Luxembourg national rugby union 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.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Luxembourg women's national rugby union team.

Luxembourg Rugby Federation
UnionFédération Luxembourgeoise de rugby
Ground(s)Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City
Coach(es)Jonathan Flynn, James Kent
Captain(s)Romain Kimmel
Most capsNigel Shaplin (51)
Top scorerGilles Caviglia (288)
Most triesSteve Knowles, Adrien Timmermans (11)
Team kit
Change kit
First international
Belgium 28 – 6 Luxembourg
3 May 1975
Largest win
Luxembourg 78 – 12 Norway
15 April 2000
Largest defeat
Luxembourg 3 – 116 Sweden
5 May 2001
Luxemburg National Team
Official website
www.rugby.lu

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 56th in the world (as of 4 November 2019).[1]

National clubs

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.

Statistics XV

Test Record

World Rugby Ranking 56th, highest 56th (4NOV19), lowest 94th (1DEC08)

Longest winning streak 10 (14 Apr to 16 May)

Sortable and collapsible table
Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn
 Andorra5131
 Armenia1010
 Austria6420
 Azerbaijan1100
 Belgium4040
 Bermuda1010
 Bosnia and Herzegovina9630
 Bulgaria9270
 Croatia2110
 Cyprus2020
 Czech Republic2020
 Denmark5320
 East Germany1100
 Estonia1100
 Finland9810
 Georgia1001
 Germany2020
 Greece6330
 Hungary3120
 Israel9360
 Latvia3030
 Lithuania6240
 Malta1010
 Moldova2110
 Monaco2101
 Norway6510
 Serbia2200
 Slovenia6420
 Sweden6150
  Switzerland5140
 Tunisia1010
 Ukraine1010
 Yugoslavia1010
Total12152663

Match Record XV
Sortable and collapsible table
# Opponent Year Date FLR Opp W/L/D H/A Season T C P DP Competition Coach Captain Comments
123 Hungary20209 May 2020–---2019–202000002019–20 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn-North 1 19–20
122 Latvia20202 May 2020–---2019–202000002019–20 Conference 1 NorthJon Flynn-North 1 19–20
121 Sweden20192 November 2019130WA2019–202011202019–20 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 19–20
120 Czech Republic201912 October 2019736LH2019–202011002019–20 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 19–20
119 Hungary20195 April 20191815WA2018–201921202018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnM DozinNorth 1 18–19
118 Moldova201913 April 20192310WH2018–201922212018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 18–19
117 Sweden20183 November 2018910LH2018–201900302018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 18–19
116 Ukraine201813 October 20181324LA2018–201911202018–19 Conference 1 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 18–19
115 Norway201828 April 20183516WH2017–201831602017–18 Conference 2 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelPromotion to Conference 1 North North 2 17–18
114 Finland201814 April 2018455WH2017–201866102017–18 Conference 2 NorthJon FlynnR KimmelNorth 2 17–18
113 Estonia201711 November 2017640WH2017–2018107002017–18 Conference 2 NorthJ FlynnR KimmelNorth 2 17–18
112 Denmark201714 October 2017183WA2017–201821202017–18 Conference 2 NorthJ FlynnR KimmelNorth 2 17–18
111 Czech Republic20176 May 2017333LH2016–201700102016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnS RezapourNorth 1 16–17 Relegation.
110 Lithuania201722 April 20171224LA2016–201700402016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnS RezapourNorth 1 16–17
109 Sweden20165 November 2016019LH2016–201700002016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnR KimmelNorth 1 16–17
108 Latvia201622 October 20162431LA2016–201742002016–17 Conference 1 NorthJ FlynnS RezapourNew ENC structure – North 1 16–17
107 Slovenia201614 May 20162910WH2015–201622502014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS Rezapour1st Promotion 2B ENC 2C 14–16
106 Denmark201630 April 20161914WA2015–201620302014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14–16
105 Serbia201514 November 20153024WH2015–201642112014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14–16
104 Austria201524 October 2015346WA2015–201644202014–16 ENC 2CJ FlynnS RezapourENC 2C 14–16
103 Denmark20159 May 2015135WH2014–201520102014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16
102 Slovenia20158 April 20151411WA2014–201522002014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16
101 Austria20148 November 20141813WH2014–201521202014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16
100 Serbia201425 October 2014360WA2014–201554102014–16 ENC 2CM DavisS RezapourENC 2C 14–16
99 Finland201410 May 2014277WH2013–201433202012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour1st Promotion 2C – ENC 2D 12–14
98 Greece201426 April 2014528WA2013–201486002012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14
97 Bosnia and Herzegovina20139 November 20131224LH2013–201421002012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14
96 Norway201319 October 201397WA2013–201400302012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14
95 Israel20135 October 20131226LH2013–201400402015 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisS RezapourMatch 2
94 Slovenia20135 May 20132210WH2012–201341002015 Rugby World Cup R1M DavisS RezapourMatch 1
93 Greece201320 April 2013207WH2012–201322202012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourQualified 2015 RWC R1 Mid Season Table ; ENC 2D 12–14
92 Bosnia and Herzegovina201313 April 20132333LA2012–201331202012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14
91 Norway201210 November 2012158WH2012–201330002012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14
90 Finland20126 October 20121614WA2012–201311302012–14 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 12–14
89 Greece20125 May 2012158WH2011–201200502010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS Rezapour5th in 2D ENC 2D 10–12
88 Finland201221 April 2012263WH2011–201222312010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10–12
87 Bulgaria201122 October 20111619LA2011–201220202010–12 ENC 2DM DavisC EllisENC 2D 10–12
86 Cyprus20118 October 2011748LA2011–201211002010–12 ENC 2DM DavisC EllisENC 2D 10–12
85 Cyprus20117 May 2011050LH2010–201100002010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10–12
84 Greece20112 April 20111830LA2010–201121202010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10–12
83 Bulgaria201013 November 2010818LH2010–201110102010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10–12
82 Finland20109 October 20101810WA2010–201121202010–12 ENC 2DM DavisS RezapourENC 2D 10–12
81 Israel20101 May 20101719LH2009–201022102008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS Rezapour4th in 3C ; New FIRA-AER structure ENC 3C 08–10
80 Greece201013 March 2010917LA2009–201000302008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08–10
79 Finland20097 November 200993WH2009–201000302008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08–10
78 Bulgaria200924 October 20091225LA2009–201021002008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08–10
77 Greece200925 April 20091417LH2008–200910302008–10 ENC 3CM DavisP EvansENC 3C 08–10
76 Israel200921 March 2009030LA2008–200900002008–10 ENC 3CM DavisP EvansENC 3C 08–10
75 Bulgaria200829 November 20081018LH2008–200911102008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08–10
74 Finland20082 October 20082719WA2008–200921502008–10 ENC 3CM DavisS RezapourENC 3C 08–10
73 Finland200824 May 20081011LA2007–200811102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos Santos2nd in 3CENC 3C 06–08
72 Israel20083 May 20081220LA2007–200821002006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos SantosENC 3C 06–08
71 Slovenia200819 April 2008310LH2007–200800102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisZ Neves Dos SantosENC 3C 06–08
70 Bosnia and Herzegovina200727 October 2007303WH2007–200821602006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06–08
69 Israel200720 May 20072215WH2006–200732102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06–08
68 Slovenia20075 May 20071625LA2006–200711302006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06–08
67 Bosnia and Herzegovina200721 April 20071712WA2006–200722102006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06–08
66 Finland200630 September 2006168WH2006–200711302006–2008 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 06–08
65 Norway20066 May 2006825LH2005–200610012005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA Thompson2nd in 3C ENC 3C 05–06
64 Azerbaijan200629 April 2006313WA2005–200632402005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 05–06
63 Bosnia and Herzegovina200512 November 2005207WA2005–200622202005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 05–06
62 Israel200529 October 2005193WH2005–200611402005–2006 ENC 3CM DavisA ThompsonENC 3C 05–06
61 Armenia20051 October 20051239LH2005–200600312005–2006 ENC 3B/3C PlayoffM DavisA Thompson2nd Round ENC 3B/3C
60 Austria20057 May 2005911LH2004–200500302007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA Thompson5th in Pool B – RWC 07
59 Moldova200516 April 2005655LA2004–200500202007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA ThompsonRWC 07
58 Germany200427 November 2004096LA2004–200500002007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA ThompsonRWC 07
57 Denmark200413 November 200456LH2004–200510002007 Rugby World Cup R2M DavisA ThompsonRWC 07
56 Austria20048 May 20041918WA2003–200411402003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van Zealand1st Promotion to 3A – ENC 3B 03–04
55 Bulgaria200424 April 2004395WH2003–200463102003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van ZealandENC 3B 03–04
54 Lithuania20038 November 200398WH2003–200400302003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van ZealandENC 3B 03–04
53 Bosnia and Herzegovina200325 October 2003318WA2003–200432402003–2004 ENC 3BM DavisA Van ZealandENC 3B 03–04
52 Lithuania200324 May 2003660LA2002–200300302002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesP. Boeglin3rd in Pool B – ENC 3B 02–03
51 Austria200310 May 20032514WH2002–200332202002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesG DuboisENC 3B 02–03
50 Malta200329/03/003634LA2002–200300202002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesG DuboisENC 3B 02–03
49 Bosnia and Herzegovina200227 October 2002215WH2002–200333002002–2003 ENC 3BM GilliesA ThompsonENC 3B 02–03
48 Israel20021 June 20023119WH2001–200253002001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesA Thompson4th in Pool 2 (B) – ENC 3B 01–02
47 Lithuania20024 May 2002726LH2001–200211002001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS FocusENC 3B 01–02
46 Bosnia and Herzegovina200127 October 20011213LA2001–200221002001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS WilliamsENC 3B 01–02
45 Hungary20016 October 20011719LH2001–200222102001–2002 ENC 3BM GilliesS WilliamsENC 3B 01–02
44 Austria200112 May 2001077LA2000–200100002003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniM Bus5th in Pool A – RWC 03
43 Sweden20015 May 20013116LH2000–200100102003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniS FocasRWC 03
42 Israel20013 March 2001362LH2000–200100102003 Rugby World Cup R1A TribelliniS FocasRWC 03
41 Latvia200028 October 20001924LA2000–200132002003 Rugby World Cup R1G BrittinA ThompsonRWC 03
40 Norway200023 September 2000419WA2000–200165002003 Rugby World Cup R1G BrittinA ThompsonFirst match of the entire 2003 Rugby World Cup ; RWC 03
39 Lithuania200013 May 2000406WH1999–200053001999–2000 ENC 4G BrittinS Focus2nd in Pool 3 – ENC 4C
38 Norway200015 April 20007812WH1999–2000126201999–2000 ENC 4G BrittinS FocusENC 4C
37 Sweden199923 October 1999834LA1999–200010101999–2000 ENC 4G BrittinS FocusENC 4C
36 Tunisia19991 May 1999532LH1998–199910001998–1999 FIRA 3G BrittinR Stub4th in "Silver" Pool 1 FIRA 3A Serbia and Montenegro match cancelled due to Kosovo War.
35 Belgium19996 March 1999838LA1998–199910101998–1999 FIRA 3G BrittinN EdwardsFIRA 3A
34 Germany199825 October 1998754LA1998–199911001998–1999 FIRA 3G BrittinR StubFIRA 3A
33 Monaco199818 April 19981812WH1997–199821201997–1998 FIRA 3G BrittinN Edwards1st Place – "Bronze" Pool FIRA 3
32 Bosnia and Herzegovina199828 March 1998225WH1997–199832101997–1998 FIRA 3G BrittinS WilliamsFIRA 3
31 Bulgaria199718 October 1997396WA1997–199872001997–1998 FIRA 3G BrittinN EdwardsFIRA 3
30 Sweden199719 April 1997548LA1996–199710001999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyJ Jenkins5th in Pool 3 – RWC 99
29 Andorra199713 March 19971630LH1996–199710001999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyG PaulRWC 99
28 Hungary19962 November 1996312LH1996–199700101999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyG PaulRWC 99
27 Lithuania19965 October 1996326LA1996–199700101999 Rugby World Cup R1(A)G MallabyJ JenkinsRWC 99
26 Monaco19964 May 199688DA1995–199610101995–1996 FIRA ?M GilliesN EdwardsMonaco's 1st Test match
25 Israel19967 April 19961220LA1995–199600401995–1996 FIRA 3M GilliesJ Jenkins3rd in Pool 3 – FIRA 3
24 Croatia199528 October 1995716LH1995–199611001995–1996 FIRA 3M GilliesT WhitemanFIRA 3
23 Bermuda199516 May 1995028LH1994–19950000Test MatchM GilliesT Whiteman
22 Andorra199513 May 19951818DH1994–199500511994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT Whiteman1st Place Pool C – FIRA 2C
21  Switzerland199530 April 199560WA1994–199500001994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT WhitemanSUI forfeited the match as they were unable to host due to financial issues; FIRA 2C
20 Croatia19943 December 19942112WA1994–199521301994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesM GilliesFIRA 2C
19 Slovenia199431 October 1994223WH1994–199532101994–1995 FIRA 2M GilliesT WhitemanFIRA 2C
18 Latvia199414 May 19941025LH1993–199411101993–1994 FIRA 3M GilliesM Gillies4th in Pool A – FIRA 3C
17  Switzerland199430 April 1994817LH1993–199411101993–1994 FIRA 3M GilliesM GilliesFIRA 3C
16 Georgia199331 October 19931010DH1993–199411101993–1994 FIRA 3M GilliesA EmeringFIRA 3C
15  Switzerland19931 May 19931037LA1992–199311101995 Rugby World Cup Prelim RR ThurlowA Emering4th in West Group – RWC 95 FLR withdrew
14 Bulgaria19931 March 19931316LH1992–19931120?1995 Rugby World Cup Prelim R/FIRA?M GilliesA EmeringWest Group shows SUI, DEN, AND and LUX, maybe BUL friendly/playoff. 1st 5 pts try ; Need to find.
13 Denmark199217 October 1992919LH1992–199300301995 Rugby World Cup Prelim RR ThurlowM GilliesRWC 95; FLR withdrew
12 East Germany199015 September 1990179WH1990–19913110?1990-91IRA?I BonalloG PaulFriendly? LUX or DDR not in 1990–92 FIRA Trophy DDR last match
11 Yugoslavia199013 May 1990628LH1989–199000201989–90 FIRA TrophyI BonalloS Duncan3rd in Division 3 – FIRA 3
10 Andorra199029 April 1990626LA1989–199011001989–90 FIRA TrophyI BonalloS DuncanFIRA 3
9 Bulgaria198914 May 1989413LA1987–198910001987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsC Phipps3rd in Division 3 – FIRA 3
8 Andorra198923 April 1989108WH1987–198910201987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsC PhippsFIRA 3
7 Bulgaria198824 April 1988414LH1987–198910001987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsT SavageFIRA 3
6 Andorra19878 November 1987324LA1987–198900011987–89 FIRA TrophyS RowlandsG PaulFIRA 3
5  Switzerland198019 April 1980710LA1979–19801010?1979–80 FIRA?B DrakeF MastroddiFriendly? neither LUX or SUI are not in 1979–80 FIRA Trophy
4 Belgium197919 May 1979710LA1978–19891010?1978–79 FIRA?C BaldiB DrakeFriendly? LUX not in 1978–79 FIRA Trophy
3  Switzerland197714 May 197747LH1976–197710001976–77 FIRA TrophyC BaldiF Mastroddi4th in Division 3 – FIRA 3 LUX never played YOU in their group
2 Belgium197727 April 1977324LH1976–197700101976–77 FIRA TrophyC BaldiA BinsteadDivision 3 – FIRA 3
1 Belgium19753 May 1975628LA1974–19751100?1975 FIRA?R MarshallF Mastroddi4pts try, Friendly? LUX not in 1975–76 FIRA Trophy
Total1,8952,4222121321877

Career XV

View more additional detail Player Statistics

Current Season XV

Current squad XV

See also Player Statistics

See also

Clubs

References
  1. https://www.world.rugby/rankings/mru?lang=en
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