Sweden national rugby union team

Last updated

Sweden [1]
Swedish Rugby Union logo.svg
UnionSvenska Rugbyförbundet
Head coach Flag of England.svg Alex Laybourne
CaptainPhilip Murphy
Top scorerIan Gowland (21)
Kit left arm navyborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body navycollar.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm navyborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current30 (as of 27 January 2025)
Highest30 (2024)
Lowest62 (2016)
First international
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 6–0 Denmark Flag of Denmark.svg
(23 October 1949)
Biggest win
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg 3–116 SwedenFlag of Sweden.svg
(5 May 2001)
Biggest defeat
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 72–0 Sweden Flag of Sweden.svg
(1 July 1976)
World Cup
Appearances0
Sami Paulsson rolls into the picture after Sweden beat Czechia 28-18 at Stockholm's Stadion on May 14th 2022, winning Conference 1 North Sweden v Czechia May 2022.jpg
Sami Paulsson rolls into the picture after Sweden beat Czechia 28–18 at Stockholm's Stadion on May 14th 2022, winning Conference 1 North

The Sweden national rugby union team represents Sweden in rugby union.

Contents

Rugby has been played in Sweden since 1933, the first full international being played in 1949 against Denmark. The country celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2008.

Sweden has been a member union of World Rugby since 1988 and is one of the 48 members of Rugby Europe.

Sweden won Rugby Europe Division 2 in 2012 and Conference 1 North in 2022, beating the Czech Republic in the final league game of the season at Stockholm's Stadion, in front of more than 1,500 spectators, promoting them to the Rugby Europe Trophy, a league level consolidated in 22/23 with a third-placed finish.

The national side is ranked 31st in the world (as of November 11, 2024). [2]

Current squad

This is the Sweden squad that has been selected for the Rugby Europe Trophy match against Luxembourg on 12 April 2025:

PlayerClubPlayerClub
Adam Christersson Flag of Sweden.svg Kalmar Södra IFRAdrian Wadden Flag of England.svg Oakville Crusaders
Ale Loman Flag of England.svg Nottingham RFC / Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers Alexander Nahas Flag of Sweden.svg Erikslunds KF
Alfred Nordgren Flag of Sweden.svg Malmö RC Armir Kozhani Flag of Sweden.svg Kalmar Södra IFR
Arthur Marini Flag of France.svg Rugby Club de Drancy  [ fr ]Axel Kalling-Smith (VC) Flag of England.svg Rams RFC
Christopher Nilsérius Flag of Sweden.svg Enköpings RK Christopher Vannerberg Flag of France.svg GTO RC77
David Hill Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm Exiles Elias Granath Flag of England.svg Dings Crusaders RFC
Jack Tatu Robertsson Flag of Latvia.svg RK Livonia Mathis De Chavaille Flag of France.svg CM Floirac Rugby
Mattias Nilsson Flag of Argentina.svg Club San Cirano Oscar Larsson Flag of Sweden.svg Malmö RC
Petter Stråhle Heelge Flag of Latvia.svg RK Livonia Philip Murphy (C) Flag of Ireland.svg Trinity College Dublin
Robin Fransson Flag of Sweden.svg Enköpings RK Samuel Ahlbeck Flag of Sweden.svg Malmö RC
Theodor Karlsson Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm Exiles Tim Johansson Flag of Sweden.svg RK Livonia
Vaa Pusateri Iuta Fryxell Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm Exiles Viktor Cordes Flag of Sweden.svg Lugi Rugbyklubb
Hannes Nylén (Reserve) Flag of Sweden.svg Enköpings RK

Other recent callups :

PlayerClubPlayerClub
Linus Ahlgren Flag of Sweden.svg Pingvin RC Samuel Ekfeldt Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm Exiles
Vilhelm Carlsson Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm Exiles

Leading Try Scorers

Nametries
Ian Gowland21
Axel Kalling-Smith20
Andreas Bruhn18
Kari Tapper16
Kanogo Njuru14
Bobby Nave13
Alan Letele12
Theodor Karlsson12
Johan Andersson11
Alfred Nordgren10
Thomas Arvidsson10

Rugby Europe Conference 1 North Champions 2021/22

2019 promoted side ↑ 2019 relegated side ↓ WR = World Ranking May 2022

Conference 1 North WRPlWDLBFADIFFPts
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3844003154817119
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic ↓3743013142707215
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia ↑633102174109-355
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 614103056145-894
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 64300326190-292

Rugby Europe Trophy Fixtures and Results 2022/23

DATE
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 22 - 27Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 22/10/2022
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 37 - 17Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 29/10/2022
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 39 v 20Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 05/11/2022
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 12 v 69Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 05/11/2022
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 45 v 6Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 12/11/2022
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 32 v 59Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 12/03/2023
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 38 v 15Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 18/03/2023
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 37 v 39Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 25/03/2023
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 15 v 18Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 01/04/2023
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 22 v 32Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 01/04/2023

Final League Table 2022/23

2022 promoted sides ↑ WR = current World Ranking (Apr 6 2023)

Trophy WRPlWDLBFADIFFPts
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 27440032057213319
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 3642021117135-189
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden ↑394202182139-579
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 524103397122-257
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia ↑4241031100133-335

Rugby Europe Trophy Fixtures and Results 2023/24

DATE
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 48 - 37Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 28/10/2023
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 48 - 22Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 04/11/2023
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 14 v 32Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 04/11/2023
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 23 v 12Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 04/11/2023
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 17 v 31Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 11/11/2023
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 5 v 41Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 11/11/2023
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 20 v 22Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 18/11/2023
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 34 v 24Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 25/11/2023
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 25 v 41Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 09/03/2024
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 37 v 22Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 16/03/2024
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 8 v 27Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 23/03/2024
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 18 v 48Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 23/03/2024
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 35 v 10Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 23/03/2024
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 36 v 24Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 06/04/2024
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 68 v 0Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 13/04/2024

Final League Table 2023/24

2023 promoted sides ↑ Promoted to 2025 Rugby Europe Championship ▲ Relegated to 2024/5 Conference North ▼ WR = current World Ranking (Apr 6 2024)

Trophy WRPlWDLBFADIFFPts
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland ▲28550021986413422
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 31540121451123318
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic ↑32530221921533914
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 3352333130132-211
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 3451040103143-404
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine ▼375005061225-1640

Rugby Europe Trophy Fixtures and Results 2024/25

DATE
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 47 - 20Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 26/10/2024
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 22 - 16Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 26/10/2024
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 19 - 46Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 02/11/2024
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 49 - 26Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 09/11/2024
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 31 - 42Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 16/11/2024
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 40 - 13Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 16/11/2024
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 32 - 23Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 23/11/2024
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 15 - 22Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 23/11/2023
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 31 - 31Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 30/11/2024
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 58 - 27Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 22/02/2025
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 40 - 16Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 08/03/2025
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 3 - 44Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 29/03/2025
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 18 - 57Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 29/03/2025
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg vFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 05/04/2025
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden vFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 12/04/2025

Results and Fixtures

The following is a list of test matches since 2018, as well as any future test matches that have been officially scheduled. [3]

DateOpponentVenueCompetitionResult
14 October 2017Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Norrkōping, SwedenRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW12 - 10
28 October 2017Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Odesa, UkraineRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthL29 - 8
28 April 2018Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Kaunas, LithuaniaRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthL43 - 22
12 May 2018Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Enköping, SwedenRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW50 - 27
20 October 2018Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Norrkōping, SwedenRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW80 - 6
3 November 2018Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg LuxembourgRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW9 - 10
11 May 2019Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Norrkōping, SwedenRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW36 - 27
19 May 2019Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Odesa, UkraineRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthL23 - 14
26 October 2019Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Jurmala, LatviaInternationalW22 - 26
2 November 2019Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Malmö, SwedenInternationalL0 - 13
23 October 2021Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Norrköping, SwedenRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW51 - 5
23 April 2022Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Baldone, LatviaRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW25 - 46
7 May 2022Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Budapest, HungaryRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW25 - 29
14 May 2022Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Stockholm, SwedenRugby Europe Conference 1 NorthW28 - 18
October 29, 2022Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Stockholm, SwedenRugby Europe TrophyW37 - 17
November 5, 2022Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Malmö, SwedenRugby Europe TrophyL12 - 69
March 18, 2023Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Split, CroatiaRugby Europe TrophyL38 - 15
April 1, 2023Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Siauliai, LithuaniaRugby Europe TrophyW15 - 18
28 October 2023Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Stockholm, SwedenRugby Europe TrophyW48 - 37
4 November 2023Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Yverdon-les-Bains, SwitzerlandRugby Europe TrophyL23 - 12
18 November 2023Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Makarska, CroatiaRugby Europe TrophyW20 - 22
23 March 2024Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Siauliai, LithuaniaRugby Europe TrophyW8 - 27
6 April 2024Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Trelleborg, SwedenRugby Europe TrophyW36 - 24
27 October 2024Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Trelleborg, SwedenRugby Europe TrophyW22 - 16
2 November 2024Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Aukštaitija Stadium, LithuaniaRugby Europe TrophyW19 - 46
16 November 2024Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia NSC Stjepan SpajicRugby Europe TrophyW31 - 42
16 March 2025Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Häljarp, SwedenFriendly [4] W47 - 11
29 March 2025Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Stade de LuxembourgRugby Europe TrophyW18-57
12 April 2025Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Trelleborg, SwedenRugby Europe Trophy
17 May 2025 Flag of Jersey.svg Flag of Guernsey.svg Channel Islands Footes Lane, Guernsey Granite Trophy [5]

Record

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Sweden national XV at test level up until 29 March 2025, updated after match with Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg.

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawn % Won
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 523040%
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 1100100%
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 2200100%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1248033.33%
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 761085.71%
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 954055.56%
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 80710%
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 493610373.47%
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 30300%
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 3300100%
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 10100%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 413025%
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 4400100%
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 3300100%
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 1394069.23%
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 1182172.73%
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 871087.5%
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 413025%
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 321066.67%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1911805.26%
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 7700100%
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1411217.14%
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 20200%
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 532060%
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 20200%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 20200%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 862075%
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 10100%
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 817012.5%
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 523040%
Total218111101650.92%

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Sweden - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby.
  2. ↑ "Men's Rankings | World Rugby".
  3. ↑ "Europe: Sweden - Latest Results". Archived from the original on 13 April 2020.
  4. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/SvenskaRugbyforbundet/posts/pfbid0tn8pWqjCtRAHmNACCvKg5yYzAuCDQw9wi4k74kdJ7Qgn3BDwSDJo8wehfxueb5Sjl
  5. ↑ https://www.islandfm.com/news/guernsey/jersey-and-guernsey-to-play-together-in-channel-islands-rugby-team/?fbclid=IwY2xjawISBJFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHf8-aSpdbuCHlKMrc_i9mBcHGzawGGV1jrsHdsoezJy6sEQ5oa78PKdunA_aem_TyDM_HHF5-EK6zCuLot05Q
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