Great Britain sent four teams to the 2025 European Canoe Polo Championships in Avranches, France. Both the senior and U21 squads gained valuable international experience during the competition.
Over four packed days, the British teams showed strong starts and moments of brilliance, ultimately finishing just outside the medal places.
Men’s Senior
Having recently secured bronze at the World Games, the British men started their Euros campaign strongly. They achieved an impressive 6-4 victory over Switzerland, followed by a thrilling 4-3 win against host nation France in a close group match.
These results initially put them in contention for higher placings. However, subsequent defeats in the knockout stages led them into the classification rounds.
In their final match, GB demonstrated resilience by beating Portugal 6-2, ultimately securing a 7th-place finish. The consistent narrow score lines throughout the tournament highlighted the squad’s strong competitiveness at the European level.
Women’s Senior
The senior women’s team started strong with a 3-2 win against Sweden, followed by a dominant 7-0 victory over Ireland in the group stage. However, tougher competition in the next phase led to a 2-1 defeat against Spain, despite a solid defensive effort.
This placed them in the 7th-8th classification match against Italy, ultimately securing an eighth-place finish.
Men’s U21
The men’s U1 squad had a challenging schedule but delivered strong performances throughout the tournament. They began with two draws before securing a 3-1 victory against Austria.
Although they didn’t reach the semi-finals, their results in the classification rounds led to a 6th-place finish. Their campaign showcased promising talent, building a foundation for future international competitions.
Women’s U21
The GB women’s U21 team achieved a dominant 10-0 victory over Ireland in the group stage, following an initial 8-0 win. This was one of Great Britain’s most notable early results.
Although they continued to compete strongly, they were ultimately edged out of contention for higher positions, finishing the tournament in sixth place after losing to Italy in the 5th-place playoff.
Building for the future
Although no medals came back from France, the European Championships offered vital match experience for all four GB teams.
Narrow defeats against top nations showed just how fine the margins are at this level, while standout performances, from the men’s senior win over France to the U21 women’s dominance against Ireland, provide plenty to build on ahead of next year’s competition.