Belgium national rugby union team

Last updated

Belgium
Belgium national rugby union team.png
NicknameDiables Noirs / Zwarte Duivels (Black Devils)
Union Belgian Rugby Federation
Head coachLaurent Dossat
CaptainJens Torfs
Most caps Alan Williams (68)
Top scorerAlan Williams (736)
Top try scorer Julien Berger (15)
Home stadiumVarious
Kit left arm Belgiumleft17.png
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Kit body Belgiumkit17.png
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Kit right arm Belgiumright17.png
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Kit socks Belgiumsocks.png
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First colours
Kit left arm Belgiumleftb17.png
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Kit body Belgiumkitb17.png
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Kit right arm Belgiumrightb17.png
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Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current22 (as of 14 July 2025)
Highest21 (2012, 2013)
Lowest55 (2004)
First international
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 6–6 Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
(Amsterdam, Netherlands; 13 March 1932)
Biggest win
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 3–94 Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 8 December 2012)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 77–0 Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
(Madrid, Spain; 8 December 1996)
Website www.rugby.be

The Belgium national rugby union team, [1] nicknamed Diables Noirs / Zwarte Duivels (Black Devils), currently competes in the first division of the Rugby Europe International Championships, which they have been playing in since 2023. They have yet to participate in a Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Belgium is administered by the Belgian Rugby Federation.

Contents

History

The Belgium rugby team played their first match on 13 March 1932 against the Netherlands.[ citation needed ] They contested annual games against the Netherlands for half a decade starting in 1932. They drew the 1932 game, but lost subsequent matches during the 1930s. They also played Italy and Germany in 1937, losing both games.

During the 1950s, Belgium continued playing the Netherlands, as well as teams like Spain. They managed to obtain a draw in the 1960s against Portugal. In the 1970s they won the majority of their games, as well as playing a broader range of European nations. This trend continued throughout the 1980s. Belgium had a six-game winning streak in the late 1980s. They began playing more games against their regular European opponents as they entered the 1990s. A Belgium side played Argentina prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. A Belgium XV played the Barbarians on 24 May 2008.

Belgium has been steadily improving, ranked number 55th in 2004, the 'Black Devils' improved on the following years, obtaining good results against other European Nations, gaining entry to the IRB Ranking's Top 30 in 2010. Since their induction to the first 30 rugby nations in the international ranking, they have managed to maintain their place.

Belgium had a successful campaign during the 2010-2012 European Nations Cup, with a 10 match winning streak from March 2011 to December 2012. Following their promotion in 2023, Belgium is competing in the top division of the Rugby Europe International Championships. In the 2024 season of the Rugby Europe International Championships Belgium earned a historic win over Portugal following their impressive Rugby World Cup campaign.[ citation needed ]

Jacques Rogge, the former International Olympic Committee president, was a member of the Belgium national team.

Rugby World Cup qualification

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
YearRoundPWDLFAPWDLFA
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg 1987 Not invited-
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg Flag of France.svg 1991 did not enterdid not enter
Flag of South Africa.svg 1995 did not qualify
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1999 did not qualify
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2003 did not qualify
Flag of France.svg 2007 did not qualify
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2011 did not qualify
Flag of England.svg 2015 did not qualify
Flag of Japan.svg 2019 did not qualify
Flag of France.svg 2023 did not qualify
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2027 TBD
Total-

Current squad

On 20 June, Belgium named a 30-player squad for their 2025 July internationals against the United States and Canada. [2]

Head Coach: Flag of France.svg Laurent Dossat

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Julien Masure Hooker 1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frameries
Alexandre Raynier Hooker (1994-03-16) 16 March 1994 (age 31)16 Flag of France.svg Auch
Bruno Vliegen Hooker (2001-07-03) 3 July 2001 (age 24)14 Flag of France.svg Olympique Marcquois
Jean-Baptiste de Clercq Prop (1994-02-23) 23 February 1994 (age 31)9 Flag of France.svg Albi
Charlesty Berguet Prop (2000-01-13) 13 January 2000 (age 25)10 Flag of France.svg Vannes
Lucas Sotteau Prop (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 31)20 Flag of France.svg Floirac
Basile van Parys Prop (2000-06-30) 30 June 2000 (age 25)10 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dendermonde
Lucas Sotteau Prop (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 31)19 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dendermonde
Seppe Verelst Prop 6 Flag of France.svg Olympique Marcquois
Tom Calomme Lock 1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Soignies
Dries De Keyser Lock (2001-06-08) 8 June 2001 (age 24)10 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dendermonde
Arthur Smeets Lock (2002-01-23) 23 January 2002 (age 23)7 Flag of France.svg Bassin d’Arcachon
Jérémie Brasseur Back row (2000-07-03) 3 July 2000 (age 25)11 Flag of France.svg Orléans
Toon Deceuninck Back row (2000-12-13) 13 December 2000 (age 24)19 Flag of France.svg Marmande
Jean-Maurice Decubber Back row (1996-09-10) 10 September 1996 (age 28)15 Flag of France.svg Vannes
Felipe Geraghty Back row (1993-02-27) 27 February 1993 (age 32)4 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dendermonde
Lucas Rassinfosse Back row (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 (age 24)11 Flag of France.svg Oloron
William Van Bost Back row (1998-08-01) 1 August 1998 (age 26)11 Flag of France.svg Béziers
Julien Berger Scrum-half (1990-01-10) 10 January 1990 (age 35)63 Flag of France.svg Barbezieux
Isaac Montoisy Scrum-half (1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 (age 26)14 Flag of France.svg Barbezieux
Hugo De Francq Fly-half (1998-05-13) 13 May 1998 (age 27)19 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Agronomia
Guillem Fernández Grau Fly-half 1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kituro
Matias Remue Fly-half (2003-03-07) 7 March 2003 (age 22)7 Flag of France.svg Toulouse Espoirs
Théo Adaba Centre (2003-02-13) 13 February 2003 (age 22)6 Flag of France.svg Montauban
Florian Remue Centre (2003-03-07) 7 March 2003 (age 22)21 Flag of France.svg Valence d’Agen
Jens Torfs Centre (1992-05-26) 26 May 1992 (age 33)22 Flag of France.svg Barbezieux
Maxime Vacquier Centre (2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 22)5 Flag of France.svg Bourgoin
Dazzy Cornez Wing (1996-05-02) 2 May 1996 (age 29)19 Flag of France.svg Aubenas
Ervin Muric Wing (1997-01-03) 3 January 1997 (age 28)13 Flag of France.svg Olympique Marcquois
Thomas Wallraf Wing (1998-01-21) 21 January 1998 (age 27)28 Flag of France.svg Langon
Siméon Soenen Fullback (2003-01-03) 3 January 2003 (age 22)13 Flag of France.svg Montauban

Record

  1. Change from the previous week
Belgium's historical rankings
See or edit source data.
Source: World Rugby [3]
Graph updated to 21 July 2025

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Belgium national XV at test level up until 13 July 2025, updated after match with Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada.

OpponentPlayedWonLostDrawnWin %
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 10100.0%
  Barbarians 10100.0%
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 20200.0%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 413025%
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 10100%
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 422050%
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 742157.14%
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 615016.67%
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 531160%
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 10100.0%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 70700.0%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1476150%
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 413025%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 20200.0%
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 211050%
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 3300100%
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 4400100%
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 2200100%
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 752071.43%
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 1100100%
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 413025%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 492421448.98%
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay 1100100%
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1569040%
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 18412222.22%
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1201200.0%
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 716014.29%
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 10100.0%
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 871087.5%
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 321066.67%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 17214111.76%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1284066.67%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 1174063.64%
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 513120%
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 633050%
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 1100100%
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10100%
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 10100.0%
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 641166.67%
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 1100100.0%
Total2571081371242.02%
Germany playing Belgium in Qualifiers for the 2007 Rugby World Cup Germany vs Belgium rugby match.jpg
Germany playing Belgium in Qualifiers for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
Poland playing Belgium in Qualifiers for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Poland vs Belgium 2009 rugby (2).jpg
Poland playing Belgium in Qualifiers for the 2011 Rugby World Cup

See also

References

  1. (French : Équipe de Belgique de rugby à XV) (Dutch: Belgisch nationaal rugbyteam)
  2. Belgium names traveling squad for North American tour
  3. 1 2 "Men's World Rankings". world.rugby. World Rugby . Retrieved 21 July 2025.