfolding powerhouse on the track.

Next Week

As the community shifts its focus from the spectacle of Innsbruck to the high-stakes grind of 2026, all eyes are on the road to Euro Champs in Namur this June, and the ultimate destination; the WFTDA World Champs in Malmo this October.

We’ll take a look back at the European season so far before breaking down the race for rankings; with the April cut-off looming, every sanctioned game is now a battle for a postseason bid.