Finland national rugby union team

The Finland national rugby union team has thus far not played in a Rugby World Cup, but has participated in qualifying tournaments. Finland also compete in the Rugby Europe Conference, playing in 2 North.

Finland
UnionSuomen Rugbyliitto
Head coachAlastair Davies
CaptainThomas Finell
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current86 (as of 23 November 2020)
First international
 Finland 0 - 60 Switzerland  
(1982-05-22)
Biggest win
 Finland 55 - 5 Estonia 
(2010-10-02)
Biggest defeat
 Denmark 100 - 0 Finland 
(1987-10-10)

The national side are ranked 88th in the world (as of 30 November 2019).[1]

History

Finland played their first ever rugby international in 1982 against Switzerland, which they lost. Finland went on to win their first international in 1991, defeating Norway 18 points to 3

They played Monaco in 2002. Finland's attempt to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France began in Round 1 of the European tournaments. They faced Bulgaria in a two match series as part of the Round 1 group to determine which nation would advance. Bulgaria won the first game 42 points to 3 in Helsinki and won the second leg 50 to 3 in Sofia to knock Finland out of the tournament.

Finland are currently 99th out of 102 places in the World Rugby Rankings with a score of 28.71.

Record

Against Played Won Lost Drawn Win percentage
 Bosnia and Herzegovina210150%
 Bulgaria817012.5%
 Cyprus20200%
 Denmark20200%
 Estonia3300100%
 Greece633050%
 Israel514020%
 Luxembourg615016.66%
 Monaco10100%
 Norway817012.5%
 Slovenia10100%
 Sweden20200%
  Switzerland10100%
Total45935120%

Current squad

Player Position Club
Anthony Martinez Hooker Warriors RC
Ossi Aro Hooker Dartfordians RFC
Juha Rainvuori Prop Warriors RC
Mauno Konttila Prop Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Chris Denholm Prop Helsinki RC
Tapio Lahtinen Prop Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Niccolò Silini Lock CUS Milano Rugby
Aaro Katainen Lock Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Shane Breen Lock Shamrocks Rugby Club
Aleksi Almenoksa Lock Turku R.F.C.
Herkko Raivonen Lock Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Kosti Eskola Loose forward Warriors RC
Iikka Ahlfors Loose forward Warriors RC
Wertti Bask Loose forward Helsinki RC
Matti Keränen Loose forward Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Crispin Mäenpää Scrum-half Brussels Celtic RFC
Jarno Suoja Scrum-half Linna R.F.C.
Thomas Finnell Fly-half Warriors RC
Liam Cleary Fly-half unattached
Panu Leinonen Fly-half Helsinki RC
Dario Forneris Fly-half Helsinki RC
Jussi Viljanen Centre Kuopio Rugby Club
Curtis Pollard Centre Shamrocks Rugby Club
Joonas Koskelainen Centre Linna Rugby Club
Joonas Bask Wing Helsinki RC
Samu-Petteri Pääkkö Wing Shamrocks Rugby Club
Philip Sleath Fullback Tampere R.F.C.
  • Coach: Alastair Davies
  • Assistant Coach: David O'Connor
  • Physio: Riikka Nortia
  • Team Manager: Samuel Kuutti

References

  • on RugbyEurope.eu
  • Rugby Finland
  • Finland on RugbyData.com
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