Hungary national rugby union team

Last updated

Hungary
Hungaryrugby.jpg
UnionHungarian Rugby Union
Head coachRichard Roberts
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
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
Current79 (as of 4 November 2024)
Highest64 (23 November 2020)
Lowest79 (4 November 2024)
First international
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 3 – 7 East Germany  Flag of East Germany.svg
(1990)
Biggest win
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 56 – 8 Bosnia and Herz. Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
(24 September 2005)
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 53 – 5 Estonia  Flag of Estonia.svg
(1 October 2016)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 10 – 86 Ukraine Flag of Ukraine.svg
(12 April 2025)

The Hungary national rugby union team is governed by the Hungarian Rugby Union. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, although they have entered qualifiers for all the tournaments from the 1995 edition onwards. They compete annually in the European Nations Cup, currently in Division 2C.

Contents

The national side is ranked 79th in the world (as of 4 November 2024). [1]

History

Hungary played their first official match against East Germany in Érd in 1990, losing 3–7, but they played a number of unofficial matches prior to this, mainly against a likewise unofficial Austrian team, including a match in Győr on 1 May 1983. [2]

Hungary first entered the qualifiers for the 1995 World Cup in 1993, being at the wrong end of an 8–67 scoreline against Israel. Things went better in the 1999 qualifying rounds, where they beat Lithuania and Luxembourg, but lost to Andorra and Sweden.

In the 2003 qualifiers, they won against Andorra and Bulgaria, but lost to Bosnia, Yugoslavia (as Serbia was then still known), and Switzerland. The 2007 qualifying was their worst performance to date, losing all four matches played, including a 9–63 thumping by Spain.

Current squad

Squad for opening 2023-24 Rugby Europe Conference match against Austria.

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

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Tamás Szabó Prop {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Fit World Gorillák RC
Áron Erdélyi Hooker {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest Exiles RFC
Dániel Stevens Prop {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest Exiles RFC
Zsombor Kade Lock {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of France.svg Rouen Normandie Rugby
Alex Hernádi Lock {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest Exiles RFC
Hunor Vodicska Flanker {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Esztergomi Vitézek Rugby SE
Mózes Gyurcsik Flanker {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Battai Bulldogok RK
Thomas Ducrocq Number 8 {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of France.svg FC Lourdes
Márton Sacaze Scrum-half (1997-03-10) 10 March 1997 (age 28){{{caps}}} Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Servette RC
Marc Koteczky Fly-half {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of England.svg Shelford Rugby Club
Erik Csapó Wing {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Esztergomi Vitézek Rugby SE
Márk Stiglmayer Centre {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Esztergomi Vitézek Rugby SE
Erhard Sovány Centre {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Esztergomi Vitézek Rugby SE
Erik Szalma Wing {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Esztergomi Vitézek Rugby SE
Kornél Kiss Fullback {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Esztergomi Vitézek Rugby SE
István Szabó Prop {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Honfoglalók Rugby
Sámuel Pataki Hooker {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Battai Bulldogok RK
Dávid Őrsi Prop {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Fehérvár RC
Szabolcs Szőke Lock {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Honfoglalók Rugby
Dániel Talpai Flanker {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Fit World Gorillák RC
Imre Szóda Wing {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Esztergomi Vitézek Rugby SE
Dániel Dragonya Scrum-half {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Battai Bulldogok RK
Bertalan Koltai Wing {{{age}}}{{{caps}}} Flag of Hungary.svg Fit World Gorillák RC

Strip

The badge on the shirt derives from the Csodaszarvas, a mythological stag that led the ancient Hungarian people to the Pannonian Basin.

In the Austria match of 1983, they played in presumably white jerseys with either a black or dark green hoop, black shorts, and either black or dark green socks with white tops. After the MRgSz was established, the team reverted to the flag colors of red, white, and green, with the current strip consisting of red shirts and shorts and green socks.

Grounds

Hungary plays its home games at the Budapest Rugby Center in Kincsem Park. Most games, before the new stadium was built in 2019, used to be held in Esztergom.

Record

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Hungary national XV at test level up until 12 April 2025, updated after match with Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine.

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawnWin percentage
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 413025%
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 10100%
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1385061.54%
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 541080%
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 4400100%
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 40400%
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 40400%
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 413025%
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 1100100%
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1100100%
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 10100%
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 413025%
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 20200%
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 826025%
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 422050%
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 10100%
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 30300%
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 1100100%
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6600100%
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 312033.33%
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1100100%
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 1358038.46%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 10100%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 40400%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 10100%
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 40310%
Total973759138.14%

See also

References

  1. "Women's and Men's Rankings". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  2. Team photo vs Austria in 1983 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Included in the photo are current MRgSz Honorary President Lajos Vida-Szűcs and current national team manager and president of Esztergomi Vitézek András Neuzer.