Switzerland national rugby union team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Switzerland women's national rugby union team.

Switzerland

Nickname	Edelweiss (The White Flowers)
Emblem	Edelweiss
Union	Fédération Suisse de Rugby
Head coach	Olivier Nier
Captain	Cyril Lin
Home stadium	TBC
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	27 (as of 5 february 2024)
Highest	26 (2023)
Lowest	67 (2010)
First international
Switzerland 4-23 Portugal (Neuchâtel, Switzerland 11 April 1973)
Biggest win
Bulgaria 9–90 Switzerland (Pernik, Bulgaria 14 October 2000)
Biggest defeat
Morocco 43–0 Switzerland (Casablanca, Morocco 25 March 1979)
Website	www.suisserugby.com

The Switzerland national rugby union team, ^[1] nicknamed The White Flowers (Edelweiss), is considered one of the stronger tier three teams in European rugby.^{[ citation needed ]} They currently compete in the second division of the Rugby Europe International Championships in the Rugby Europe Trophy, a competition which is just below the Rugby Europe Championship where the top six countries in Europe (apart from the teams in the Six Nations) compete. They are yet to participate in any Rugby World Cup. They often play in all red, while their alternative kit is all white.

History

Switzerland played their first ever international rugby match on April 11, 1973 in Neuchâtel against Portugal, losing 23–4. The following year they lost 10–18 to Belgium, and were then defeated by them 33–3 in 1975. After the second lost to Belgium, Switzerland won their first international rugby match; defeating Serbia-Montenegro 12–3 in Geneva. The only other win for Switzerland during the 1970s was a 7–4 victory over Luxembourg in 1977. In 1979 they were defeated 43–0 by Morocco and 31–0 by Portugal.

They however bounced back in 1980, defeating Luxembourg 10–7 in Berne, though they then lost close matches against Sweden and Belgium, and were again held to nil by Portugal in 1981, but got a victory over Denmark later that year. After losing to Belgium and Sweden in 1982, they then scored 60 unanswered points against Finland. They then lost nine games in a row from 1982 to 1986, then defeating Serbia-Montenegro 5–0 in May 1986.

In 1989, Switzerland attempted to qualify for the 1991 Rugby World Cup in England, playing in the European tournament – Round 2A. They finished third in the final standings of the round, winning one of their three fixtures. Switzerland also participated in the qualifying tournaments for the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, making it past the preliminary round from the west group, but not advancing past Round 1.

Switzerland finished third (out of six nations) in Pool 1 of Round 1 of the European qualification tournaments for the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales, winning and drawing one game out of four fixtures. Switzerland had more success in the qualifying tournaments for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, finishing at the top of Pool B in Round 1 and advancing to Round 2, but were unable to advance to Round 3. In attempting to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, Switzerland finished fourth in Pool D of Round 2 of the European qualification process.

Switzerland also failed to qualify for the 2011 or 2015 Rugby World Cups.

In 2016 Switzerland reached the second division (Rugby Europe Trophy, formerly Division 1B) of the ENC for the first time since the divisional structure was implemented in 2000, after winning Division 2A over the 2014-16 two-year cycle.

Record

World Cup

World Cup record									World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A		P	W	D	L	F	A
1987	Not Invited								Not Invited
1991	did not qualify								3	1	0	2	49	74
1995									5	1	0	4	20	122
1999									4	1	1	2	40	50
2003									9	5	0	4	297	171
2007									4	1	1	2	77	51
2011									6	2	0	4	79	102
2015									4	3	0	1	92	75
2019									5	3	0	2	140	122
2023									Automatically eliminated
Total	0/9	0	0	0	0	0	0		40	17	2	21	794	767

European Competitions Since 2000

Season	Division	G	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/−	Pts	Pos
2000	European Nations Cup Third Division	4	1	0	3	47	60	-13	6	3rd
2002-04	European Nations Cup Second Division Pool B	8	5	3	0	145	95	+50	21	1st
2004-06	European Nations Cup Third Division Pool A	4	1	0	3	34	87	-53	8	3rd
2006-08	European Nations Cup Third Division 3A	8	4	0	4	150	129	+24	16	3rd
2008-10	European Nations Cup Third Division 3A	7	2	0	5	79	112	-33	11	5th
2010-12	European Nations Cup Second Division 2B	8	7	0	1	253	77	+176	34	1st
2012-14	European Nations Cup Second Division 2A	8	4	1	3	170	159	+11	21	2nd
2014-16	European Nations Cup Second Division 2A	8	7	0	1	223	120	+103	33	1st
2016-17	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	3	0	2	140	122	+18	13	3rd
2017-18	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	2	0	3	109	122	-13	11	4th
2018-19	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	3	0	2	108	138	-20	12	3rd
2019-20	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	2	2	1	93	52	+41	14	2nd
2021-22*	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	2	0	3	120	117	+3	9	4th
2022-23*	Rugby Europe Trophy	4	4	0	0	205	72	+133	20	1st
2023-24*	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	5	0	0	198	64	+134	22	1st

Men's World Rugby Rankings

• v
• t
• e

Top 30 as of 25 November 2024 ^[2]

Rank	Change [i]	Team	Points
1		South Africa	092.78
2		Ireland	090.78
3		New Zealand	090.36
4		France	088.51
5		Argentina	084.97
6		Scotland	083.34
7		England	082.31
8		Australia	081.52
9		Fiji	080.07
10		Italy	078.64
11		Wales	074.01
12		Georgia	073.85
13		Japan	072.95
14		Samoa	072.68
15		United States	070.02
16		Portugal	068.82
17	1	Uruguay	067.06
18	1	Spain	065.98
19		Tonga	065.46
20		Romania	063.01
21		Chile	061.72
22		Hong Kong	059.49
23		Canada	059.18
24		Netherlands	058.56
25		Russia	058.06
26		Namibia	057.87
27		Zimbabwe	057.16
28		Brazil	056.53
29		Belgium	056.51
30		Switzerland	056.04

1. Change from the previous week

Switzerland's historical rankings

See or edit source data.

Source: World Rugby ^[2]
Graph updated to 25 November 2024

Overall

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Switzerland national XV at test level up until 13 April 2024, updated after match with   Ukraine.

Opponent	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Andorra	7	6	0	1	85.71%	142	88	+54
Armenia	5	3	0	2	60%	107	106	+1
Austria	3	3	0	0	100%	79	32	+47
Belgium	13	4	0	9	30.77%	150	244	–94
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1	1	0	0	100%	43	6	+37
Bulgaria	5	5	0	0	100%	230	36	+194
Croatia	11	8	0	3	72.73%	270	174	+96
Czech Republic	8	3	0	5	37.5%	127	152	–25
Denmark	10	3	2	5	30%	152	180	–28
Finland	1	1	0	0	100%	60	0	+60
Georgia	1	0	0	1	0%	21	22	–1
Germany	7	1	0	6	14.29%	90	197	–107
Hungary	1	1	0	0	100%	61	23	+38
Israel	7	5	2	0	71.43%	171	64	+107
Ivory Coast	2	1	1	0	50%	36	33	+3
Latvia	4	1	0	3	25%	34	82	–48
Lithuania	9	5	0	4	55.56%	246	185	+61
Luxembourg	5	5	0	0	100%	95	29	+66
Malta	5	3	0	2	60%	93	79	+14
Moldova	2	2	0	0	100%	51	46	+5
Monaco	1	1	0	0	50%	20	16	+4
Morocco	1	0	0	1	0%	0	43	–43
Netherlands	8	0	1	7	0%	128	235	–107
Norway	1	1	0	0	100%	30	12	+18
Poland	7	3	0	4	42.86%	148	72	–24
Portugal	7	0	0	7	0%	45	232	–187
Serbia	18	5	1	12	27.78%	199	240	–41
Slovenia	5	3	1	1	60%	176	68	+108
Spain	1	0	0	1	0%	0	40	–40
Sweden	8	2	0	6	25%	133	143	–10
Tunisia	2	0	0	2	0%	6	43	–37
Ukraine	6	4	0	2	66.67%	220	118	+102
Total	172	80	8	84	46.51%	3363	3040	+323

Match Record

Matches
2 November 2024 20:00 CET (UTC+01) Belgium   48–7    Switzerland
13 april 2023 14:00 CET (UTC+01) Switzerland   68–0   Ukraine Report
23 March 2024 14:30 CET (UTC+01) Switzerland   35–10   Croatia Report
9 March 2024 14:00 CET (UTC+01) Czech Republic   25–41    Switzerland Report
11 November 2023 13:00 CET (UTC+01) Lithuania   17–31    Switzerland Report Klaipėda Central Stadium, Klaipėda Attendance: 500 Referee: Sulkhan Chikladze (Georgia)
4 November 2023 16:30 CET (UTC+01) Switzerland   23–12   Sweden Report Stade Municipal, Yverdon-les-Bains Attendance: n/a Referee: Killian O'Brien (Germany)
1 April 2023 16:00 CEST (UTC+02) Croatia   22–32    Switzerland Report Gradski sportski centar, Makarska Attendance: 3'000 Referee: Killian O'Brien (Germany)
11 March 2023 14:00 CEST (UTC+02) Ukraine   32–59    Switzerland Report Stadion NŠC Stjepan Spajić, Zagreb Attendance: 150 Referee: Anthony Lac (Monaco)
12 November 2022 15:00 CET (UTC+01) Switzerland   45–6   Lithuania Report Stade Juan Antonio Samaranch, Lausanne Attendance: 650 Referee: John Catteau (Belgium)
5 November 2022 14:00 CET (UTC+01) Sweden   12–69    Switzerland Report Malmö Stadion, Malmö Attendance: 200 Referee: Ignacio Munoz-Martin (Spain)
30 April 2022 Ukraine   0–28    Switzerland
19 March 2022 Germany   34–25    Switzerland
12 March 2022 Switzerland   22–18   Belgium
20 November 2021 14:30 CET (UTC+01) Poland   37–25    Switzerland Report Stadion Miejski, Warsaw Referee: Eki Fanlo (Spain)
13 November 2021 15:30 CET (UTC+01) Switzerland   20–28   Lithuania Report Centre Sportif de Colovray, Nyon Referee: Dan O'Connell (Germany)
29 February 2020 Germany   20–33    Switzerland
23 November 2019 Switzerland   20–23   Poland
16 November 2019 Lithuania   9–40    Switzerland
13 April 2019 Switzerland   34–24   Lithuania
23 March 2019 Poland   25–28    Switzerland
16 March 2019 Switzerland   14–48   Portugal
24 February 2019 Switzerland   6–6   Ivory Coast
24 November 2018 Netherlands   36–15    Switzerland
17 November 2018 Switzerland   17–5   Czech Republic
17 March 2018 Switzerland   30–24   Poland
10 March 2018 Czech Republic   17–10    Switzerland
24 February 2018 Portugal   31–17    Switzerland
3 February 2018 Switzerland   30–27   Ivory Coast
25 November 2017 Moldova   20–22    Switzerland
18 November 2017 Switzerland   27–30   Netherlands
22 April 2017 Poland   12–22    Switzerland
18 March 2017 Netherlands   38–25    Switzerland
12 March 2017 Switzerland   54–18   Ukraine
26 November 2016 Switzerland   29–26   Moldova
19 November 2016 Switzerland   10–28   Portugal
16 April 2016 Croatia   15–40    Switzerland
9 April 2016 Switzerland   29–3   Malta
14 November 2015 Switzerland   28–3   Israel
24 October 2015 Czech Republic   14–20    Switzerland
25 April 2015 Malta   20–23    Switzerland
18 April 2015 Switzerland   40–20   Croatia
1 November 2014 Switzerland   14–27   Croatia
25 October 2014 Israel   18–29    Switzerland
26 April 2014 Lithuania   24–18    Switzerland
12 April 2014 Switzerland   14–29   Malta
16 November 2013 Switzerland   20–20   Netherlands
2 November 2013 Croatia   11–26    Switzerland
13 April 2013 Switzerland   37–21   Lithuania
6 April 2013 Malta   10–19    Switzerland
17 November 2012 Netherlands   24–7    Switzerland
3 November 2012 Switzerland   29–20   Croatia
17 March 2012 Switzerland   85–0   Slovenia
26 November 2011 Andorra   21–22    Switzerland
12 November 2011 Switzerland   27–19   Serbia
30 April 2011 Slovenia   10–33    Switzerland
19 March 2011 Switzerland   21–9   Andorra
20 November 2010 Serbia   18–15    Switzerland
2 October 2010 Switzerland   30–27   Armenia
8 May 2010 Andorra   10–0    Switzerland
22 November 2009 Switzerland   18–0   Armenia
24 October 2009 Serbia   13–8    Switzerland
4 April 2009 Switzerland   6–12   Serbia
14 March 2009 Switzerland   32–9   Andorra
15 November 2008 Lithuania   33–0    Switzerland
18 October 2008 Armenia   35–15    Switzerland
19 April 2008 Switzerland   16–28   Sweden
5 April 2008 Denmark   13–28    Switzerland
24 November 2007 Serbia   5–13    Switzerland
3 November 2007 Netherlands   40–12    Switzerland
6 October 2007 Switzerland   15–28   Armenia
5 May 2007 Sweden   6–0    Switzerland
31 March 2007 Switzerland   22–24   Denmark
7 October 2006 Switzerland   30–9   Serbia
30 September 2006 Armenia   16–29    Switzerland
16 September 2006 Switzerland   10–40   Germany
6 May 2006 Austria   3–17    Switzerland
22 April 2006 Sweden   35–3    Switzerland
3 December 2005 Switzerland   8–7   Denmark
26 November 2005 Latvia   42–6    Switzerland
19 March 2005 Serbia and Montenegro   11–11    Switzerland
12 March 2005 Switzerland   40–3   Bulgaria
16 October 2004 Switzerland   8–17   Malta
2 October 2004 Poland   20–15    Switzerland
17 April 2004 Switzerland   21–18   Slovenia
27 March 2004 Belgium   3–32    Switzerland
25 October 2003 Croatia   5–11    Switzerland
11 October 2003 Switzerland   12–12   Denmark
10 May 2003 Slovenia   23–23    Switzerland
8 March 2003 Switzerland   9–6   Belgium
9 November 2002 Switzerland   24–15   Croatia
26 October 2002 Denmark   13–13    Switzerland
24 November 2001 Switzerland   11–30   Ukraine
11 November 2001 Croatia   18–16    Switzerland
27 October 2001 Belgium   15–22    Switzerland
6 October 2001 Switzerland   6–32   Czech Republic
25 May 2001 Serbia and Montenegro   13–10    Switzerland
12 May 2001 Switzerland   61–23   Hungary
5 May 2001 Switzerland   38–25   Andorra
14 October 2000 Bulgaria   9–90    Switzerland
7 October 2000 Switzerland   43–6   Bosnia and Herzegovina
15 April 2000 Tunisia   40–6    Switzerland
1 April 2000 Poland   15–8    Switzerland
4 March 2000 Belgium   18–11    Switzerland
13 November 1999 Switzerland   10–5   Latvia
16 October 1999 Switzerland   18–22   Czech Republic
19 June 1999 Austria   26–31    Switzerland
10 April 1999 Monaco   16–20    Switzerland
3 April 1999 Switzerland   40–7   Israel
21 November 1998 Switzerland   48–8   Bulgaria
26 September 1998 Andorra   14–15    Switzerland
15 May 1998 Switzerland   21–23   Lithuania
9 May 1998 Latvia   25–18    Switzerland
28 March 1998 Israel   3–34    Switzerland
8 November 1997 Switzerland   29–13   Serbia and Montenegro
24 May 1997 Switzerland   31–3   Austria
1 March 1997 Serbia and Montenegro   8–0    Switzerland
30 November 1996 Israel   9–9    Switzerland
2 November 1996 Switzerland   0–38   Ukraine
30 April 1995 Luxembourg   0–24    Switzerland
2 November 1994 Slovenia   17–14    Switzerland
30 October 1994 Croatia   11–3    Switzerland
4 June 1994 Switzerland   21–22   Georgia
14 May 1994 Luxembourg   8–17    Switzerland
6 November 1993 Latvia   10–0    Switzerland
15 May 1993 Belgium   42–3    Switzerland
13 May 1993 Portugal   32–0    Switzerland
11 May 1993 Spain   40–0    Switzerland
1 May 1993 Switzerland   37–10   Luxembourg
31 October 1992 Andorra   0–14    Switzerland
26 October 1992 Denmark   8–3    Switzerland
26 September 1992 Switzerland   27–3   Bulgaria
27 February 1992 Germany   37–0    Switzerland
4 May 1989 Sweden   33–15    Switzerland
2 May 1989 Denmark   26–12    Switzerland
30 April 1989 Israel   15–22    Switzerland
16 November 1986 Switzerland   3–4   Yugoslavia (  Serbia)
18 October 1986 Switzerland   25–13   Bulgaria
31 May 1986 Denmark   36–4    Switzerland
27 May 1986 Switzerland   0–4   Yugoslavia (  Serbia)
6 April 1986 Switzerland   10–28   Netherlands
6 December 1985 (Serbia  ) Yugoslavia   13–6    Switzerland
1 December 1985 Switzerland   10–18   West Germany
20 April 1985 Netherlands   19–12    Switzerland
31 March 1985 West Germany   30–12    Switzerland
23 April 1983 Switzerland   9–14   Czech Republic
5 March 1983 Switzerland   9–23   Belgium
12 December 1982 Tunisia   3–0    Switzerland
27 November 1982 (Serbia  ) Yugoslavia   36–19    Switzerland
22 May 1982 Finland   0–60    Switzerland
20 May 1982 Sweden   10–3    Switzerland
6 March 1982 Belgium   10–6    Switzerland
27 November 1981 Switzerland   0–10   Yugoslavia (  Serbia)
24 October 1981 Switzerland   34–21   Denmark
25 May 1981 Switzerland   9–9   Israel
11 April 1981 Switzerland   16–20   Denmark
28 February 1981 Portugal   39–0    Switzerland
29 November 1980 Belgium   7–0    Switzerland
1 November 1980 Switzerland   4–7   Sweden
19 April 1980 Switzerland   10–7   Luxembourg
23 June 1979 Switzerland   30–12   Norway
27 March 1979 Portugal   31–0    Switzerland
25 March 1979 Morocco   43–0    Switzerland
28 October 1978 Switzerland   0–18   West Germany
14 May 1977 Luxembourg   4–7    Switzerland
16 April 1977 Switzerland   16–25   Belgium
11 December 1976 Switzerland   6–18   Yugoslavia (  Serbia)
25 April 1976 (Serbia  ) Yugoslavia   31–4    Switzerland
16 November 1975 Switzerland   6–23   Czech Republic
12 June 1975 Switzerland   12–3   Yugoslavia (  Serbia)
19 April 1975 Belgium   11–3    Switzerland
8 June 1974 Switzerland   10–18   Belgium
11 April 1973 Switzerland   4–23   Portugal

Current squad

The following players have been selected for the 2022–23 Rugby Europe Trophy. ^[3]

• Head Coach: Olivier Nier

Caps update: 22 November 2021

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

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Reuben Bachofner-Brown	Prop	(1996-05-02) 2 May 1996 (age 28)	1	Hornets RFC
Maximiliano Ducommun	Prop	(1992-03-20) 20 March 1992 (age 32)	3	Nyon RC
Cameron Holestein	Prop	(1995-03-11) 11 March 1995 (age 29)	3	Hartpury University
Vincent Vial	Prop	(1994-06-21) 21 June 1994 (age 30)	14	CS Vienne
Alexandre Grillon	Prop	(1992-02-14) 14 February 1992 (age 32)	2	Lausanne University
Dominic Gorman	Prop	(1997-11-23) 23 November 1997 (age 27)	17	Yverdon RC
Nathan Pelsy	Hooker	(1997-03-07) 7 March 1997 (age 27)	18	US Annecy
Maxime Luçon	Hooker	(1991-07-19) 19 July 1991 (age 33)	30	CA Pontarlier
Manu Ronza	Hooker	(1997-04-02) 2 April 1997 (age 27)	13	Lausanne University
Andri Koeferli	Hooker	(1999-09-04) 4 September 1999 (age 25)	3	GC Zürich
Christian Rohrig	Lock	(1990-12-07) 7 December 1990 (age 33)	10	GC Zürich
Ben Bodinham	Lock	(1991-06-07) 7 June 1991 (age 33)	5	Oxford Quins R.F.C.
Romin Vivarie	Lock	(1992-11-18) 18 November 1992 (age 32)	2	Lausanne University
Antoine Salino	Back row	(2000-11-15) 15 November 2000 (age 24)	2	Servette RC
Tim Vögtli	Back row	(1994-06-13) 13 June 1994 (age 30)	23	GC Zürich
George Hallam	Back row	(2003-04-26) 26 April 2003 (age 21)	2	Coventry Academy
Cyril Lin (c)	Back row	(1984-08-17) 17 August 1984 (age 40)	42	Nyon RC
Nicolas Lugeon	Back row	(1994-06-09) 9 June 1994 (age 30)	5	Stade Lausanne RC
Ahmed Kane	Back row	(2001-07-05) 5 July 2001 (age 23)	2	Lyon
William Meyer	Scrum-half	(2000-09-28) 28 September 2000 (age 24)	6	Rumilly
Simon Perrod	Scrum-half	(1990-07-14) 14 July 1990 (age 34)	36	Drancy RC
Donovan O'Grady	Scrum-half	(1993-02-16) 16 February 1993 (age 31)	16	Eton Manor RFC
Jules Porcher	Fly-half	(1998-07-01) 1 July 1998 (age 26)	9	RC Aubenas Vals
Jess Roberson	Centre	(1992-08-04) 4 August 1992 (age 32)	4	GC Zürich
Tommaso Volta	Centre	(2000-01-11) 11 January 2000 (age 24)	4	Hermance RRC
Gaëtan Moser	Centre	(2001-05-25) 25 May 2001 (age 23)	1	Servette RC
Lucas Heinrich	Wing	(1995-06-13) 13 June 1995 (age 29)	29	Servette RC
Hugo Malyon	Wing	(1995-07-25) 25 July 1995 (age 29)	9	RC Suresnes
Hugh Kisielewski	Wing	(1990-05-08) 8 May 1990 (age 34)	10	GC Zürich
Jolan Vincent	Fullback	(2002-01-12) 12 January 2002 (age 22)	6	US Nantua Haut Bugey

Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Swiss national team: ^[4]

Name	Nationality	Role
Yann Benoit	SUI	Manager
Olivier Nier	FRA	Head coach
Mathieu Guyou Kreis	SUI	Backs Coash
Simon Dupuy	SUI	Forwards Coach
Dr Mathieu Saubade	SUI	Team doctor
Gregory Tellier	SUI	Physiotherapist

See also

• Rugby union in Switzerland

References

1. (French : Equipe Nationale Suisse de Rugby à XV German : Schweizer Rugby-Union-Nationalmannschaft Italian : Nazionale di Rugby XV della Svizzera)
2. "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
3. "Switzerland Men XVs". www.suisserugby.com. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
4. "Poland vs Switzerland Game Sheet" (PDF). Rugby Europe. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.

External links

• Fédération Suisse de Rugby - Official Site