Glittering cast of athletes set to shine at the Longines League of Nations™ Final
Following the conclusion of the final qualifying leg of the 2025 Longines League of Nations™ series, held in St. Tropez- Gassin last week, the eight teams that have qualified for the second edition of the Longines League of Nations™ Final have been confirmed.
The winner of the Longines League of Nations™ Final 2024 and the nine best ranked teams (excluding the LLN Final winner) in the Longines League of Nations™ Ranking of November 2024 were eligible to contest the 2025 Series.
Ireland topped these rankings, securing their much-coveted place in the second edition of this exciting new concept at the top of the table once again. France, USA, Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Sweden and Italy all gained eligibility to participate in the 2025 edition of the Longines League of Nations™ as the next eight ranked nations in the world respectively. As winners of the Final last season, Germany had already officially qualified regardless of their ranking.
Following the immense success of the inaugural running of the Longines League of Nations™ in 2024, the series returned for 2025 under the same unique format and once again delivered top class sport showcasing the world’s top ten Jumping nations as they battled for supremacy across three continents.
As in 2024, the 2025 series got underway in Abu Dhabi (UAE) at the impressive Al Forsan International Sports Resort in February, before heading across the Atlantic where the impressive World Equestrian Center in Ocala (USA), located in central Florida, hosted the second qualifying leg of the series in March. Rotterdam (NED) staged the third leg of the series in June before St. Tropez- Gassin welcomed the Longines League of Nations™ series for the first time and proved a fitting venue for the final qualifying leg of the 2025 series.
Ireland claimed the first Longines League of Nations™ victory of the season in convincing style. Their seven flawless Jumping performances across the two rounds in Abu Dhabi saw them the undisputed winners taking home the maximum 100 points. UAE, invited to compete in the Abu Dhabi leg as the host nation, impressed to claim the second podium position, but were ineligible to collect any points. Consequently, third placed France collected the 90 points to sit second in the standings and reigning Longines League of Nations™ Champions Germany, who finished in fourth place, took 80 points and held third place in the standings after leg one.
Ocala (USA) took centre stage for leg two, and it was the quartet from the host nation who soared to an emphatic victory in front of an elated home crowd and secure the lion’s share of the points ahead of Germany in second and Belgium in third.
The third leg of the Series in Rotterdam brought about another home victory, as The Netherlands claimed their first ever win and their first podium finish of the 2025 series to bolster their chances of securing a place at the season's showdown in October.
The fourth and final qualifying leg saw the inaugural hosting of a Longines League of Nations™ event by St. Tropez- Gassin, and it was reigning Olympic Champions Great Britain - albeit without any of their Paris Gold Medal Winning Team members - who triumphed in a nail-bitingly close finish, just one fault ahead of Italy in second place who were in turn just one fault ahead of third placed Belgium.
The conclusion of the season’s fourth and final qualifying leg saw the eight coveted places for the world’s most prestigious team Jumping competition confirmed as they were awarded to the top eight ranked nations in the 2025 Longines League of Nations™ standings.
As such, the eight qualified nations in order of qualification are France, who’s consistency throughout the season sees them head to the final having secured their place at the top of the standings with 300 points just ahead of Great Britain in second on 295, Germany in third on 290 and Belgium in fourth on 280. Ireland takes the fifth qualifying spot on 260 points just ahead of Italy and USA who lie in joint sixth position on 255 points apiece.
The eighth and final qualification spot is taken by The Netherlands who finished the season on 225 points. All eight nations have confirmed their participation in the Longines FEI League of Nations™ Final in Barcelona in just over a weeks’ time.
Longines League of Nations™ 2025 season toppers, France sends out Antoine Ermann, Megane Moissonnier, Olivier Perreau, Olivier Robert and Kevin Staut in their bid for the title.
Fresh from their astounding victory in St. Tropez-Gassin, Di Lampard’s reigning Olympic Gold Medal winning team Great Britain look dangerously poised as they bring all three members of that victorious team to Barcelona. Triple Olympic Gold Medallist Ben Maher heads out alongside his Paris team mates Harry Charles and newly crowned Individual and Team European Silver Medallist Scott Brash. They are joined by European Team Silver Medallist Donald Whitaker and Great Britain’s anchorman and hero of the hour from St. Tropez- Gassin, Adrian Whiteway.
Otto Becker has named the quintet that he will send out to defend Germany’s Longines League of Nations™ Champions title as Sandra Auffarth, Marcus Ehning, Sophie Hinners, reigning Individual Olympic Gold Medallist Christian Kukuk and Individual European Champion, Richard Vogel .
Newly crowned Longines FEI Jumping European Champions - Belgium - relies on three members of that victorious team to carry forth their momentum in their bid to add another Championship title to their 2025 tally. Nicola Philippaerts, Thibeau Spits and Gilles Thomas are joined on this occasion by the hugely experienced Gregory Wathelet.
Michael Blake calls upon Bertram Allen, Trevor Breen, Neal Fearon, Michael Pender and Billy Twomey in the hope of delivering a repeat performance of Ireland’s sensational whitewash victory from Abu Dhabi
Italy, contending their first Longines League of Nations™ Final, rely upon the experience of Piergiorgio Bucci, Emanuele Camilli, Giacomo Casadei, Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Paolo Paini in their bid for the title.
Robert Ridland brings a hugely experienced team of Karl Cook, Laura Kraut, Alex Matz, Callie Schott and Alessandra Volpi to Barcelona to carry USA’s hopes of taking the title.
The Netherlands, hungry to repeat the success they tasted on home soil in Rotterdam call up Willem Greve, Bas Moerings, Johnny Pals, Frank Schuttert and Sanne Thijssen in their bid to go one place better than last year and lift the title of Longines League of Nations™ Champions.
As host nation of the Longines FEI League of Nations™ Final, Spain is invited to send a team to compete in this prestigious event. Mariano Martinez Bastida, Santiago Nuñez Riva, Imma Roquet Autonell, Iván Serrano Sáez and
Armando Trapote have been named as the five athletes chosen to represent the host nation in Barcelona.
The stage is set, excitement is mounting and tensions are sure to be as high as the calibre of the human and equine athletes on show at the pinnacle of the most prestigious team Jumping series in the world.
All eyes are on Barcelona and you can follow all the action on FEI TV as the Longines League of Nations™ Final takes centre stage from 02-05 October 2025.