The big freeze has been and gone. All that maths is finally over, and the invitations to the 2026 WFTDA European Championships in Namur have been sent. Between now and the first whistle on June 12th, we are going to be shining a spotlight on the incredible Euro Derby Dozen who will be descending on Belgium. In absolutely no particular order, this series will break down the strategies, the identities, and the unsung heroes of Europe’s elite, hearing from the skaters and teams themselves.
When it comes to legendary legacy, few names carry the monumental weight of the powerhouse from the UK capital. For over a decade, London Brawling didn’t just rule the track; they were the undisputed heavyweight champions of European Roller Derby, peaking at #3 in the world back in 2015 and holding the continent’s #1 rank as recently as November 2023.
But after missing out on Global Champs in 2024, the former monarchs entered the 2026 stretch looking like a prize fighter trapped on the ropes. Rather than taking a ten count, London has counter-punched through a wild mathematical rollercoaster to steady the ship, right when the pressure is highest.
Here is the essential intel on London’s capital contenders:
Home City: London, England
Euro Seed: #6
Sanctioned Form: L – L – W – W – L
Team Colours: Pink and Black
Vibe: Respect, support, and non-stop hard work
Instagram: @londonrollerderby
Stunned But Unbroken
To truly appreciate London’s position heading into Namur, you have to look back at the lowest point of their season right when the definitive April 1st ranking snapshot slammed shut. At that critical tournament seeding deadline, the London empire looked like it was staggering from a series of heavy blows. Trapped in a rare five-game sanctioned skid and sitting at a historic mathematical floor of #6 in Europe with a 225.86 GPA, they locked into the bracket exactly where they stood.
But, that battle for the #5 spot at the time was a statistical split-decision. Nantes sat at #5 with a 225.88 GPA, leaving London trailing them by a microscopic 0.02 points. For a lesser league, a moment like that could cause the bench to throw in the towel. For London, it’s simply the bell for the next round. No panic, just using that exact low point as a launchpad for a furious spring of sanctioned victories.
Strategy: Stopping the Bleed
At West Track Story 11, London launched a clinical display of their evolving tactical systems, locking in a highly disciplined, strict 5 jammer rotation like a seasoned fighter sticking to a strict game plan.
And the explosive scoring potential of this engine was proven in their sanctioned games against Nantes, where London completely erased a daunting 34 point deficit in a matter of just two jams. Ellis (#18) weaponised a double power jam to drop a massive 23 point punch, immediately followed by Pip (#91) dropping a rapid-fire 14 point combination.
As they look toward Namur, the ultimate tactical test is balancing that explosive scoring power with a rock-solid, defensive guard.
“We’ve been focusing a lot on our D, especially ‘stopping the bleed’ – those big 4-5 scoring passes against which can make the difference in the end,” the team revealed. “We also want to capitalise on our scoring opportunities – improving the rate of our multi-scoring passes has been a big theme for us.“
To claw their way out of that April hole, London didn’t duck any challengers under the WFTDA algorithm, stepping straight into the ring with them. Alongside an intense schedule that included a decisive 191-85 sanctioned win over Antwerp One Love on April 19th, London boldly scheduled a high-stakes double-header on May 9th. By ensuring their clashes against Paris AllStars and Crime City Rollers were fully sanctioned, London chose the hardest path possible to iron out their flaws and pump up their GPA.
That gamble paid off beautifully. While their tournament seeding remains locked at #6 from the April deadline, their performances in May and June have sent a warning shot across the continent. By the current June ranking calculations, they pushed their live standing up to 295.97, leapfrogging into the live #4 spot in Europe. They might be entering the bracket as an underdog seed, but they are playing like a real contender.
Identity: Culture, Cohesion, and the Pipeline
Every team brings a unique flavor to the track, and London’s identity is built on a foundation of compassionate team culture and an unrelenting work ethic.
Respect & Vibes: London prioritises showing absolute respect to each other, their bench crew, and their opponents. The team thrives on a supportive environment where enjoying the grueling hours spent together is paramount.
Hard Work: Their process starts long before they lace up, leaning heavily into off-skates conditioning, conscious rest, and physical and mental recovery. On the track, this translates to an extraordinarily high work rate and continuous, collective problem-solving. They simply never stop.
Wondering where the spark for London’s evolution is coming from, you don’t have to look further than their own sparring partners. The meteoric rise of their B team, the London Brawl Saints (who have climbed to #26 in the June European rankings after an impressive season), proves that London’s talent pipeline remains flush. Amassing a staggering +441 point differential across their Five Nations Tier 1 season, Brawl Saints have provided a tested blueprint for the entire league’s resurgence.
Unsung Heroes: Greater than the sum of its parts
When asked to point out a single skater flying under the radar whom the European community needs to watch out for this June, London stayed fiercely true to their collective ethos.
“Every member of our charter brings something unique to the team and we are stronger because of that,” London proudly stated. “Our whole is stronger than the sum of our parts, so we couldn’t possibly name only one individual!“
Expect a seamless, interchangeable unit where every single skater is prepared to step into the pocket and anchor the pack.
History of an Empire: Postseason
To understand why London Brawling remains one of the most dangerous draws in the bracket, you have to look at the historical weight of their postseason legacy:
Early Dominance (2011–2012): London instantly established themselves as the premier force outside North America, locking down a historic 4th-seed finish in the WFTDA East Region.
Championship Era (2013–2019): Brawling shattered boundaries as the first non-North American league to qualify for the WFTDA global Championships, consistently dominating the European continent as the undisputed #1 and peaking at #3 in the entire world in 2015.
Post-Pandemic Shift (2023–2025): While they held the European #1 rank as recently as late 2023, a grueling 2024 transition saw them slide out of top playoff qualification. They spent 2025 working hard, adapting and evolving, finishing a transitional year with a 10-7 record.
Euro Champs, Namur (2026): Entering as #6 seed, the narrative of a “rebuilding year” is officially behind them. London has executed a massive late-season resurgence, and they are rolling into Belgium ready to disrupt the bracket and reclaim their throne among Europe’s top tier…and a ticket straight back to the Global stage?
Namur Forecast
While London is completely focused on refining their own track cohesion, they are incredibly excited to support the growth of the sport across the continent. When asked which matchups they are most eager to witness outside of their own games, they pointed straight to their regional bonds.
London will be tracking the tournament with a close eye on their friends and former teammates at Tiger Bay, as well as keeping tabs on northern heavyweights Rainy City as they continue to showcase immense depth at the top of the European table.
Think You Can Predict the Chaos?
Speaking of disrupting brackets, the official EDN x WFTDA Prediction Hub is officially open for business! We’ve partnered with Challonge to bring you an ad-free platform to test your derby knowledge against the rest of the community.
It’s a classic Bracket Challenge!
Because we love the chaos, we’ve opened the entire postseason slate at once. You can lock in your picks for every bracket right now, but don’t wait too long, brackets lock automatically the moment the first jam of Game 1 starts.
Will London’s current #4 form allow them to smash through, or will the bracket protect the top seeds?
ENTER THE EDN PREDICTION HUB HERE
Pack is here!
Don’t want to miss a single jam, upset, or apex jump in Namur? Make sure you are fully synced up with the rest of the community. Head over to euroderbynews.com to subscribe and get every team spotlight, bracket breakdown, and tournament update delivered directly to your inbox.
Follow us @euroderbynews to see our full visual breakdown, including tournament win/loss charts, star-pass counts, and lead percentages. Euro Champs are just around the corner, we’re going to be there and we’ll make sure you don’t miss a second of the chaos!