Estonia national rugby union team

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 current stadium used by the national team is Viimsi Staadion.

Estonia
UnionEstonian Rugby Union
Ground(s)Viimsi Stadium
Coach(es)Chris Budgen[1]
Team kit
Change kit
First international
 Estonia 15 – 22 Finland 
(22 May 2010)
Largest win
 Estonia 59 – 12 Belarus 
(4 October 2014)
Largest defeat
 Finland 55 – 5 Estonia 
(2 October 2010)

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
Against Played Won Lost Drawn % Won
 Belarus1100100.00
 Finland40400.00
 Denmark20200.00
 Hungary10100.00
 Luxembourg10100.00
 Montenegro211050.00
 Norway20200.00
Presidents XV1100100.00
 Slovakia1100100.00
 Turkey20200.00
Total17413023.52

Squad for the 2016 European Nations Cup
  • Ragnar Toompere
  • Taavi Ermel
  • Mamukel Gorelashvili
  • Ashwath Venkatasubramanian
  • Lauri Laaniste
  • Rasmus Toompere
  • Mihkel Parn
  • Kaarel Kokemagi
  • Jaan Lorens
  • Karmo Lomp
  • Pedro Gallardo
  • Andre Astre
  • Kimmo Kokemagi
  • Kullar Veersalu
  • Rob Kalso
  • Marvin Uurike
  • Chris Wallace
  • Luke Veebel
  • Aivar Lohmus
  • Eerik Oja
  • Kristjan Kotkas
  • Karl Pallas

See also

References
  1. "Ex-professional rugby player coaches Estonian team during Army deployment". Belfast Telegraph. 24 February 2018.
  2. "TJs play host to Estonia National Squad". Tonbridge Juddians RFC. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  3. "England Deaf beat Estonia Elite XV". RFU. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  4. "Baltic bonanza as Wales run in 12 tries in Tallinn". Wales Deaf Rugby Union. 9 June 2012.
  5. "Finland victorious in Turku!". Pitchero. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  6. "Finland A v Estonia". Rugby International News. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  7. "Estonian Rugby Team Defeats Belarus 59–12 in Historic Match". Estonian Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
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