Luxembourg national rugby union team

National rugby union team
the men's team

The Luxembourg national rugby union team is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual Rugby Europe Championship Conference 2 North 2017–18 Rugby Europe Conference. Since 1996 Luxembourg also competes in the sevens circuits in Europe Luxembourg national rugby sevens team. Luxembourg has been a member of FIRA since 1976, two years after the founding of Luxembourg Rugby Federation (French: Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Rugby (FLR)). The Grand Duchy has participated several times in the FIRA championships and, despite the small size, has honourably acquitted itself. Luxembourg has also been a member of the International Rugby Board since 1991. The Luxembourg rugby team is the only national sports team to have been three times champions of their group in a European competition. In 1995, more than 20 points scored against Slovenia at Cessange and more than 20 points scored in Split against Croatia and finally an excellent draw against Andorra in Luxembourg enabled them to be champions of their group. In 1997 they won the Bronze Cup with wins against Bosnia, Bulgaria and Monaco. Luxembourg has in their past encounter recorded a 10–10 draw against Georgia, but the best performance to date was a "Grand Slam" in 2004 in FIRA AER European Cup division 3B. In the 2017–2018 campaign, Luxembourg won the Grand Slam against Denmark, Norway, Finland and Estonia in the Rugby Europe Conference 2 North, while also integrating several young players in the squad, and gained promotion to the Rugby Europe Conference 1 North for the 2018–2019 campaign. After two narrow losses to group favourites Ukraine and Sweden, Luxembourg beat Moldova 23–10 at home to, for the first time ever, secure a spot for a second consecutive year on this level. Two weeks later Luxembourg also beat Hungary away 18–15, showing the potential of the team. The national side is ranked 62nd in the world (as of 23 October 2023).

The Rugby Club Luxembourg was founded in May 1973 by a group of expatriates working in the Grand Duchy. Several of the founders still live in Luxembourg and contribute one way or another to the sport. The club played its first competitive game against US Castillionnaise in September 1973. Up until 1995, the club played in the Alsace Lorraine regional league. In that year, the team joined the Belgian second division, which it belonged to until 1998, when it earned promotion to the first division. In 2001, the club decided to return to the French league system, again playing regionally in Alsace Lorraine. It won its division in 2008 but, after an invitation to play in Germany, decided to join the German league system in 2009. In the 2017–2018 season, RCL is leading Bundesliga 2 West unbeaten and hopes to secure promotion to Bundesliga 1 for the 2018–2019 season. De Rugby Club Walferdange was founded in 1990. In 2001, after 10 years in the Belgian League they finished top of the third division and champion during the 2002/03 season. In its first season in the second division, the club was relegated to 3rd Division. The club's objective having gone through a rebuilding phase, is to return to and remain in the Belgian 2nd division. The Richard Mertens Club is a member of the European Community sports clubs (French: Cercle Sportif des Communautés Européennes) and concentrates on U 7/U 19, its goal being to promote the game of rugby in Luxembourg and act as a feeder club for the two senior clubs of Luxembourg with any talented players. Player retention remains a concern for Luxembourgish rugby with most of such players stopping the sport after school for various reasons, even if they remain in Luxembourg. Despite this, the school has had some success stories since its inception with a few of its past players having gone on to play for well known university and club sides, or having gone on to represent Luxembourg at the senior level. In 2017, a fourth club was founded in the south of the country in Dudelange, Rugby Club Terres Rouge. The club exclusively caters for the youth; it has been implied by the founders that there is potential for founding a senior team. A fifth club, the Rugby Eagles Luxembourg, was founded in 2019 and became an official Member of the Luxembourg Rugby Union in June 2020. This club is exclusively a child centered rugby project.

+ Sortable and collapsible table # Opponent Year Date FLR Opp W/L/D H/A SeasonTCPDPCompetitionCoachCaptainComments 130 2024 25 26 May 2024 H2023–202400002023–24 Conference Play off Conference Play off 23 24 129 2024 20 April 2024 84 7 W H2023–2024147002023–24 Conference Pool BA BenedettiC Olsen Conference Pool B 23 24 128 2024 06 April 2024 18 15 W A2023–202421202023–24 Conference Pool BA BenedettiC Olsen Conference Pool B 23 24 127 2023 04 November 2023 27 14 W H2023–202442102023–24 Conference Pool BA BenedettiC Olsen Conference Pool B 23 24 126 2023 14 October 2023 59 10 W A2023–202497002023–24 Conference Pool BA BenedettiC Olsen Conference Pool B 23 24 125 2022 02 April 2022 9 32 L A2021–202200302021–22 Conference 1 NorthF GuillotL Carrol North 1 21–22 124 2022 12 March 2022 30 23 W H2021–202233302021–22 Conference 1 NorthF GuillotL Carrol North 1 21–22 123 2021 27 November 2021 12 39 L H2021–202200402021–22 Conference 1 NorthF GuillotG Kimmel North 1 21–22 122 2021 23 October 2021 5 51 L A2021–202210002021–22 Conference 1 NorthF GuillotC Sweetnam North 1 21–22 121 2019 2 November 2019 13 0 W A2019–202011202019–20 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn R Kimmel North 1 19–20 120 2019 12 October 2019 7 36 L H2019–202011002019–20 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn R Kimmel North 1 19–20 119 2019 5 April 2019 18 15 W A2018–201921202018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn M Dozin North 1 18–19 118 2019 13 April 2019 23 10 W H2018–201922212018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn R Kimmel North 1 18–19 117 2018 3 November 2018 9 10 L H2018–201900302018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn R Kimmel North 1 18–19 116 2018 13 October 2018 13 24 L A2018–201911202018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn R Kimmel North 1 18–19 115 2018 28 April 2018 35 16 W H2017–201831602017–18 Conference 2 NorthJon Flynn R Kimmel North 2 17–18 Promotion 114 2018 14 April 2018 45 5 W H2017–201866102017–18 Conference 2 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 2 17–18 113 2017 11 November 2017 640 W H2017–2018107002017–18 Conference 2 NorthJ Flynn R KimmelNorth 2 17–18 112 2017 14 October 2017 18 3 W A2017–201821202017–18 Conference 2 NorthJ Flynn R KimmelNorth 2 17–18 111 2017 6 May 2017 3 33 L H2016–201700102016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ Flynn S RezapourNorth 1 16–17 Relegation 110 2017 22 April 2017 12 24 L A2016–201700402016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ Flynn S Rezapour North 1 16–17 109 2016 5 November 2016 0 19L H2016–201700002016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 16–17 108 2016 22 October 2016 24 31L A2016–201742002016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnS Rezapour New ENC structure – North 1 16–17 107 2016 14 May 2016 29 10W H2015–201622502014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14–16Promotion 106 2016 30 April 2016 19 14W A2015–201620302014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS Rezapour ENC 2C 14–16 105 2015 14 November 2015 30 24W H2015–201642112014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14–16 104 2015 24 October 2015 34 6W A2015–201644202014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14–16 103 2015 9 May 2015 13 5W H2014–201520102014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16 102 2015 8 April 2015 14 11W A2014–201522002014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16 101 2014 8 November 2014 18 13W H2014–201521202014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16 100 2014 25 October 2014 36 0W A2014–201554102014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16 99 2014 10 May 2014 27 7W H2013–201433202012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14Promotion 98 2014 26 April 2014 52 8W A2013–201486002012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14 97 2013 9 November 2013 12 24L H2013–201421002012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14 96 2013 19 October 2013 9 7W A2013–201400302012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14 95 2013 5 October 2013 12 26L H2013–201400402015 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisS RezapourMatch 2 94 2013 5 May 2013 22 10W H2012–201341002015 Rugby World Cup R1M DavisS Rezapour Match 1 93 2013 20 April 2013 20 7W H2012–201322202012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour Qualified 2015 RWC R1 Mid Season Table ; ENC 2D 12–14 92 2013 13 April 2013 23 33L A2012–201331202012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14 91 2012 10 November 2012 15 8W H2012–201330002012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14 90 2012 6 October 2012 16 14W A2012–201311302012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14 89 2012 5 May 2012 15 8W H2011–201200502010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour 5th in 2D ENC 2D 10–12 88 2012 21 April 2012 26 3W H2011–201222312010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour ENC 2D 10–12 87 2011 22 October 2011 16 19L A2011–201220202010–12 ENC 2DM DavisC Ellis ENC 2D 10–12 86 2011 8 October 2011 7 48L A2011–201211002010–12 ENC 2DM DavisC Ellis ENC 2D 10–12 85 2011 7 May 2011 0 50L H2010–201100002010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour ENC 2D 10–12 84 2011 2 April 2011 18 30L A2010–201121202010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour ENC 2D 10–12 83 2010 13 November 2010 8 18L H2010–201110102010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour ENC 2D 10–12 82 2010 9 October 2010 18 10W A2010–201121202010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour ENC 2D 10–12 81 2010 1 May 2010 17 19L H2009–201022102008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour 4th in 3C ; New FIRA AER structure ENC 3C 08–10 80 2010 13 March 2010 9 17L A2009–201000302008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour ENC 3C 08–10 79 2009 7 November 2009 9 3W H2009–201000302008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour ENC 3C 08–10 78 2009 24 October 2009 12 25L A2009–201021002008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour ENC 3C 08–10 77 2009 25 April 2009 14 17L H2008–200910302008–10 ENC 3CM DavisP Evans ENC 3C 08–10 76 2009 21 March 2009 0 30L A2008–200900002008–10 ENC 3CM DavisP Evans ENC 3C 08–10 75 2008 29 November 2008 10 18L H2008–200911102008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour ENC 3C 08–10 74 2008 2 October 2008 27 19W A2008–200921502008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour ENC 3C 08–10 73 2008 24 May 2008 10 11L A2007–200811102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos Santos 2nd in 3CENC 3C 06–08 72 2008 3 May 2008 12 20L A2007–200821002006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos Santos ENC 3C 06–08 71 2008 19 April 2008 3 10L H2007–200800102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos Santos ENC 3C 06–08 70 2007 27 October 2007 30 3W H2007–200821602006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 06–08 69 2007 20 May 2007 22 15W H2006–200732102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 06–08 68 2007 5 May 2007 16 25L A2006–200711302006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 06–08 67 2007 21 April 2007 17 12W A2006–200722102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 06–08 66 2006 30 September 2006 16 8W H2006–200711302006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 06–08 65 2006 6 May 2006 8 25L H2005–200610012005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson 2nd in 3C ENC 3C 05–06 64 2006 29 April 2006 31 3W A2005–200632402005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 05–06 63 2005 12 November 2005 20 7W A2005–200622202005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 05–06 62 2005 29 October 2005 19 3W H2005–200611402005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson ENC 3C 05–06 61 2005 1 October 2005 12 39L H2005–200600312005–2006 ENC 3B/3C PlayoffM DavisA Thompson 2nd Round ENC 3B/3C 60 2005 7 May 2005 9 11L H2004–200500302007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA Thompson 5th in Pool B – RWC 07 59 2005 16 April 2005 6 55L A2004–200500202007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA Thompson RWC 07 58 2004 27 November 2004 0 96L A2004–200500002007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA Thompson RWC 07 57 2004 13 November 2004 5 6L H2004–200510002007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA Thompson RWC 07 56 2004 8 May 2004 19 18W A2003–200411402003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van Zealand 1st Promotion to 3A – ENC 3B 03–04 55 2004 24 April 2004 39 5W H2003–200463102003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van Zealand ENC 3B 03–04 54 2003 8 November 2003 9 8W H2003–200400302003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van Zealand ENC 3B 03–04 53 2003 25 October 2003 31 8W A2003–200432402003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van Zealand ENC 3B 03–04 52 2003 24 May 2003 6 60L A2002–200300302002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesP. Boeglin 3rd in Pool B – ENC 3B 02–03 51 2003 10 May 2003 25 14W H2002–200332202002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesG Dubois ENC 3B 02–03 50 2003 29/03/003 6 34L A2002–200300202002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesG Dubois ENC 3B 02–03 49 2002 27 October 2002 21 5W H2002–200333002002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesA Thompson ENC 3B 02–03 48 2002 1 June 2002 31 19W H2001–200253002001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesA Thompson 4th in Pool 2 (B) – ENC 3B 01–02 47 2002 4 May 2002 7 26L H2001–200211002001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS Focus ENC 3B 01–02 46 2001 27 October 2001 12 13L A2001–200221002001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS Williams ENC 3B 01–02 45 2001 6 October 2001 17 19L H2001–200222102001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS Williams ENC 3B 01–02 44 2001 12 May 2001 0 77L A2000–200100002003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniM Bus 5th in Pool A – RWC 03 43 2001 5 May 2001 3 116L H2000–200100102003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniS Focas RWC 03 42 2001 3 March 2001 3 62L H2000–200100102003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniS Focas RWC 03 41 2000 28 October 2000 19 24L A2000–200132002003 Rugby World Cup R1G BrittinA Thompson RWC 03 40 2000 23 September 2000 41 9W A2000–200165002003 Rugby World Cup R1G BrittinA Thompson First match of the entire 2003 Rugby World Cup ; RWC 03 39 2000 13 May 2000 40 6W H1999–200053001999–2000 ENC 4G BrittinS Focus 2nd in Pool 3 – ENC 4C 38 2000 15 April 2000 78 12W H1999–2000126201999–2000 ENC 4G BrittinS Focus ENC 4C 37 1999 23 October 1999 8 34L A1999–200010101999–2000 ENC 4G BrittinS Focus ENC 4C 36 1999 1 May 1999 5 32L H1998–199910001998–1999 FIRA 3G BrittinR Stub 4th in "Silver" Pool 1 FIRA 3A Serbia and Montenegro match cancelled due to Kosovo War. 35 1999 6 March 1999 8 38L A1998–199910101998–1999 FIRA 3G BrittinN EdwardsFIRA 3A 34 1998 25 October 1998 7 54L A1998–199911001998–1999 FIRA 3G BrittinR StubFIRA 3A 33 1998 18 April 1998 18 12W H1997–199821201997–1998 FIRA 3G BrittinN Edwards 1st Place – "Bronze" Pool FIRA 3 32 1998 28 March 1998 22 5W H1997–199832101997–1998 FIRA 3G BrittinS WilliamsFIRA 3 31 1997 18 October 1997 39 6W A1997–199872001997–1998 FIRA 3G BrittinN EdwardsFIRA 3 30 1997 19 April 1997 5 48L A1996–199710001999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyJ Jenkins 5th in Pool 3 – RWC 99 29 1997 13 March 1997 16 30L H1996–199710001999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyG PaulRWC 99 28 1996 2 November 1996 3 12L H1996–199700101999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyG Paul RWC 99 27 1996 5 October 1996 3 26L A1996–199700101999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyJ Jenkins RWC 99 26 1996 4 May 1996 8 8D A1995–199610101995–1996 FIRA ?M GilliesN Edwards Monaco's 1st Test match 25 1996 7 April 1996 12 20L A1995–199600401995–1996 FIRA 3M GilliesJ Jenkins 3rd in Pool 3 – FIRA 3 24 1995 28 October 1995 7 16L H1995–199611001995–1996 FIRA 3M GilliesT Whiteman FIRA 3 23 1995 16 May 1995 0 28L H1994–19950000Test MatchM GilliesT Whiteman 22 1995 13 May 1995 18 18D H1994–199500511994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT Whiteman 1st Place Pool C – FIRA 2C 21 1995 30 April 1995 6 0 W A1994–199500001994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT Whiteman SUI forfeited the match as they were unable to host due to financial issues; FIRA 2C 20 1994 3 December 1994 21 12W A1994–199521301994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesM GilliesFIRA 2C 19 1994 31 October 1994 22 3W H1994–199532101994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT WhitemanFIRA 2C 18 1994 14 May 1994 10 25L H1993–199411101993–1994 FIRA 3M GilliesM Gillies 4th in Pool A – FIRA 3C 17 1994 30 April 1994 8 17L H1993–199411101993–1994 FIRA 3M GilliesM Gillies FIRA 3C 16 1993 31 October 1993 10 10D H1993–199411101993–1994 FIRA 3M GilliesA Emering FIRA 3C 15 1993 1 May 1993 10 37L A1992–199311101995 Rugby World Cup Prelim RR ThurlowA Emering 4th in West Group – RWC 95 FLR withdrew 14 1993 1 March 1993 13 16L H1992–19931120?1995 Rugby World Cup Prelim R/FIRA?M GilliesA Emering West Group shows SUI, DEN, AND and LUX, maybe BUL friendly/playoff. 1st 5 pts try ; Need to find. 13 1992 17 October 1992 9 19L H1992–199300301995 Rugby World Cup Prelim RR ThurlowM Gillies RWC 95; FLR withdrew 12 1990 15 September 1990 17 9W H1990–19913110?1990 91IRA?I BonalloG Paul Friendly? LUX or DDR not in 1990–92 FIRA Trophy DDR last match 11 1990 13 May 1990 6 28L H1989–199000201989–90 FIRA TrophyI BonalloS Duncan 3rd in Division 3 – FIRA 3 10 1990 29 April 1990 6 26L A1989–199011001989–90 FIRA TrophyI BonalloS Duncan FIRA 3 9 1989 14 May 1989 4 13L A1987–198910001987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsC Phipps 3rd in Division 3 – FIRA 3 8 1989 23 April 1989 10 8W H1987–198910201987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsC Phipps FIRA 3 7 1988 24 April 1988 4 14L H1987–198910001987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsT Savage FIRA 3 6 1987 8 November 1987 3 24L A1987–198900011987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsG Paul FIRA 35 1980 19 April 1980 7 10L A1979–19801010?1979–80 FIRA?B DrakeF Mastroddi Friendly? neither LUX or SUI are not in 1979–80 FIRA Trophy4 1979 19 May 1979 7 10L A1978–19891010?1978–79 FIRA?C BaldiB Drake Friendly? LUX not in 1978–79 FIRA Trophy 3 1977 14 May 1977 4 7L H1976–197710001976–77 FIRA TrophyC BaldiF Mastroddi 4th in Division 3 – FIRA 3 LUX never played YOU in their group 2 1977 27 April 1977 3 24L H1976–197700101976–77 FIRA TrophyC BaldiA Binstead Division 3 – FIRA 3 1 1975 3 May 1975 6 28L A1974–19751100?1975 FIRA?R MarshallF Mastroddi 4pts try, Friendly? LUX not in 1975–76 FIRA Trophy Total 1,895 2,422 212 132 187 7

On 17 November, Luxembourg named their 26 player squad for 2023 24 Rugby Europe Conference Pool B against Slovenia.