Croatia national rugby union team

Last updated

Croatia
Croatia rugby.gif
Union Croatian Rugby Federation
Head coach Flag of New Zealand.svg Anthony Posa
Captain Nik Jurišić
Kit left arm Croatialeft.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body Croatia1.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm Croatiaright.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current46 (as of 20 March 2023)
Highest39 (2022)
Lowest47 (2023)
Biggest win
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 78–3 Hungary  Flag of Hungary.svg
(22 May 1993)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 6-126 France A  Flag of France.svg
(19 June 1993)
Biggest defeat by full international
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 56-8 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(4 November 2017)
World Cup
Appearances0

The Croatia national rugby union team is governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. The national side is ranked 46th in the world (as of 20 March 2023)

Contents

Internationals

Croatia played their first international on 28 November 1992, away against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and won 47–3. Croatia played four the following year with wins over Austria and Hungary. They then faced off against Italy, who won 76–11. The year finished off with a win over Morocco 36–12 but a loss to Spain .

The following year they won three of their five fixtures, though they lost to Ukraine and Luxembourg, though the following year, they were able to defeat Luxembourg in 1995. Croatia won a number of games in 1996–97, defeating the likes of Israel, Norway, Bulgaria, Latvia and Moldova and but losing to an experienced Georgia that year by 29–15.

1997 to 2000, Croatia played 11 International for 10 wins and 1 loss (to the Netherlands).

Croatia won five matches in a row from 2001 to 2002. Croatia started in round three of the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualification tournament but were knocked out by Latvia and Andorra.

On St. Patrick's Day 17 March 2007, in Knin, the Croatian national team played an Irish Barbarians side and won the St. Pat's in Knin Cup.[ citation needed ]

On 10 November 2007 Croatia defeated Malta 24–9 in Makarska. There are two internationals coming up in 2008 with Croatia taking on Andorra in Split (19 April) and away to Latvia in Riga (10 May)

Famous players

Croatia have a host of players who are New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans of Croatian origin who play the game and have played internationally for these countries. The first New Zealander of Croatian descent to play for Croatia was Brendon Winslow against Luxembourg in 1995.

Other New Zealanders, were Paul Vegar (North Shore, NZ reps), Paul Vujcich (Counties, Manurewa and North Shore) and the Graham brothers Rob and Reon (Counties, Patumahoe, Manurewa).

Anthony Posa was another New Zealander who played many times for Croatia (1996–2003), playing out of both the GHA RFC, Glasgow, Scotland and Beverley RUFC, Yorkshire, England. He is now Head Coach of the Yorkshire Under 20 County side which has won numerous English National County Championships and coaches professionally at the Doncaster club in England. His family originated from the Island of Korčula.

Frano Botica was a one time Croatian rugby player and former All Black, whose grandparents were also born in Korčula. Another former All Black who turned out for the Croatian side at the same time was Matthew Cooper. Dan Luger is an England representative whose father Darko Luger is from the island of Brac. Sean Fitzpatrick is another former All Black captain who has Croatian heritage.

Record

World Cup

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
YearRoundPWDLFAPWDLFA
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg 1987 Part of Yugoslavia: Not an independent countryPart of Yugoslavia: Not an independent country
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg IRFU flag.svg Flag of France.svg 1991 Part of Yugoslavia: Not an independent countryPart of Yugoslavia: Not an independent country
Flag of South Africa.svg 1995 did not enterdid not enter
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1999 did not qualify8602297172
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2003 42025670
Flag of France.svg 2007 41037686
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2011 43017460
Flag of England.svg 2015 41037892
Flag of Japan.svg 2019 421110679
Flag of France.svg 2023 Automatically eliminated
Total0/90000002815112687559

European Competitions

SeasonDivision G W D L PF PA +/− Pts Pos
2000 European Nations Cup Second Division 430110536+2992nd
2000-01 European Nations Cup Second Division 52127077-7104th
2002-04 European Nations Cup Second Division Pool B 831411495+19153rd
2006-08 European Nations Cup Second Division 2B 8404133134-1163rd
2008-10 European Nations Cup Second Division 2B 8602161114+47202nd
2010-12 European Nations Cup Second Division 2A 8305162170-8194th
2012-14 European Nations Cup Second Division 2A 8206145221-76114th
2014-16 European Nations Cup Second Division 2A 8305166217-51173rd
2016-17 Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 421110679+27123rd
2017-18 Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 42118597-12112nd
2018-19 Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 431012369+54162nd
2019-20 Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 22006430+3491st
2021-22* Rugby Europe Conference 1 South 22007711+66101st
2022-23 Rugby Europe Trophy 4103100133-3355th
2023-24 Rugby Europe Trophy 31028375+864th

Overall

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Croatia national XV at test level up until 23 March 2024:

OpponentPlayedWonLostDrawn % Won
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 751171.43%
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 4400100%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 422050%
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 4400100%
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 1100100%
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 4400100%
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 615016.67%
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 540180%
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 10100%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 311133.33%
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 4400100%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 10100%
Flag of Italy.svg Italy A 10100%
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 871087.5%
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 862075%
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 523040%
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 211050%
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 1585253.33%
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 1100100%
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 10100%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 514020%
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1100100%
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 312033.33%
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1100100%
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 1100100%
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 871087.5%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 20110%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 615016.67%
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 1028020%
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 624033.33%
Total1287250656.25%

Recent Matches

Current squad

The following players formed the squad for the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Conference 1 South match against Cyprus on 13 November 2021. [1]

Head coach: Flag of New Zealand.svg Anthony Posa

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

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Ivan Josip Kordun Prop (1994-04-19) 19 April 1994 (age 29) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Krešimir Čorić Hooker (1993-08-26) 26 August 1993 (age 30) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Luka Perlain Prop (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Alexander Bibic Lock (1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 25)
Dražen Brčić-Šušak Lock (1996-11-28) 28 November 1996 (age 27) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Sinj
Ivo Perić Flanker (1993-08-02) 2 August 1993 (age 30) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Martin Rešković Flanker (1986-09-08) 8 September 1986 (age 37) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Zagreb
Marko Buljac Number 8 (1986-11-28) 28 November 1986 (age 37) Flag of Croatia.svg HARK Mladost
Luka Lerotić Scrum-half (1990-11-28) 28 November 1990 (age 33) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Nik Jurišić (c) Fly-half (1988-07-06) 6 July 1988 (age 35) Flag of Croatia.svg HARK Mladost
Jan Vlašić Wing (1992-05-29) 29 May 1992 (age 31) Flag of Croatia.svg HARK Mladost
Filip Perica Centre (1991-06-04) 4 June 1991 (age 32) Flag of France.svg RC Sarlat
Marko Grčić Centre (1992-11-28) 28 November 1992 (age 31) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Sinj
Nikola Pavlović Wing (1992-12-18) 18 December 1992 (age 31) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Sinj
Domagoj Plazibat Fullback (1995-10-31) 31 October 1995 (age 28) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Tomislav Fišić Back row (1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 25) Flag of Croatia.svg HARK Mladost
Denis Brečić Prop (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24) Flag of Croatia.svg HARK Mladost
Marko Bužančić Prop (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)1 Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Marin Miloš Lock (1999-05-02) 2 May 1999 (age 24)1 Flag of Croatia.svg RK Sinj
Željko Galić Flanker (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Zagreb
Dominik Fišić ?? (2000-01-29) 29 January 2000 (age 24) Flag of Croatia.svg HARK Mladost
Duje Plazibat Centre (1997-12-27) 27 December 1997 (age 26) Flag of Croatia.svg RK Nada
Fran Peršić Wing (1997-10-12) 12 October 1997 (age 26) Flag of Croatia.svg HARK Mladost

See also

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References

  1. "Cyprus vs Croatia Game Sheet" (PDF). Rugby Europe. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.