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...

 in Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 94th by the IRB

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...

.

Governing body

The governing body is the Finnish Rugby Federation

Finnish Rugby Federation

The Finnish Rugby Federation is recognised by the Finnish National Olympic Committee as the national governing body for rugby in Finland....

 (Suomen Rugbyliitto) (:

History

Finland was the last of the major Nordic countries to take up rugby. Both Denmark

Rugby union in Denmark

Rugby union in Denmark is a minor but growing sport.-Governing body:The Danish Rugby Union dates back to 1950, and joined the IRB in 1988. They joined the Scandinavian Rugby Union in 1974.-History:...

 and Sweden

Rugby union in Sweden

Rugby union in Sweden is a minor but growing sport.-Governing body:The Swedish Rugby Federation was founded in 1932, and joined the IRFB in 1988.-History:...

 started playing rugby in the 20th century, and more recently Norway

Rugby union in Norway

Rugby union in Norway is a minor but growing sport.For a number of years, Norway was arguably the most northerly country playing the sport, and boasted the world's most northerly rugby club, Oslo RFC, which was founded in 1964.-History:...

 in the 1980s and 1990s. Neighbouring Russia

Rugby union in Russia

Rugby union in Russia is a growing sport. Russia is ranked 19th worldwide by the International Rugby Board , having over one hundred clubs and close to 20,000 players nationally. Russia has a professional domestic competition.-Governing body:...

 and to a lesser extent Estonia

Rugby union in Estonia

Rugby union in Estonia is a minor but growing sport.-Governing body:The national body is the Estonian Rugby Union .The Estonian Rugby Federation was the original rugby body, but did not affiliate to the IRB, as it was a "federation" of one team, instea of the required three...

 started playing within the Soviet Era, during the 1950s and 60s.

Finnish rugby started to grow during the 1990s, and early 21st century. There are now 362 players registered with the SRL.

In 2000, Helsinki RFC made Finnish rugby history, when they beat a team from , a vessel in the British Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

Teams

Currently Finland fields five national teams. Men 15s, Women 7s & 15s as well as the U20 and U17 age groups.

External links

• IRB Finland page
• official union page
• FIRA-AER Finland page
• Helsinki RFC Jyväskylä Rugby Club Tampere Rugby Club
• Turku Eagles
• Warriors Rugby Helsinki
• Lahtisisu Rugby Club
• Rugby Finland Forum
• Vaasa Wolves Tervetuloa Suomen Pyörätuolirugby-sivuille (Wheelchair rugby
  Wheelchair rugby
  Wheelchair rugby, , is a team sport for athletes with a disability. It is currently practiced in over twenty countries around the world and is a Paralympic sport....
  
  ) Archives du Rugby: Finlande