Finland national rugby union team

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]

Finland
Shirt badge/Association crest
UnionSuomen Rugbyliitto
Head coachAlastair Davies
CaptainJussi Viljanen
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current78 (as of 29 January 2024)
Highest71 (2023)
Lowest82 (2022)
First international
 Finland 0 – 60 Switzerland 
(1982-05-22)
Biggest win
 Finland 55 – 5 Estonia 
(2010-10-02)
Biggest defeat
 Denmark 100 – 0 Finland 
(1987-10-10)

History edit

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 edit

Against Played Won Lost Drawn Win percentage
  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 1 0 1 50%
  Bulgaria 8 1 7 0 12.5%
  Cyprus 2 0 2 0 0%
  Denmark 2 0 2 0 0%
  Estonia 3 3 0 0 100%
  Greece 6 3 3 0 50%
  Israel 5 1 4 0 20%
  Luxembourg 6 1 5 0 16.66%
  Monaco 1 0 1 0 0%
  Norway 8 1 7 0 12.5%
  Slovenia 1 0 1 0 0%
  Sweden 2 0 2 0 0%
   Switzerland 1 0 1 0 0%
Total 45 9 35 1 20%

Current squad edit

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

  • Coach: Alastair Davies

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

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Tapio Lahtinen Prop 6   Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Ossi Aro Hooker 19   Tampere R.F.C.
Chris Denholm Prop 17   Helsinki RC
Akseli Peltoniemi Lock 14   Old Town Shamrocks
Aaro Katainen Lock 30   Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Kosti Eskola Flanker 16   Warriors RC
Matti Keränen Flanker 30   Old Town Shamrocks
John Poole Number 8 4   Saimaa Sharks/Helsinki RC
Saxby Young Scrum-half 5   Helsinki RC
Thomas Finell Fly-half 64   Warriors RC
Samu-Petteri Pääkkö Wing 20   Old Town Shamrocks
Jussi Viljanen (c) Centre 32   Tampere R.F.C.
Kim Ali-keskikylä Centre   Turku Eagles
Antti Haapanen Wing 0   Helsinki RC
Philip Sleath Fullback 9   Turku Eagles
Paulo Pannuzzo Hooker 0   Helsinki RC
Olli Räsänen Prop   Jyväskylä R.F.C./Tampere R.F.C.
Olli Palosuo Prop 0   Helsinki RC
Juho Kiljain Lock 3   Jyväskylä R.F.C.
Jedidiah Patton Back row 1   Turku Eagles
James Edwards Fly-half 0   Tampere R.F.C.
Timo McIntyre Wing 0   Tampere R.F.C.
Jack Crabtree Fullback 1   Warriors RC

References edit

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

External links edit