Croatia national rugby union team

The Croatia national rugby union team is governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia are currently ranked 45th in the official world rankings. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.The national side is ranked 45th in the world (as of 2 November 2019)

Croatia
UnionCroatian Rugby Union
Head coachMilan Yelavich
CaptainNik Jurišić
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current45 (as of 23 November 2020)
Biggest win
 Croatia 78–3 Hungary 
(22 May 1993)
Biggest defeat
 Croatia 6–126 France A
(19 June 1993)
World Cup
Appearances0

Internationals

Croatia played their first international on 28 November 1992, away against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and won 47–3. Croatia played four the following year with wins over Austria and Hungary. They then faced off against Italy, who won 76–11. The year finished off with a win over Morocco 36–12 but a loss to Spain .

The following year they won three of their five fixtures, though they lost to Ukraine and Luxembourg, though the following year, they were able to defeat Luxembourg in 1995. Croatia won a number of games in 1996–97, defeating the likes of Israel, Norway, Bulgaria, Latvia and Moldova and but losing to an experienced Georgia that year by 29–15.

1997 to 2000, Croatia played 11 International for 10 wins and 1 loss (to the Netherlands).

Croatia won five matches in a row from 2001 to 2002. Croatia started in round three of the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualification tournament but were knocked out by Latvia and Andorra.

On St. Patrick's Day 2007 (17 March) in Knin the Croatian national team played an Irish Barbarians side and won the St. Pat's in Knin Cup.

On 10 November 2007 Croatia defeated Malta 24–9 in Makarska. There are two internationals coming up in 2008 with Croatia taking on Andorra in Split (19 April) and away to Latvia in Riga (10 May)

Famous players

Croatia have a host of players who are New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans of Croatian origin who play the game and have played internationally for these countries. The first New Zealander of Croatian descent to play for Croatia was Brendon Winslow against Luxembourg in 1995.

Other New Zealanders, were Paul Vegar (North Shore, NZ reps), Paul Vujcich (Counties, Manurewa and North Shore) and the Graham brothers Rob and Reon (Counties, Patumahoe, Manurewa).

Anthony Posa was another New Zealander who played many times for Croatia (1996–2003), playing out of both the GHA RFC, Glasgow, Scotland and Beverley RUFC, Yorkshire, England. He is now Head Coach of the Yorkshire Under 20 County side which has won numerous English National County Championships and coaches professionally at the Doncaster club in England. His family originated from the Island of Korčula.

Frano Botica was a one time Croatian rugby player and former All Black, whose grandparents were also born in Korčula. Another former All Black who turned out for the Croatian side at the same time was Matthew Cooper. Dan Luger is an England representative whose father Darko Luger is from the island of Brac. Sean Fitzpatrick is another former All Black captain who has Croatian heritage.

Current squad

Croatia national Rugby team
Players Coaching staff

Ivan Miljak (Canterbury RFC (UK))
Denis Brečić (HARK Mladost)
Frane Marčić (Hull R.U.F.C. (UK))

Luka Jureško (RK Zagreb)

Dylan Rowe (Aparejadores RC Burgos (ESP))

Dušan Hakaraia (Waitemata RC (NZ))

Tomislav Burazin (RK Nada)

Nik Jurišić (HARK Mladost) (C)

Ivan Šuta (HARK Mladost)
Luka Lerotić (RK Nada)

Dario Jurčević (Hull R.U.F.C. (UK))

Jason Newton (Cashel RFC (IRE))

Željko Galić (RK Zagreb)

Shane Vinac (Kerikeri (NZ))

Vinko Udovičić (HARK Mladost)

Luka Perlain (Old Dunstonian RFC (UK))

Marko Grčić (Hull R.U.F.C. (UK))

Toni Grle (RK Makarska rivijera)

Krešimir Čorić (RK Nada)
Ilija Biškić (HARK Mladost)

Luciano Luka Rosso (RK Nada)

Ivo Perić (RK Nada)

Juraj Popović (RK Nada)

  • Head coach: Milan Yelavich
  • Coach: Vlado Ursić

See also

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