The heat was turned up at the Home Nations
Tournament Report for The Home Nations III
This blog first appeared in the NAF Tournament Director monthly blog in July
It was 30°C outside and the now infamous Home Nations Chilli had its spiciness dialled up, but it was the Blood Bowl on the pitch at Home Nations III that proved sizzling hot. Home Nations III welcomed 320 coaches from 15 nations, including defending Bowl champions Italy and returning inaugural winners the Barbarians.
Italy faced a strong field that also included England, twice runners-up, and a Welsh squad fresh from finishing second at Eurobowl in Budapest. In the Open, 68 squads were led by Elo-based favourites Team England, defending champions Tactics and Theatrics, and Team Hungary, captained by Timebandit, Eurobowl Tournament Organiser - to name just a few who weren't there to make up the numbers!
Round One - Action gets underway
There is always a buzz in the air as Captains register their teams, the TO gives the final event briefing, hits the button to draw the round and coaches scurry across the room to find their tables, with the clacking of dice cups soon to follow.
In the Bowl, the draw of the round was undoubtedly Team Wales versus former champions, The Barbarians. Live on stream, hosted by Dizzybess and Cauleeflower, we had AndyDavo with Norse up against fellow streamer and Barbarian Captain Purplechest, playing Dark Elves.
The match proved to be a tight affair, much like the rest of the boards, with Purplechest securing a narrow 1-0 win and delivering a round victory against Wales by the tightest of margins, 4-3!
In the Open there were many great match-ups, but the standout was probably Team Scotland being drawn against the Geordies, last year's runners-up. It was a tense affair which ended in a diplomatic 1-1 draw. Elsewhere, defending champions Tactics and Theatrics went down to an early defeat against SkriBBe, a league team from Kent.
State of Play at the end of day one
In the Open, with sixty-eight teams, several frontrunners ended day one on three wins, setting up day two perfectly. Unsurprisingly, the national squads England and Hungary had both managed three wins. They were joined by O' Brothers Where Art Pow and the Tartan Trailblazers, with a hatful of teams sitting on two wins and a draw.
In the Bowl, England had maintained their momentum with a narrow win over Wales in the last round, whilst Italy continued to scythe through the field with a 5-0 win over the plucky Irish to remain unbeaten.
Scotland makes history!
The fourth round on the morning of day two saw Scotland up against the Auld Enemy - Team England.
I had the live stream on and was grabbing quick glances throughout the round when, near the end, I saw Talonbay land a TTM live on stream to secure a draw against Torquemada piloting Dark Elves.
Checking Tourplay, it looked like Scotland had won! I couldn't believe my eyes.
By the slenderest of margins Scotland had beaten England 3-2, and my passion as Scotland Captain overtook the TO in me as I let out a cheer on stage. Scotland had recorded our historic first ever win against England.
The Title for The Open Goes Down to the Wire
As the squads in the Open settled into their sixth and final round, Team England faced Hakflem Squeaks on the top boards, both sitting at 4-1-0.
Right behind them were Team Hungary, who'd drawn with England in round four and were also 4-1-0, matched against the undefeated Tartan Trailblazers on 3-2-0.
What was clear to all four squads was that nothing less than a win would really do. All had their fate in their own hands, if they could convince Nuffle they were worthy enough to take the title of the third edition of The Home Nations Open.
Team Hungary, Blood for the Star, were held to a notable draw by the Tartan Trailblazers, ensuring both sides finished the weekend undefeated but potentially short of the mark for victory. And so it proved, as Team England edged a 2-1 victory against the Squeaks to lift the title for the second time in three editions! Congrats to Team England for lifting the Open title.
With the draw on board two, Blood for the Star secured runner-up, whilst victory for Blood and Tears on board three meant they finished third and claimed the League Title for the highest placed team with coaches from one league.
Notably Yellow_Ox, their captain, delivered a sterling six wins to win the tournament's MVP!
England versus Italy, for the Bowl
Despite their defeat against Scotland, England remained in contention for the Bowl title. Victory over Italy in the final round would have left both teams on four round wins, with England taking the title through their head-to-head result.
Italy had other ideas.
The defending champions produced a masterclass in team Blood Bowl, winning the round 2-0 without losing a single board to England, completing an undefeated weekend to claim their second consecutive Home Nations Bowl title.
England finished as runners-up for the third time, while a final-round draw with Wales secured Scotland's highest Bowl finish to date in fourth place. Congratulations to Italy, who were thoroughly deserving champions.
Looking ahead to Home Nations IV - World Cup Edition
Since Home Nations III, we’ve already announced that the next edition will be our World Cup Edition, taking place on 3 and 4 July 2027. Six-coach squads will compete in one expanded Home Nations Open, with room for up to 70 teams and 420 coaches.
Registration opens Sunday 4 October at 11am BST / 12pm CEST at homenationsbloodbowl.com/register
Final Standings and Congrats to the winners
Home Nations Open
Champions: Team England
Runners-up: Blood for the Star, Team Hungary
League Champions: Blood and Tears
MVP: Yellow_Ox
Most touchdowns: RavenwoodUK
Most casualties: HairyDragon
Stunty Cup: Yudlugar
Home Nations Bowl
Champions: Team Italy
Runners-up: Team England
MVP: Kaltenland
Best Painted: Thulean with Savage Orcs, across both competitions
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