Luxembourg national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Luxembourg national rugby union team represents Luxembourg
at rugby union
. Luxembourg is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B.
Luxembourg has been a member of FIRA
since 1976, two years after the founding of Luxembourg Rugby Federation (French: Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Rugby). 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
sense 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. One should also note the fabulous match against Georgia a few years ago. But the best performance held is a “Grand Slam” in 2004 in FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B.
Since September 2003, Marty Davis replaced Francis Serres with responsibility over the National Teams. His first matches against Bosnia (away) and Lithuania (Home) in FIRA-AER European League were successful and gave hope for the future of the Senior Team. In Spring 2004, two more victories against Bulgaria (Home) and Austria (away) put Luxembourg on top of the pool of the FIRA-AER Division 3B. Over the last half decade however, the national team has been marred with loss after loss with a progressive decline in performance despite the progress of clubs like Rugby Club Luxembourg
and the youth groups. The 2010/11 season being a particularly poor one with a lucky win against Finland, two incredibly poor performances against Bulgaria and Greece and being beaten by a half-ton by an under-strength Cyprus side in what was arguably one of the most embarrassing moments in Luxembourgish rugby history.
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. Today the club remains the premier rugby club in Luxembourg, never having been defeated in the Luxembourg cup when it has been played (the cup has not been played since 2009).
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 season 2002/03. After one season in the second division, the club was relegated to the third Division by one point. The goal of the season 2004/05 must be a return to the Belgium Second Division.
The Richard Mertens Club is a member of the European Community sports clubs (French: Cercle Sportif des Communautés Européennes) and caters to children– mini-poussins up through to the juniors, about 100 youngsters in all. The school had a very successful past seasons – the benjamins did very well and the juniors represented Luxembourg in the world championships, winning group D by beating Switzerland in 98 and participating in top 32 in Wales in 99. In the 2006/2007 season the Junior (under 18 and under 20) Team won the Belgium Third Division. In the 2007/2008 season Luxembourg's Under 19 team did it again by winning the second division in Belgium, now promoting them to the first division in Belgium.
1 Saman Rezapour (11 caps / 10 pts)
2 David Wilson (1 caps / 0 pts)
3 Christopher Ellis (6 caps / 0 pts)
4 Julian Da Col (17 caps / 5 pts)
5 Jonathan Flynn (22 caps / 0 pts)
6 Willy Lafaysse (26 caps / 20 pts)
7 Vincent Giffard (2 caps / 0 pts)
8 Nigel Sharplin (34 caps / 20 pts)
9 Edward Medlyn (2 caps / 0 pts)
10 Gilles Caviglia (35 caps / 288 pts)
11 Steve Clarke (9 caps / 5 pts)
12 Alan Dunn (6 caps / 12 pts)
13 Christophe Balthazard (3 caps / 5 pts)
14 Philippe Gumper Vimond (6 caps / 0 pts)
15 Adrian Timmermans (9 caps / 7 pts)
16 Christophe Hoffmann (27 caps / 0pts)
17 Kim Zimmer (3 caps / 0 pts)
18 Stuart Kelly (27 caps / 0 pts)
19 Mathias Lentz (3 caps / 0 pts)
20 Christian Lowe (6 caps / 0 pts)
21 Max Dozin (3 caps / 0 pts)
22 Alex Goodhew (6 caps / 20 pts)
Recent Callups
Michael Minehan (5 caps / 5 pts)
Nicolas Rivoallan (6 caps / 5 pts)
Cedric De Micheli (13 caps / 0 pts)
Donald Venkatapen (4 caps / 0 pts)
Erwan Rodier (1 caps / 0 pts)
Robin Dex (3 caps / 5 pts)
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
at rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. Luxembourg is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B.
Luxembourg has been a member of FIRA
FIRA
FIRA is a four-letter acronym used for:* FIRA - Association of European Rugby* Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations* Foreign Investment Review Agency * Federation of International Robot-soccer Association...
since 1976, two years after the founding of Luxembourg Rugby Federation (French: Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Rugby). 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
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
sense 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. One should also note the fabulous match against Georgia a few years ago. But the best performance held is a “Grand Slam” in 2004 in FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B.
Since September 2003, Marty Davis replaced Francis Serres with responsibility over the National Teams. His first matches against Bosnia (away) and Lithuania (Home) in FIRA-AER European League were successful and gave hope for the future of the Senior Team. In Spring 2004, two more victories against Bulgaria (Home) and Austria (away) put Luxembourg on top of the pool of the FIRA-AER Division 3B. Over the last half decade however, the national team has been marred with loss after loss with a progressive decline in performance despite the progress of clubs like Rugby Club Luxembourg
Rugby Club Luxembourg
Rugby Club Luxembourg, abbreviated to RCL, is a rugby union club, based in Cessange, Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. Luxembourg has no domestic league of its own, so RCL plays in neighbouring countries' leagues; they currently play in the German 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West, having...
and the youth groups. The 2010/11 season being a particularly poor one with a lucky win against Finland, two incredibly poor performances against Bulgaria and Greece and being beaten by a half-ton by an under-strength Cyprus side in what was arguably one of the most embarrassing moments in Luxembourgish rugby history.
National clubs
The Rugby Club LuxembourgRugby Club Luxembourg
Rugby Club Luxembourg, abbreviated to RCL, is a rugby union club, based in Cessange, Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. Luxembourg has no domestic league of its own, so RCL plays in neighbouring countries' leagues; they currently play in the German 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West, having...
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. Today the club remains the premier rugby club in Luxembourg, never having been defeated in the Luxembourg cup when it has been played (the cup has not been played since 2009).
De Rugby Club Walferdange
Rugby Club Walferdange
Rugby Club Walferdange, known as 'De Renert, is a rugby union club, based in Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. Luxembourg has no domestic league of its own, so De Renert plays in the Belgian National Third Division....
was founded in 1990. In 2001, after 10 years in the Belgian League they finished top of the third division and champion during the season 2002/03. After one season in the second division, the club was relegated to the third Division by one point. The goal of the season 2004/05 must be a return to the Belgium Second Division.
The Richard Mertens Club is a member of the European Community sports clubs (French: Cercle Sportif des Communautés Européennes) and caters to children– mini-poussins up through to the juniors, about 100 youngsters in all. The school had a very successful past seasons – the benjamins did very well and the juniors represented Luxembourg in the world championships, winning group D by beating Switzerland in 98 and participating in top 32 in Wales in 99. In the 2006/2007 season the Junior (under 18 and under 20) Team won the Belgium Third Division. In the 2007/2008 season Luxembourg's Under 19 team did it again by winning the second division in Belgium, now promoting them to the first division in Belgium.
2010 Squad
National Team seniors (Loss 8–18 against Bulgaria 13 November 2010)1 Saman Rezapour (11 caps / 10 pts)
2 David Wilson (1 caps / 0 pts)
3 Christopher Ellis (6 caps / 0 pts)
4 Julian Da Col (17 caps / 5 pts)
5 Jonathan Flynn (22 caps / 0 pts)
6 Willy Lafaysse (26 caps / 20 pts)
7 Vincent Giffard (2 caps / 0 pts)
8 Nigel Sharplin (34 caps / 20 pts)
9 Edward Medlyn (2 caps / 0 pts)
10 Gilles Caviglia (35 caps / 288 pts)
11 Steve Clarke (9 caps / 5 pts)
12 Alan Dunn (6 caps / 12 pts)
13 Christophe Balthazard (3 caps / 5 pts)
14 Philippe Gumper Vimond (6 caps / 0 pts)
15 Adrian Timmermans (9 caps / 7 pts)
16 Christophe Hoffmann (27 caps / 0pts)
17 Kim Zimmer (3 caps / 0 pts)
18 Stuart Kelly (27 caps / 0 pts)
19 Mathias Lentz (3 caps / 0 pts)
20 Christian Lowe (6 caps / 0 pts)
21 Max Dozin (3 caps / 0 pts)
22 Alex Goodhew (6 caps / 20 pts)
Recent Callups
Michael Minehan (5 caps / 5 pts)
Nicolas Rivoallan (6 caps / 5 pts)
Cedric De Micheli (13 caps / 0 pts)
Donald Venkatapen (4 caps / 0 pts)
Erwan Rodier (1 caps / 0 pts)
Robin Dex (3 caps / 5 pts)
10 most appearances
| Rank | Player | Caps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arnaud Tribellini | 35 |
| 2 | Gilles Caviglia | 35 |
| 3 | Nigel Sharplin | 34 |
| 4 | Ruadhri Guilfoyle | 31 |
| 5 | Christophe Hoffmann | 27 |
| 6 | Kelly Stuart | 27 |
| 7 | Joe Lister | 27 |
| 8 | Andy Thompson | 27 |
| 9 | Willy Lafaysse | 26 |
| 10 | Zelito Neves dos Santos | 25 |
10 top scorers
| Rank | Player | Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gilles Caviglia | 288 pts. |
| 2 | Jonathan Harris | 65 pts. |
| 3 | Steve Knowles | 63 pts. |
| 4 | Cope Graham | 61 pts. |
| 5 | Guilfoyle Ruadhri | 38 pts. |
| 6 | Warren Young | 35 pts. |
| 7 | Anthony Isturis | 25 pts. |
| 8 | Simon Williams | 25 pts. |
| 9 | Tony Whiteman | 23 pts. |
| 10 | Nigel Sharplin | 20 pts. |