Israel national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Israel national rugby union team represents Israel
at a national level in international rugby union
competitions. The team is governed by the Israel Rugby Union
, which oversees all rugby union in Israel. As of 27 October 2011, Israel is ranked 61st in the IRB World Rankings
.
Their home ground is at the Wingate Institute
in Netanya
, Central District, known for its large number of immigrants from English-speaking countries.
and Jerusalem.
A national league was set up in 1972, and the Israel Rugby Union formed in 1975. Israel's first international match was away to Switzerland
on 25 May 1981, and ended 9–9. The Union joined the International Rugby Board
in 1988, and participated in the European section
of the qualifying rounds
for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
. In a group with Denmark
, Sweden
and Switzerland, Israel lost all three matches, but were by no means humiliated.
In the qualifying matches for the 1995 World Cup
, Israel thrashed Hungary
67–8 in the preliminary round, before being knocked out in the Round 1 group stage, failing to score a point in two of their three games.
The qualifying matches
for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
followed the established pattern, with Israel being knocked out in the group stage, though they avoided finishing bottom of their five-team group by beating Austria
. The same happened in the 2003 WC qualifiers
, where they finished fourth in a six team group. In the 2007 WC qualifiers
they did not even make it to the group stage, being thrashed 113–7 on aggregate (0–53, 60–7) by Lithuania
.
Israel has also entered the Rugby World Cup Sevens
.
Since 2005 Israel has been a participant in the European women's 7's championship. On their first tournament the national team finished in a respectable 9 place (bowl winners), with wins over Malta and Austria.
In the 2006 championship Israel won the 5th place (plate winners) with wins over Bosnia, Luxemburg, Hungary and finally Malta.
In the 2007 tournament, a fresh team that featured many young players. After winning again Luxembourg, Latvia and Hungary, They lost in the plate final to Denmark.
2008 was a highlight year for the women's 7's-a-side team. They played in the qualying tournamet in Bonsnia and finished 3rd, losing only to Romania (eventual tournament champion) and Finland (2nd place). The team recorded wins over Croatia, Georgia, Serbia, Austria and a thirlling 3rd place win over Bulgaria (7–5).
They qualified for the European championship (which doubled as a world cup qualifier) and there managed to score one win, a last grasp win over the Czech Republic.
Israel won Slovenia
by 26–19 at 11 May 2009, but lost to Lithuania
by 3–19 at 23 May 2009, ending their campaign for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
qualifyings. These were the first ever games of Israel to be televised.
teams for two reasons, firstly it is the only true national team competing, and secondly, non-Jews who are Israeli citizens can qualify for it.
----
Finals:
Nathan Amos ran the pitch
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
at a national level in international rugby union
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...
competitions. The team is governed by the Israel Rugby Union
Israel Rugby Union
The Israel Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Israel.The Israel Rugby Union was founded in 1971, and joined the IRB in 1988...
, which oversees all rugby union in Israel. As of 27 October 2011, Israel is ranked 61st in the IRB World Rankings
IRB World Rankings
The IRB World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in rugby union, managed by the International Rugby Board , the sport's governing body. The teams of the IRB's member nations are ranked based on their game results, with the most successful teams being ranked highest...
.
Their home ground is at the Wingate Institute
Wingate Institute
The Wingate Institute is a sports training facility located south of Netanya, Israel, established in 1957. Named after Orde Wingate, the facility serves as the host facility for numerous Israeli national teams as well as a military training base....
in Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
, Central District, known for its large number of immigrants from English-speaking countries.
History
The sport was brought to the country by British soldiers during the Mandate era, but petered out after the British left. A wave of immigration from English speaking countries since 1967 has seen renewed interest in the sport, particularly in areas with large English-speaking populations such as Ra'ananaRa'anana
Ra'anana is a city in the heart of the southern Sharon Plain of the Central District of Israel with a population of 68,300, . Ra'anana is bordered by Kfar Sava on the east and Herzliya on the southwest...
and Jerusalem.
A national league was set up in 1972, and the Israel Rugby Union formed in 1975. Israel's first international match was away to Switzerland
Switzerland national rugby union team
The Swiss national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA - Association of European Rugby and plays in the 3A division of the European Nations Cup. Thus far Switzerland have not qualified for a Rugby World Cup.-History:...
on 25 May 1981, and ended 9–9. The Union joined the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 1988, and participated in the European section
1991 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
In 1989-1990, 14 European teams competed for the two available positions in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.- Pool 1 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
of the qualifying rounds
1991 Rugby World Cup qualifying
For the 1991 Rugby World Cup, 16 nations participated in the finals tournament, half of which came through qualifying matches, and the other were granted automatic entry as they were quarter-finalists at the 1987 Rugby World Cup...
for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
. In a group with Denmark
Denmark national rugby union team
The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:...
, Sweden
Sweden national rugby union team
The Sweden national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA – Association of European Rugby and plays in the 2010–12 European Nations Cup Second Division. Sweden has been trying to qualify for the Rugby World Cup since the 1991 Rugby World Cup, but has yet to make it to the final competition...
and Switzerland, Israel lost all three matches, but were by no means humiliated.
In the qualifying matches for the 1995 World Cup
1995 World Cup
1995 World Cup may refer to:*1995 Rugby World Cup, held in South Africa for rugby union*1995 Rugby League World Cup, held in England and Wales for rugby league*1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, held in Sweden for women's football...
, Israel thrashed Hungary
Hungary national rugby union team
The Hungary national rugby union team represents Hungary at rugby union. They are governed by the Magyar Rögbi Szövetség , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, although they have entered qualifiers for all the tournaments from the 1995 edition onwards...
67–8 in the preliminary round, before being knocked out in the Round 1 group stage, failing to score a point in two of their three games.
The qualifying matches
1999 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
In the 1999 Rugby World Cup qualifying, European teams played for six places in the final tournament. Three more places were available in the repechage. France and Wales were automatic qualifiers.-Pool 1:Ukraine qualify for Round B.Match...
for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
followed the established pattern, with Israel being knocked out in the group stage, though they avoided finishing bottom of their five-team group by beating Austria
Austria national rugby union team
Austria is a third tier rugby union playing nation. They began playing international rugby in the early 1990s. Thus far, Austria has not made an appearance at any of the World Cups.-History:...
. The same happened in the 2003 WC qualifiers
2003 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
There were a number of positions open to European nations to qualify for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Ireland, Romania, Georgia and Italy, joining a number of other nations that automatically qualified.-Pool A:...
, where they finished fourth in a six team group. In the 2007 WC qualifiers
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification was based around the European Nations Cup, and decided which European teams participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The group stages counted towards both qualification and the European Nations Cup...
they did not even make it to the group stage, being thrashed 113–7 on aggregate (0–53, 60–7) by Lithuania
Lithuania national rugby union team
The Lithuania national rugby union team represents Lithuania at rugby union. They are governed by the Lithuanian Rugby Federation , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-History:...
.
Israel has also entered the Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
.
Since 2005 Israel has been a participant in the European women's 7's championship. On their first tournament the national team finished in a respectable 9 place (bowl winners), with wins over Malta and Austria.
In the 2006 championship Israel won the 5th place (plate winners) with wins over Bosnia, Luxemburg, Hungary and finally Malta.
In the 2007 tournament, a fresh team that featured many young players. After winning again Luxembourg, Latvia and Hungary, They lost in the plate final to Denmark.
2008 was a highlight year for the women's 7's-a-side team. They played in the qualying tournamet in Bonsnia and finished 3rd, losing only to Romania (eventual tournament champion) and Finland (2nd place). The team recorded wins over Croatia, Georgia, Serbia, Austria and a thirlling 3rd place win over Bulgaria (7–5).
They qualified for the European championship (which doubled as a world cup qualifier) and there managed to score one win, a last grasp win over the Czech Republic.
Israel won Slovenia
Slovenia national rugby union team
The Slovenia national rugby union team represents Slovenia at rugby union. They are governed by the Rugby Zveza Slovenije, and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-Current squad:Slovenia...
by 26–19 at 11 May 2009, but lost to Lithuania
Lithuania national rugby union team
The Lithuania national rugby union team represents Lithuania at rugby union. They are governed by the Lithuanian Rugby Federation , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-History:...
by 3–19 at 23 May 2009, ending their campaign for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
qualifyings. These were the first ever games of Israel to be televised.
World Cup record
- 1987 – Did not enter
- 1991 – Did not qualify
- 1995 – Did not qualify
- 1999 – Did not qualify
- 2003 – Did not qualify
- 2007 – Did not qualify
- 2011 – Did not qualify
Maccabiah Games
Israel is unique amongst the Maccabiah GamesMaccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
teams for two reasons, firstly it is the only true national team competing, and secondly, non-Jews who are Israeli citizens can qualify for it.
Record
- 1981Rugby union at the 1981 Maccabiah GamesRugby union at the 1981 Maccabiah Games was a new event.Rugby union in Israel dated back to the British Mandate period, but had suffered a low profile, however its inclusion in the Maccabiah was seen as a major shot in the arm, and it has been included ever since.-References:...
: ? (entered) - 1985Rugby union at the 1985 Maccabiah GamesRugby union at the 1985 Maccabiah Games was the second time it had appeared at the tournament.-External links:*...
: ? (entered) - 1989Rugby union at the 1989 Maccabiah Games-External links:*...
: ? (entered) - 1993Rugby union at the 1993 Maccabiah GamesRugby union at the 1993 Maccabiah Games.The tournament was won by South Africa. Games were hosted at the Tel Aviv University campus.-Medalists:-External links:*...
: ? (entered) - 1997Rugby union at the 1997 Maccabiah GamesRugby union at the 1997 Maccabiah Games.Games were hosted at the Herzliya Municipal Stadium.The final standings were as follows:# # # # # # # # -Medalists:-External links:*...
: 4th (4/8) - 2001Rugby union at the 2001 Maccabiah GamesRugby union at the 2001 Maccabiah Games was the sixth time that the sport had been featured, and the tenth anniversary of its introduction in 1981.Amongst the teams competing were Israel, South Africa, Australia, the UK, and the USA....
: ? (entered) - 2005Rugby union at the 2005 Maccabiah GamesRugby union at the 2005 Maccabiah Games was held in Netanya with the final played at Herzliya Municipal Stadium in Herzliya.The USA Maccabiah squad suffered a setback when Kevin Armstrong, 26, was taken off in the first twenty minutes of their first match. However, his team would later take the...
: 3rd (Bronze) - 2009Rugby union at the 2009 Maccabiah GamesRugby union at the 2009 Maccabiah Games was held in Netanya starting on July 12. The final was played at Herzliya Municipal Stadium in Herzliya.-Junior competition:Four teams competed at the junior level: GB, Israel, South Africa and Australia.-Venues:...
: 4th (4/7)
2009
Group B games –| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Israel IsraelIsrael The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 10 | 6 |
 United States United States |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 18 | 6 |
 Canada Canada |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 73 | 0 |
 Chile ChileChile Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 179 | 0 |
----
Finals:
Nathan Amos ran the pitch
Maccabiah rugby teams
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- France
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- United States