Georgia beat Russia 36-8 in Trabzon, Turkey on Saturday to retain the European Nations Cup title and confirm their position in Pool B as Europe 1 for Rugby World Cup 2011.

Both teams had already qualified for Rugby's showpiece tournament and despite playing the match on neutral soil a capacity 6,000 fans, mostly from Georgia, filled the Akabaat Fatih Stadium.

Georgia can now look forward to an opening match against Scotland in Dunedin on 14 September 2011 before facing Argentina, 2003 winners England and the Play-off winner in Pool B.

Russia, as European Nations Cup runners up, qualify as Europe 2 for their first ever Rugby World Cup and set up an historic encounter with USA in their opening match. Australia, Ireland and Italy provide their other Pool C opposition.

Georgia, roared on by their passionate supporters, overwhelmed their neighbours in a five-try performance to end the European Nations Cup with 27 points, two more than Russia having only lost match across the two-year competition.

Romania's ever present Rugby World Cup record is still alive following a 20-9 victory against Portugal in Lisbon to secure third place in the ENC. Even a defeat to Spain next weekend will see Romania finish ahead of Portugal, despite both having 21 points, courtesy of their bigger margin of victory in the head-to-head fixtures.

They face a difficult qualification path however, and will play either Lithuania or Ukraine for the right to enter the cross-continental play-off, where they will have to beat Tunisia. Their final hurdle would then be either Uruguay or the Asian Five Nations runner-up to determine the 20th and last qualifier for RWC 2011.

In the weekend's other match in the top tier, Spain ran out 21-17 winners over Germany in Heidelberg to condemn their hosts to an immediate return to Division 2A with Ukraine taking their place.