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The Nations Cup has new rules and will look quite different next year. Here the winning German team from the Top League leg in Rotterdam this summer. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup was launched by the FEI today. The FEI has published an executive summary of the new rules for the series. First of all the world has been divided into six regions for the purpose of qualifying teams for the final; 

• Europe (Division 1 and 2)

• North & Central America

• South America

• Middle East

• Asia/Australasia

• Africa

EI President HRH Princess Haya announcing the 16 million euro four-year sponsorship package for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ ©FEI/HRH library The FEI Nations Cup™ jumping series will have a fabulous new look – and a new name – from 2013 onwards, following finalisation of a 16 million Euro four-year sponsorship package from the Saudi Equestrian Fund. The series will now be called the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™.

The sponsorship deal, worth four million Euro per annum and running through to the end of 2016, was announced at the FEI Bureau's first meeting at the Federation's General Assembly in Istanbul (TUR). The Bureau has given its unanimous approval for new rules for the series, completing the remodelling process initiated in April of this year.

Bye bye Top League; this is what it looks like right now and Germany will thus be the last team in history to have won the league. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.A regional qualification system, two semi finals and a final – these are some of the components in the draft of the rules for the new FEI Nations Cup Series. From 2013 there will be no more Top League and Promotional League – in addition to the other various leagues. Earlier this year FEI proposed a makeover for the Nations Cup Series, and now the draft of the rules for the new Nations Cup set-up is in circulation. Click here to access the draft of the rules.

The winning Irish team in Dublin. Photo by Tony Parkes/FEI.The Irish recorded a back-to-back double when winning the last leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2012 on home turf in Dublin, Ireland Friday.  The result rocketed them up the leaderboard to third place behind France in the final standings, but, despite a disappointing day when finishing an uncharacteristic last, it was Germany that claimed the series title for the fifth time in the 10-year history of the top-level league.

France and Penelope Leprevost on Topinambour are first in the ring in Dublin. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.The last leg of the Top League takes place in Dublin today. Yesterday the order to go was drawn, and it looks like this: 1, France; 2, Sweden; 3, Belgium; 4, Great Britain; 5, The Netherlands; 6, Switzerland; 7, Germany; 8, Ireland.

Click here for the full start list.