Finland national rugby union team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Finland national rugby union team represents Finland at the sport of rugby union. Finland are identified as a tier-three nation by the International Rugby Board (IRB). The nation has thus far not played in a Rugby World Cup, but has participated in qualifying tournaments. Finland also compete in the European Nations Cup, playing in Division 3C.
[edit] History
Finland played their first ever rugby international in 1982 against Switzerland, which Finland lost nil to 60. Apart from a 4-24 loss to Norway in 1987, a lot of Finlands' results during the late 1980s and early 1990s were heavy losses. Finland however went onto win their first international in 1991, defeating Norway 18 points to 3.
After a number of years of not officially playing, Finland returned to the international scene in October of 2002 when they lost to Monaco in Monte Carlo. Finland's attempt to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France began in Round 1 of the European tournaments. Finland faced Bulgaria in a two match series as part of the Round 1 group to determine which nation advances. 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.
[edit] External links
- Finland on IRB.com
- Rugby Finland
- Finland on rugbydata.com
First tier
Argentina • Australia • England • France • Ireland • Italy • New Zealand • Scotland • South Africa • Wales
Second tier
Canada • Fiji • Japan • Romania • Samoa • Tonga • United States
Third tier
American Samoa • Andorra • Arabian Gulf • Armenia • Austria • Azerbaijan • Bahamas • Barbados • Belgium • Bermuda • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Botswana • Brazil • British Virgin Islands • Brunei •Bulgaria • Burundi • Cambodia • Cameroon • Cayman Islands • Chile • China • Chinese Taipei • Colombia • Cook Islands • Costa Rica • Côte d' Ivoire • Croatia • Czech Republic • Denmark • Finland • Georgia • Greece • Germany • Ghana • Guam • Guyana • Hong Kong • Hungary • India • Israel • Jamaica • Kazakhstan • Kenya • Korea • Kyrgyzstan • Laos • Latvia • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Madagascar • Malaysia • Mali • Malta • Mauritania • Mauritius • Mexico • Moldova • Monaco • Mongolia • Morocco • Namibia • Netherlands • Nigeria • Niue • Norway • Pakistan • Papua New Guinea • Paraguay • Peru • Philippines • Poland • Portugal • Russia • Rwanda • Senegal • Serbia • Singapore • Slovakia • Slovenia • Solomon Islands • Spain • Sri Lanka • St Lucia • St Vincent & Grenadines • Swaziland • Sweden • Switzerland • Tahiti • Tanzania • Thailand • Togo • Tunisia • Trinidad & Tobago • Uganda • Ukraine • Uruguay • Uzbekistan • Vanuatu • Venezuela • Zambia • Zimbabwe
