2011 European Trophy: no foregone conclusion

The 2011 European Trophy kicks off tomorrow in Corunna, in northern Spain. Eight international teams will be playing four matches in eight days in a genuinely fascinating tournament that is really unpredictable and could go any of four ways.

Though England return to the tournament for the first time since 2008 they are not the favourites. RFUW have stuck to their policy of sending their "A" team and, though the squad includes six Six Nations stars, the bulk is made up of up-and-coming development players. Though they are still as strong as most international 1st XVs, the gap is far closer and victory certainly cannot be taken for granted.

This is particularly true because, though Italy - who England open against tomorrow - have also officially sent their "A" team, it is squad that includes 17 of the 22 players that beat Scotland and Wales, and pushed Ireland and France close, in this year's Six Nations. They are quite capable of springing a "surprise".

Also taking part - but in the other group - are hosts and current champions Spain - who have a great record in this tournament since they were chucked out of the Six Nations (effectively on the grounds that their men's team wasn't good enough... go figure...) - and France, who are effectively at  full strength and must start as tournament favourites.

The other four teams - while unlikely to reach the final - are also worth watching. Sweden and Netherlands will both be fielding young squads, partly because they are concentrating on sevens, but also (in Sweden's case) because they are rebuilding after the World Cup, while Russia are something of an unknown - though not anything as much of an unknown as Finland, who have never competed at this level before.

For the first time you can follow the tournament on its own Facebook Page, as well its own website, and a results page on the FIRA website. Two out of three are in Spanish, but Google Translate does a fair job. Unfortunately there will be no streamed video.