Czech Republic national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
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 entered the qualifiers for the 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 tournaments. Rugby union in the Czech Republic is administered by the Česká Rugbyová Unie
. The sport is still amateur in the country, but there are several Czech players who are professionals in France
, being the most known, the current captain Martin Jágr
, from Union Bordeaux Bègles, who was previously with Toulon
.
The Czech Republic were relegated from the European Nations Cup First Division to the Second Division
in 2008, after finishing 6th in their group.
In 2005 they took on Australian Super 14
side the Waratahs
in Prague, losing 3-94.
Their most recent match was against Hong Kong
at the Synot Tip Arena in Prague
on 16 December 2009. They won 17-5 after leading 14-0 at half-time. It was the final match for six players: Antonín Brabec, Jan Macháček
, Jan Oswald, Pavel Syrový, Ladislav Vondrášek and Jan Žíla.
Irb Ranks
14/03/2011: 28nd of 94
Replacements
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
national team of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
They first started playing as the Czech Republic in 1993 after the split of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national rugby union team
The Czechoslovakia national rugby union team was the national rugby team of Czechoslovakia, before the country was split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia...
and now compete in the European Nations Cup
European Nations Cup (rugby union)
The European Nations Cup is the European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations. The Championship is split into 7 divisions with 5 or 6 teams in each. The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away...
. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
, but entered the qualifiers for the 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 tournaments. Rugby union in the Czech Republic is administered by the Česká Rugbyová Unie
Ceská Rugbyová Unie
The Czech Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1926 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988 while still the governing body for Czechoslovakia. It organises the two leagues, the KB Extraliga and KB První Liga, and the...
. The sport is still amateur in the country, but there are several Czech players who are professionals in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, being the most known, the current captain Martin Jágr
Martin Jágr
Martin Jágr is a Czech rugby union footballer. He is nicknamed "Jaguar". His position on the field is on the wing...
, from Union Bordeaux Bègles, who was previously with Toulon
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
.
The Czech Republic were relegated from the European Nations Cup First Division to the Second Division
2008-2010 European Nations Cup Second Division
The European Nations Cup Second division 2008-2010 is the second tier of the European Championship for developing Rugby Union nations.It is made up of two divisions with 5 teams in each division. Due to changes in the structure of the European Nations Cup for the 2010-2012 competition, no team...
in 2008, after finishing 6th in their group.
In 2005 they took on Australian Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
side the Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
in Prague, losing 3-94.
Their most recent match was against Hong Kong
Hong Kong national rugby union team
The Hong Kong national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side. Hong Kong first played in 1969 and since then have always been in the group of the best Asian teams. Their team is made mostly from British origin players, with some natives from Hong Kong. They have yet to qualify for the...
at the Synot Tip Arena in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
on 16 December 2009. They won 17-5 after leading 14-0 at half-time. It was the final match for six players: Antonín Brabec, Jan Macháček
Jan Macháček
Jan Macháček is a former Czech rugby player. He is one of arguably the two most famous Czech rugby players, along with Martin Jágr...
, Jan Oswald, Pavel Syrový, Ladislav Vondrášek and Jan Žíla.
Irb Ranks
14/03/2011: 28nd of 94
Current squad
- Tomáš Krejčí (Dragon BrnoRC Dragon BrnoRC Dragon Brno is a Czech rugby club in Brno. They currently play in the KB Extraliga. They have also been involved in the Central & Eastern European Rugby Cup since its inception in 2008.-History:...
) - Martin JágrMartin JágrMartin Jágr is a Czech rugby union footballer. He is nicknamed "Jaguar". His position on the field is on the wing...
, capitan (Union Bordeaux Bègles, France) - Martin Pekárek (ŘíčanyRC ŘíčanyRC Říčany is a Czech rugby club based in Říčany. They currently play in the KB Extraliga. Since 2009 they also compete in the Central & Eastern European Rugby Cup along with fellow Czechs Dragon Brno.-History:...
) - Jan Kolář (Slavia PragueRC Slavia PragueRC Slavia Prague is a Czech rugby club based in Prague. They currently play in the KB Extraliga and are the oldest existing club in the Czech Republic. The club forms part of the Slavia Prague sports network.-History:The club was founded on 13 April 1927...
) - Michal Schlanger (Říčany)
- Milan Jirman (Slavia Prague)
- Pavel Syrový (Praga RugbyPraga RugbyPraga Rugby is a Czech rugby club based in Prague.They currently play in the KB Extraliga and are considered to be one of the strongest teams in the Czech Republic.-Honours:* Czechoslovak Championships...
) - Jiří Buryánek (Dragon Brno)
- Jan MacháčekJan MacháčekJan Macháček is a former Czech rugby player. He is one of arguably the two most famous Czech rugby players, along with Martin Jágr...
(Slavia Prague) - Ondřej Kutil (OyonnaxOyonnax RugbyUnion sportive Oyonnax Rugby is a French rugby union club from Oyonnax in the Ain département of the région Rhône-Alpes, currently competing in the second level of the French league system . They play at Stade Charles-Mathon...
, France) - Robert Voves (NarbonneRC NarbonneRacing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée is a French rugby union club that play in the second-level Rugby Pro D2, after finishing at the bottom of the 2006-07 Top 14 table....
, France) - Tomáš Holovský (St. Raphael, France)
- Lukáš Rapant (Oyonnax, France)
- Jiří Skall (Sparta PragueRC Sparta PragueRC Sparta Prague is a Czech rugby club based in Prague. They currently play in the KB Extraliga and are the second oldest club in the Czech Republic after Slavia Prague. The club forms part of the Sparta Prague sports network.-Early years:...
) - Roman Šuster (Rouen, France)
Replacements
- Jan Benda (Sparta Prague)
- Martin Wognitsch (Oyonnax, France)
- Tomáš Veniger (Tatra SmíchovRC Tatra SmíchovRC Tatra Smíchov is a Czech rugby club in Smíchov, Prague.They currently play in the KB Extraliga.-Honours:* Czechoslovak Cup** 1980, 1981, 1983* Czech Cup** 1995, 1997* KB Extraliga** 1995, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008-Historical names:...
) - Josef Bláha (Říčany)
- Petr Okleštěk (Auxerre, France)
- Jan Rudolf (Tatra Smíchov)
- Roman Kodera (Říčany)
External links
- Česká Rugbyová Unie - Official Site
- Current Squad