Czech Republic national rugby union team

Czech Republic
Union	Czech Rugby Union
Head coach	Miroslav Němeček and Pavel Pala
Captain	Marek Loutocký
First colours	Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	35 (as of 16 January 2023)
First international
	Czechoslovakia 5–21 Romania ; (22 May 1927); Andorra 6–3 Czech Republic ; (15 May 1993)
Biggest win
	Czech Republic 95–5 Croatia ; (7 April 2002)
Biggest defeat
	Italy 104–8 Czech Republic ; (18 May 1994)
World Cup
Appearances	0
Website	www.rugbyunion.cz

The Czech Republic national rugby union team is the third tier rugby national team of the Czech Republic.

They first started playing as the Czech Republic in 1993 after the split of Czechoslovakia and now compete in the European Nations Cup. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, but have entered the qualifiers since the 1995 edition. Rugby union in the Czech Republic is administered by the Czech Rugby Union. The sport is still amateur in the country, but there are several Czech players who are professionals in France, including Martin Jágr.

The best ranking in the world ranking was 24th place in 2005. The national side is ranked 36th in the world (as of 5 November 2019).^[1]

History

In 2005, they took on Australian Super Rugby side the Waratahs in Prague, losing 3–94.^[2]

The nation played against Hong Kong at the Synot Tip Arena in Prague on 16 December 2009. They won 17–5. It was the final match for six players:^[3] Antonín Brabec, Jan Macháček, Jan Oswald, Pavel Syrový, Ladislav Vondrášek and Jan Žíla.

The Czech Republic were relegated from the European Nations Cup First Division to the Second Division in 2014, after finishing 6th in their group.

On 9 November 2016 The Czech Republic played in a historical match against the Barbarians to celebrate the Czech Rugby Union's 90th anniversary. The match was held at the Marketa Stadium in Prague. They lost the match to the Barbarians, 71–0.^[4]^[5]

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							Part of Czechoslovakia
1991	did not qualify							Part of Czechoslovakia
1995								5	2	0	3	85	188
1999								4	1	0	3	80	105
2003								6	5	0	1	189	71
2007								10	3	0	7	164	306
2011								8	3	1	4	135	142
2015								10	2	0	8	142	310
2019								7	6	0	1	265	104
2023								Automatically eliminated
Total	0/9	0	0	0	0	0	0	50	22	1	27	1060	1226

European Competitions Since 2000

Season	Division	G	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/−	Pts	Pos
2000	European Nations Cup Third Division	4	4	0	0	119	73	+46	12	1st
2000-01	European Nations Cup Second Division	5	2	0	3	132	109	+23	9	5th
2003-04	European Nations Cup First Division	9	3	0	6	139	263	-124	15	5th
2004-06	European Nations Cup First Division	10	3	0	7	164	306	-142	16	5th
2006-08	European Nations Cup First Division	10	0	0	10	59	506	-447	10	6th
2008-10	European Nations Cup Second Division 2A	8	3	1	4	135	142	-7	15	3rd
2010-12	European Nations Cup First Division 1B	10	4	0	6	160	217	-57	20	5th
2012-14	European Nations Cup First Division 1B	10	2	0	8	142	310	-168	11	6th
2014-16	European Nations Cup Second Division 2A	8	6	1	1	192	119	+73	32	2nd
2016-17	Rugby Europe Conference 1 North	4	4	0	0	158	26	+132	20	1st
2017-18	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	3	0	2	93	120	-27	12	3rd
2018-19	Rugby Europe Trophy	5	0	0	5	59	205	-146	1	6th
2019-20	Rugby Europe Conference 1 North	2	2	0	0	100	7	+93	10	1st
2021-22*	Rugby Europe Conference 1 North	2	2	0	0	70	25	+45	10	1st

Overall

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

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	% Won
Andorra	3	2	1	0	66.67%
Austria	1	0	0	1	0%
Barbarians	1	0	1	0	0%
Belgium	7	3	3	1	42.86%
Brown University	1	1	0	0	100%
Croatia	6	5	1	0	83.33%
Denmark	2	2	0	0	100%
Georgia	8	0	8	0	0%
Germany	9	2	7	0	22.22%
Hong Kong	1	1	0	0	100%
Hungary	4	4	0	0	100%
Israel	4	3	0	1	75%
Italy	1	0	1	0	0%
Latvia	4	4	0	0	100%
Lithuania	3	2	1	0	66.67%
Luxembourg	4	4	0	0	100%
Malta	3	3	0	0	100%
Moldova	8	4	4	0	50%
Morocco	1	0	1	0	0%
Netherlands	9	4	5	0	44.44%
Poland	14	6	7	1	42.86%
Portugal	10	0	10	0	0%
Romania	6	0	6	0	0%
Russia	8	2	6	0	25%
Spain	8	2	6	0	25%
Sweden	7	3	4	0	42.86%
Switzerland	7	4	3	0	57.14%
Tunisia	1	0	1	0	0%
Ukraine	10	6	4	0	60%
USA South	1	1	0	0	100%
Total	152	68	80	4	44.74%

Recent Matches

Matches played in the last 12 months

Matches

6 November 2021
13:00 CET (UTC+01)

(1 TBP) Czech Republic	31–13	Hungary
	Report

Stadion ragby Císařka, Prague
Attendance: 550
Referee: Eugeniu Procopi (Moldova)

27 November 2021
18:00 CET (UTC+01)

Luxembourg	12–39	Czech Republic (1TBP)

Stade de Luxembourg, Gasperich
Referee: Vaidotas Girdvainis (Lithuania)

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2021-2022 Rugby Europe Conference 1 North match against Luxembourg on 27th November 2021.^[6]

Head Coach: Miroslav Němeček

Caps Updated:

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

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Club/province
Tomáš Adámek	Prop	(1999-07-30) 30 July 1999 (age 25)	Mountfield Říčany
Hubert Dřímal	Hooker	(1996-05-03) 3 May 1996 (age 28)	Sparta Prague
Radek Novotný	Prop	(1999-08-08) 8 August 1999 (age 25)	Praga Prague
Robert Trefný	Lock	(1992-09-28) 28 September 1992 (age 31)	Mountfield Říčany
Jakub Homer	Lock	(1992-08-06) 6 August 1992 (age 32)	Valence Romans Drôme Rugby
James Faktor	Back row	(1998-01-08) 8 January 1998 (age 26)	Honourable Artillery Company
Vojtěch Vomáčka	Back row	(1994-10-16) 16 October 1994 (age 29)	Saint Marcellin Sports
Dan Hošek (c)	Number 8	(1995-12-08) 8 December 1995 (age 28)	Praga Prague
Marek Šimák	Scrum-half	(1992-01-13) 13 January 1992 (age 32)	Tatra Smíchov
Matyáš Hopp	Fly-half	(1991-10-03) 3 October 1991 (age 32)	Praga Prague
Sheldon Fortuin	Wing	(2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 21)	Sparta Prague
Richard Hřebačka	Centre	(1997-03-22) 22 March 1997 (age 27)	Sparta Prague
Albert Froněk	Centre	(2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 (age 22)	Praga Prague
Jakub Čížek	Wing	(1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27)	Přelouč
Martin Cimprich	Fullback	(1999-03-05) 5 March 1999 (age 25)	Honourable Artillery Company
Ondřej Kučera	Prop	(2000-11-30) 30 November 2000 (age 23)	Dragon Brno
Tomáš Stránský	Hooker	(1998-05-15) 15 May 1998 (age 26)	Mountfield Říčany
Václav Calta	Prop	(1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 (age 24)	Mountfield Říčany
Vlastimil Diviš	Lock	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)	Praga Prague
Jan Tieber	Centre	(2001-11-18) 18 November 2001 (age 22)	Dragon Brno
Jan Kohout	Wing	(2000-10-18) 18 October 2000 (age 23)	Přelouč
Pavel Šíma	??	(2000-10-19) 19 October 2000 (age 23)	Slavia Prague

Coaches

Czech (Czechoslovakia) coaches
Name	Nationality	Years	Assistants	Tests	Won	Lost	Win %
Voska	Czechoslovakia	1931	-	1	0	1	0
Rudolf Otto Bauše	Czechoslovakia	1933	-	2	0	2	0
Kratochvíl	Czechoslovakia	1934	-	1	0	1	0
Gustav Vlk	Czechoslovakia	1946–49	-	4	1	3	25
Jiří Žižka	Czechoslovakia	1954	Vladimír Škvor	2	2	0	100
Vladimír Škvor	Czechoslovakia	1955	-	2	0	2	0
Alfa Zeda	Czechoslovakia	1956	Vladimír Škvor	1	0	1	100
Miloš Dobrý	Czechoslovakia	1956–57	-	5	1	4	20
Alfa Zeda	Czechoslovakia	1958–59	-	0	0	0	0
Oldřich Pazdera	Czechoslovakia	1959–65	-	0	0	0	0
Milan Pětroš	Czechoslovakia	1966–67	-	0	0	0	0
Vladimír Vondráček	Czechoslovakia	1969–1972	Viktor Šťastný	0	0	0	0
Vladimír Škvor	Czechoslovakia	1972–76	-	0	0	0	0
Eduard Krützner	Czechoslovakia	1976–78	-	2	2	0	100
Milan Malovaný	Czechoslovakia	1979–81	Bohumil Sláma	0	0	0	0
Milan Malovaný	Czechoslovakia	1982–83	-	0	0	0	0
Milan Malovaný	Czechoslovakia	1984–88	Jiří Kotlový	0	0	0	0
Milan Malovaný	Czechoslovakia	1988–1989	Vilibald Hervert	0	0	0	0
Eduard Krützner	Czechoslovakia	1989–90	Vilibald Hervert	0	0	0	0
Eduard Krützner	Czechoslovakia	1990–91	Bruno Kudrna, Milan Buriánek	0	0	0	0
Bruno Kudrna	Czechoslovakia	1991–93	Milan Buryánek	0	0	0	0
Bruno Kudrna	Czech Republic	1993–95	Milan Buryánek	0	0	0	0
Karel Berka	Czech Republic	1995–97	Jaromír Kourek	0	0	0	0
Bruno Kudrna	Czech Republic	1997–99	Václav Horáček	0	0	0	0
Václav Horáček	Czech Republic	1999–	Pavel Jágr	0	0	0	0
Jiří Šťastný	Czech Republic	2001–2003	Václav Čermák	0	0	0	0
Petr Michovský	Czech Republic	2003	Michel Bernardin	0	0	0	0
Michel Bernardin	France	2003–2004	Jan Macháček	0	0	0	0
Christian Galonier	France	2004–2005	Jan Macháček	0	0	0	0
Josef Fatka	Czech Republic	2005–2006	Petr Michovský	0	0	0	0
Levan Mgeladze	Georgia	2007	Martin Kafka, Jan Macháček	0	0	0	0
Martin Kafka	Czech Republic	2007–2008	Jan Macháček	0	0	0	0
Christian Gajan	France	2008–2009	Martin Kafka	0	0	0	0
Martin Kafka	Czech Republic	2010–2013	Jan Oswald (2010–13), Tomasz Putra (2013)	0	0	0	0
Thomasz Putra	Poland	2014–2016	Roman Šuster	0	0	0	0
Thomasz Putra	Poland	2016–2017	Pavel Pala, Filip Vacek	0	0	0	0
Phil Pretorius	South Africa	2017–2018	Hein Kriek , Daniel Beneš	0	0	0	0
Daniel Beneš	Czech Republic	2018–2019	Miroslav Němeček, Roman Šuster	0	3	3	0
Miroslav Němeček & Pavel Pala	Czech Republic	2019–2020	0	0	0	0	0
Miroslav Němeček	Czech Republic	2021–	Jan Rohlík, Jan Čížek	0	0	0	0

Notable former players

Martin Jágr
Jan Macháček
Roman Šuster
Martin Kafka
Ladislav Vondrášek
Antonín Brabec
Jiří Skall
Jan Žíla
Miroslav Němeček
Václav Jursík
Pavel Vokrouhlík
Jiří Buryánek

Milan Mrtýnek
Petr Michovský
Pavel Bureš
Luděk Kudláček
Jiří Koutný
Miroslav Fuchs
Petr Skopal

Jiří Skall st
Jaromír Kourek
Bruno Kudrna
Karel Berka
Vlastimil Jágr
Václav Fanta
Zdeněk Mrazčínský

Barchánek

References

^ world.rugby. "Men's Rankings | World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
^ "Waratahs attract record crowd in Prague | Czech Rugby News Archive | Home | Rugby CZ". www.rugby.cz. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
^ (in Czech) Loučení opor s národním týmem Archived 2010-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Barbarians entertain with 11-try win". Sport24.co.za. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
^ "Barbarians crush Czech Republic". Planetrugby.com. 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
^ "Luxembourg vs Czech Republic Match Sheet" (PDF). Rugby Europe. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.

External links

Czech Rugby Union - Official site (in Czech)
Current Squad

[1] world.rugby. "Men's Rankings | World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2021-10-15.

[2] "Waratahs attract record crowd in Prague | Czech Rugby News Archive | Home | Rugby CZ". www.rugby.cz. Retrieved 2021-10-15.

[3] (in Czech) Loučení opor s národním týmem Archived 2010-01-04 at the Wayback Machine

[4] "Barbarians entertain with 11-try win". Sport24.co.za. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-26.

[5] "Barbarians crush Czech Republic". Planetrugby.com. 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2016-11-26.

[6] "Luxembourg vs Czech Republic Match Sheet" (PDF). Rugby Europe. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]