Denmark national rugby union team

Last updated
Denmark
Dru-logo.jpg
NicknameDanish Lions
UnionDansk Rugby Union
Head coachAndreas Robertson
CaptainMikkel Andresen
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current72 (as of 4 November 2024)
Highest71 (1 October 2022)
Lowest77 (29 January 2024)
First international
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 0 – 6 Sweden Flag of Sweden.svg
(1949-10-23)
Biggest win
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 127 – 5 Estonia Flag of Estonia.svg
(2018-04-28)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 7 – 104 Russia Flag of Russia.svg
(2000-05-13)

The Denmark national rugby union team is governed by Danish Rugby Union and has been playing international rugby since 1949.

Contents

DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs. [1]

The DRU Superliga is the highest tier of the national rugby union competition in Denmark. Most of the national team's players play in the local league, however a handful of them play in amateur clubs in England, Sweden and France. There are no professional players that play for Denmark.

The national side is ranked 72nd in the world, as of 7th October 2024. [2]

The national side play in Rugby Europe's Conference division: https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/competitions/re-men-s-conference-2024-25 regularly playing sides like Finland and Norway.

History

Rugby Union had been played in Denmark since 1931, but the Danish Rugby Union (DRU) wasn't formed until 1950. The DRU joined the Sports Confederation of Denmark and Rugby Europe in 1971. In 1974, the DRU co-founded the Nordic Rugby Union (now Scandinavian Rugby Union), and in 1988, the DRU joined the International Rugby Board. [3]

The Danish First XV, known as Drusse, participates every year in the European Nation Tournament. In Europe, Denmark is ranked as a second-division side.

Championship tournaments determine seeding for World Cup qualifying pools. Denmark debuted in World Cup competition in October 1992, during qualification for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. They have never qualified for the World Cup, however.

Overall Record

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawnWin percentage
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 211050%
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 20200%
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 651083.33%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 513120%
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 10100%
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 50410%
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 20200%
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 2200100%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 10100%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 615016.67%
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 431075%
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 321066.67%
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 321066.67%
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 1100100%
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 2200100%
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 211050%
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 10100%
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 10100%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 100910%
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 13111184.62%
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 30300%
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 20200%
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 30300%
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 20200%
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 00000%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 10100%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 491036320.41%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 943244.44%
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 312033.33%
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 30300%
Total1504893932%

Current squad

Starting line-up for the 2023-24 Rugby Europe Conference match against Finland.

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Bulela Butsheke Prop 7 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Marcus Borup Hooker 2 Flag of England.svg Chelmsford R.F.C.
Zak Underwood Prop 1 Flag of England.svg Hammersmith & Fulham RFC
Kenny Uddal Calmar Lock 20 Flag of Denmark.svg Aarhus RK
Hamish Coventry Lock 6 Flag of Denmark.svg Frederiksberg RK
Jeppe Maagaard Holm Flanker 23 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Marius Fricault Flanker 2 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Mikkel Andresen (c) Number 8 19 Flag of England.svg Kenilworth RFC
Thorbjorn Vestergaard Scrum-half 23 Flag of Denmark.svg Aarhus RK
Oliver Hvass Fly-half 4 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Victor Hounou Wing 5 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Joshua Jensen Centre 41 Flag of England.svg Swindon RFC
Simon Maagaard Holm Centre 6 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Rasmus Madum Wing 7 Flag of Denmark.svg Frederiksberg RK
Mads Søgaard Jørgensen Fullback 2 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Ali Kamil Prop 3 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Nicholas Bertelsen Prop 1 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Rasmus Brofeldt ?? 1 Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed
Adam van Geyzel ?? 1 Flag of Denmark.svg Aarhus RK
Nils Hagen ?? 1 Flag of Sweden.svg Lugi Lions RFC
Axel Örn Petursson Flanker 4 Flag of Denmark.svg CSR-Nanok
Henry Miller ?? 0 Flag of Denmark.svg Frederiksberg RK
Otto Käszner ?? 4 Flag of Denmark.svg Frederiksberg RK

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the last 12 months.

PlayerPosDate of birth (age)CapsClubLatest call-up
Emil Svinth Aagaard Hooker Flag of Denmark.svg Frederiksberg RK v. Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra, 30 September 2023
Michael Friis Larsen Prop Flag of Denmark.svg Aalborg RK v. Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra, 30 September 2023
Federico Haedo Flanker Flag of Argentina.svg San Isidro Club v. Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra, 30 September 2023
Dan Wiggins Scrum Half Flag of England.svg Hitchin RFC v. Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra, 30 September 2023
Ben Wiggins Fly Half Flag of England.svg Hitchin RFC v. Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra, 30 September 2023
Gerard Hounou Wing Flag of Denmark.svg RK Speed v. Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra, 30 September 2023
Alexandros Mintsioulis Hooker Flag of Denmark.svg Frederiksberg RK v. Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra, 30 September 2023

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References

  1. "IRB Denmark". IRB.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  2. "Men's Rankings | World Rugby". Archived from the original on 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  3. "DRU History". DRU. Retrieved 2010-04-28.