Estonia national rugby union team explained

Country:Estonia
Union:Estonian Rugby Union
Coach:Chris Budgen[1]
Date:2004
Pattern La1:_black
Pattern B1:29459B
Pattern Ra1:_black
Pattern Sh1:_black
Pattern Sh2:_black
Socks2:29459B
First: 15 – 22
(22 May 2010)
Bigwin: 59 – 12
(4 October 2014)
Bigloss: 127 – 5
(28 April 2018)

The Estonia national rugby union team is governed by the Estonian Rugby Union, which oversees all rugby union in Estonia. As of October 2014 they have played only a handful of matches, but have qualified for the 2014–16 European Nations Cup Third Division. The team's main stadium was Viimsi Staadion for several years.

History

A combined Estonia/Latvia side took on a Swedish representative side in the late 1990s, but a proper national team only started playing in August 2009, touring England and playing two matches, losing both. They came up against Kent club Tonbridge Juddians in their first match, coming out at the wrong end of a 94–7 scoreline.[2] The Juddians gave them a rather torrid time in the scrums, which was probably influenced by the fact that the Estonians only had their first-ever scrum machine session on the morning of the match. The second fixture saw them square off against England Deaf at Folkestone, this time managing to keep the score to a respectable 21–27.[3]

Estonia have since played several matches as they have built up their team. They were defeated by the Welsh national deaf team in Tallinn, losing 93–3 in June 2012,[4] with closer defeats to Finland, Finland 'A'[5] and Turkey.[6]

Estonia obtained their first win a play-off match for a position in the 2014–16 European Nations Cup Third Division, defeating Belarus 59–12.[7]

Record

Overall

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawn % Won
1 1 0 0 %
4 0 4 0 0%
2 0 2 0 0%
1 0 1 0 0%
1 0 1 0 0%
2 1 1 0 %
2 0 2 0 0%
Presidents XV 1 1 0 0 %
1 1 0 0 %
2 0 2 0 0%
Total17 4 13 0 %

Squad for the 2016 European Nations Cup

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ex-professional rugby player coaches Estonian team during Army deployment. 24 February 2018. Belfast Telegraph.
  2. Web site: TJs play host to Estonia National Squad. Tonbridge Juddians RFC. 23 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025640/http://tjrfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=361:estonia-game&catid=57:demo&Itemid=86. 5 March 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: England Deaf beat Estonia Elite XV. RFU. 23 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141031060053/http://www.rfu.com/news/2009/august/news-articles/englanddeafbeatestoniaelitexv. 31 October 2014. dead.
  4. Web site: Baltic bonanza as Wales run in 12 tries in Tallinn. Wales Deaf Rugby Union. 9 June 2012.
  5. Web site: Finland victorious in Turku!. Pitchero. 23 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141023202336/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/turkueaglesrfc/news/finland-victorious-in-turku-1057739.html. 23 October 2014. dead.
  6. Web site: Finland A v Estonia. Rugby International News. 23 October 2014.
  7. Web site: Estonian Rugby Team Defeats Belarus 59–12 in Historic Match. Estonian Public Broadcasting. 23 October 2014.