Switzerland national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Swiss national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA - Association of European Rugby
and plays in the 3A division of the European Nations Cup
. Thus far Switzerland have not qualified for a Rugby World Cup
.
, losing 23 points to 4. The following year they lost 10-18 to Belgium
, and were then defeated by them 33-3 in 1975. After the second lost to Belgium, Switzerland won their first international rugby match; defeating Serbia-Montenegro 12 points to 3 in Geneva. The only other win for Switzerland during the 1970s was a 7-4 victory over Luxembourg
in 1977. In 1979 they were defeated 43 to nil by Monaco
and 31 to nil by Portugal.
They however bounced back in 1980, defeating Luxembourg 10-7 in Berne, though they then lost close matches against Sweden
and Belgium, and were again held to nil by Portugal in 1981, but got a victory over Denmark
later that year. After losing to Belgium and Sweden in 1982, they then scored 60 unanswered points against Finland
. They then lost nine games in a row from 1982-1986, then defeating Serbia-Montenegro 5 points to nil in May 1986.
In 1989 Switzerland attempted to qualify for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
in England, playing in the European tournament
- Round 2a. They finished third in the final standings of the round, winning one of their three fixtures. Switzerland also participated in the qualifying tournaments
for the 1995 Rugby World Cup
in South Africa, making it past the preliminary round from the west group, but not advancing past Round 1.
Switzerland finished third (out of six nations) in Pool 1 of Round 1 of the European qualification
tournaments for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
in Wales, winning and drawing one game out of four fixtures. Switzerland had more success in the qualifying tournaments
for the 2003 Rugby World Cup
in Australia, finishing at the top of Pool B in Round 1 and advancing to Round 2, but were unable to advance to Round 3. In attempting to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
in France, Switzerland finished fourth in Pool D of Round 2 of the European qualification process
.
In the IRB classification, 01.02.2010, Switzerland is 63rd/95.
In the European organisation (FIRA-AER), Switzerland plays in the 3A division, and she is 26th in Europe out of 42.
FIRA - Association of European Rugby
The FIRA - Association Européenne de Rugby is the administrative body for rugby union in Europe. It was formed in 1999 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby in Europe under the authority of the International Rugby Board .The predecessor to FIRA–AER was the Fédération...
and plays in the 3A division of the European Nations Cup
European Nations Cup (rugby union)
The European Nations Cup is the European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations. The Championship is split into 7 divisions with 5 or 6 teams in each. The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away...
. Thus far Switzerland have not qualified for a Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
.
History
Switzerland played their first ever international rugby match on April 11, 1973 in Neuchatel against PortugalPortugal national rugby union team
The Portugal national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side representing Portugal. They first played in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup. Rugby union in Portugal is administered by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby. Portugal qualified for their first Rugby World Cup in...
, losing 23 points to 4. The following year they lost 10-18 to Belgium
Belgium national rugby union team
The Belgium national rugby union team represents the third tier rugby playing nation of Belgium. They first played in 1930 and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Belgium is administered by the Belgian Rugby Federation...
, and were then defeated by them 33-3 in 1975. After the second lost to Belgium, Switzerland won their first international rugby match; defeating Serbia-Montenegro 12 points to 3 in Geneva. The only other win for Switzerland during the 1970s was a 7-4 victory over Luxembourg
Luxembourg national rugby union team
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....
in 1977. In 1979 they were defeated 43 to nil by Monaco
Monaco national rugby union team
Monaco national rugby union team represents Monaco at rugby union. The team have been playing since the 1990s. They currently compete in Division 3D of the European Nations Cup tournament.-History:...
and 31 to nil by Portugal.
They however bounced back in 1980, defeating Luxembourg 10-7 in Berne, though they then lost close matches against Sweden
Sweden national rugby union team
The Sweden national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA – Association of European Rugby and plays in the 2010–12 European Nations Cup Second Division. Sweden has been trying to qualify for the Rugby World Cup since the 1991 Rugby World Cup, but has yet to make it to the final competition...
and Belgium, and were again held to nil by Portugal in 1981, but got a victory over Denmark
Denmark national rugby union team
The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:...
later that year. After losing to Belgium and Sweden in 1982, they then scored 60 unanswered points against Finland
Finland national rugby union team
The Finland national rugby union team represents Finland at the sport of rugby union. The nation has thus far not played in a Rugby World Cup, but has participated in qualifying tournaments. Finland also compete in the European Nations Cup, playing in Division 2D.-History:Finland played their first...
. They then lost nine games in a row from 1982-1986, then defeating Serbia-Montenegro 5 points to nil in May 1986.
In 1989 Switzerland attempted to qualify for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
in England, playing in the European tournament
1991 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
In 1989-1990, 14 European teams competed for the two available positions in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.- Pool 1 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
- Round 2a. They finished third in the final standings of the round, winning one of their three fixtures. Switzerland also participated in the qualifying tournaments
1995 Rugby World Cup qualifying
Forty-three nations took part in the qualifying campaign for the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. 16 teams participated in the finals tournament, seven of which came through qualifying matches...
for the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
in South Africa, making it past the preliminary round from the west group, but not advancing past Round 1.
Switzerland finished third (out of six nations) in Pool 1 of Round 1 of the European qualification
1999 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
In the 1999 Rugby World Cup qualifying, European teams played for six places in the final tournament. Three more places were available in the repechage. France and Wales were automatic qualifiers.-Pool 1:Ukraine qualify for Round B.Match...
tournaments for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
in Wales, winning and drawing one game out of four fixtures. Switzerland had more success in the qualifying tournaments
2003 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
There were a number of positions open to European nations to qualify for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Ireland, Romania, Georgia and Italy, joining a number of other nations that automatically qualified.-Pool A:...
for the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
in Australia, finishing at the top of Pool B in Round 1 and advancing to Round 2, but were unable to advance to Round 3. In attempting to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
in France, Switzerland finished fourth in Pool D of Round 2 of the European qualification process
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification was based around the European Nations Cup, and decided which European teams participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The group stages counted towards both qualification and the European Nations Cup...
.
In the IRB classification, 01.02.2010, Switzerland is 63rd/95.
In the European organisation (FIRA-AER), Switzerland plays in the 3A division, and she is 26th in Europe out of 42.
Current players
- Schelte Betten (GC Zürich)
- Olivier Gerber (GC Zürich)
- David Smith (RC Genève PLO)
- Frédéric Rossier (Stade Lausanne RC)
- Alfredo Burgener (RC Nyon)
- Gaby Fox (RC Fribourg)
- Josh Bjornson (GC Zürich)
- Nicolas Guyou (RC Châteaurenard/FRA)
- Didier Richard (Stade Lausanne RC)
- Sergio Hösel (GC Zürich)
- Ludovic Keller (CA Pontarlier/FRA)
- Ali Nouri (Hermance RRC)
- Loïc Verreman (RC Nyon)
- Pedro Dubois (RC Nyon)
- Ismael Meyer (Stade Lausanne RC)
- Geoff Johnson (Hermance RRC)
- Jonathan Hudson (Hermance RRC - Oxford University)
- Iain Wise (Hermance RRC)
- Mathieu Guyou-Kreis (RCA Cergy-Pontoise/FRA)
- Jacky Dervey (Stade Lausanne RC)
- Thomas Douvegheant (Hermance RRC)
- Christophe Guillet (RC Genève PLO)
- Thomas Brossard (RC Annemasse/FRA)
- Florian Dillet (Hermance RRC)
External links
- Fédération Suisse de Rugby - Official Site
- Swiss U20 team - Swiss U20 Page
- Switzerland on IRB.com
- Switzerland on rugbydata.com
- SwitzerlandRugby union in SwitzerlandRugby union in Switzerland is a minor but growing sport.-History:Like neighbouring Germany, Austria and France, Swiss rugby is actually amongst the oldest in the world. The earliest recorded match in Switzerland was in 1869, and Lausanne RFC can claim to be as old as Blackheath.However, Swiss rugby...
- About Swiss Rugby