Finland national rugby union team

Last updated

Finland
Flag of Finland.svg
Union Suomen Rugbyliitto
Head coachAlastair Davies
CaptainJussi Viljanen
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm blueshoulders.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current78 (as of 29 January 2024)
Highest71 (2023)
Lowest82 (2022)
First international
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 0 – 60 Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
(1982-05-22)
Biggest win
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 120 – 5 Estonia  Flag of Estonia.svg
(2025-05-10)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 100 – 0 Finland  Flag of Finland.svg
(1987-10-10)

The Finland national rugby union team represents Finland in men's international rugby union. The national side are ranked 71st in the world, as of 24 April 2023. [1]

Contents

History

Finland played their first ever rugby international in 1982 against Switzerland, which they lost. Finland went on to win their first international in 1991, defeating Norway 18 points to 3

They played Monaco in 2002. Finland's attempt to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France began in Round 1 of the European tournaments. They faced Bulgaria in a two match series as part of the Round 1 group to determine which nation would advance. Bulgaria won the first game 42 points to 3 in Helsinki and won the second leg 50 to 3 in Sofia to knock Finland out of the tournament.

Record

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Finland national XV at test level up until 10 May 2025, updated after match with Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia.

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawnWin percentage
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 2200100%
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1100100%
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 623133.33%
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 918011.11%
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 20200%
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1037030%
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 5500100%
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 10100%
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 853062.5%
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 10100%
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 514020%
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 312033.33%
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 918011.11%
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 211050%
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 10100%
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 19811042.11%
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 20200%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 20200%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 10100%
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 211050%
Total913258135.16%

Current squad

Current line-up for the 2023-24 Rugby Europe Conference.

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

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Tapio Lahtinen Prop 6 Flag of Finland.svg Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Ossi Aro Hooker 19 Flag of Finland.svg Tampere R.F.C.
Chris Denholm Prop 21 Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki RC
Akseli Peltoniemi Lock 14 Flag of Finland.svg Old Town Shamrocks
Aaro Katainen Lock 30 Flag of Finland.svg Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Kosti Eskola Flanker 16 Flag of Finland.svg Warriors RC
Matti Keränen Flanker 30 Flag of Finland.svg Old Town Shamrocks
John Poole Number 8 4 Flag of Finland.svg Saimaa Sharks/Helsinki RC
Saxby Young Scrum-half 5 Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki RC
Thomas Finell Fly-half 64 Flag of Finland.svg Warriors RC
Samu-Petteri Pääkkö Wing 20 Flag of Finland.svg Old Town Shamrocks
Jussi Viljanen (c) Centre 32 Flag of Finland.svg Tampere R.F.C.
Kim Ali-keskikylä Centre Flag of Finland.svg Turku Eagles
Antti Haapanen Wing 0 Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki RC
Philip Sleath Fullback 9 Flag of Finland.svg Turku Eagles
Paulo Pannuzzo Hooker 0 Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki RC
Olli Räsänen Prop Flag of Finland.svg Jyväskylä R.F.C./Tampere R.F.C.
Olli Palosuo Prop 0 Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki RC
Juho Kiljain Lock 3 Flag of Finland.svg Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Jedidiah Patton Back row 1 Flag of Finland.svg Turku Eagles
James Edwards Fly-half 0 Flag of Finland.svg Tampere R.F.C.
Timo McIntyre Wing 0 Flag of Finland.svg Tampere R.F.C.
Jack Crabtree Fullback 1 Flag of Finland.svg Warriors RC

References

  1. "World Rugby Men's Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 19 May 2022.