Sweden national rugby union team
Men's national rugby union team representing Sweden From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sweden national rugby union team represents Sweden in rugby union.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2025) |
| ||
| Union | Svenska Rugbyförbundet | |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Alex Laybourne | |
| Captain | Philip Murphy | |
| Top scorer | Ian Gowland (21) | |
| ||
| World Rugby ranking | ||
| Current | 30 (as of 27 January 2025) | |
| Highest | 30 (2024) | |
| Lowest | 62 (2016) | |
| First international | ||
| Sweden 6–0 Denmark (23 October 1949) | ||
| Biggest win | ||
| Luxembourg 3–116 Sweden (5 May 2001) | ||
| Biggest defeat | ||
| Soviet Union 72–0 Sweden (1 July 1976) | ||
| World Cup | ||
| Appearances | 0 | |
Rugby has been played in Sweden since 1933, the first full international being played in 1949 against Denmark. The country celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2008.
Sweden has been a member union of World Rugby since 1988 and is one of the 48 members of Rugby Europe.
Sweden won Rugby Europe Division 2 in 2012 and Conference 1 North in 2022, beating the Czech Republic in the final league game of the season at Stockholm's Stadion, in front of more than 1,500 spectators, promoting them to the Rugby Europe Trophy, a league level consolidated in 22/23 with a third-placed finish.
The national side is ranked 31st in the world (as of November 11, 2024).[2]
Current squad
This is the Sweden squad that has been selected for the Rugby Europe Trophy match against Luxembourg on 12 April 2025:
| Player | Club | Player | Club |
| Adam Christersson |  Kalmar Södra IFR |
Adrian Wadden |  Oakville Crusaders |
| Ale Loman |  Nottingham RFC / Leicester Tigers |
Alexander Nahas | Erikslunds KF |
| Alfred Nordgren | Malmö RC |
Armir Kozhani | Kalmar Södra IFR |
| Arthur Marini |  Rugby Club de Drancy |
Axel Kalling-Smith (VC) | Rams RFC |
| Christopher Nilsérius | Enköpings RK |
Christopher Vannerberg | GTO RC77 |
| David Hill | Stockholm Exiles |
Elias Granath | Dings Crusaders RFC |
| Jack Tatu Robertsson |  RK Livonia |
Mathis De Chavaille | CM Floirac Rugby |
| Mattias Nilsson |  Club San Cirano |
Oscar Larsson | Malmö RC |
| Petter Stråhle Heelge | RK Livonia |
Philip Murphy (C) |  Trinity College Dublin |
| Robin Fransson | Enköpings RK |
Samuel Ahlbeck | Malmö RC |
| Theodor Karlsson | Stockholm Exiles |
Tim Johansson | RK Livonia |
| Vaa Pusateri Iuta Fryxell | Stockholm Exiles |
Viktor Cordes | Lugi Rugbyklubb |
| Hannes Nylén (Reserve) | Enköpings RK |
Other recent callups :
| Player | Club | Player | Club |
| Linus Ahlgren | Pingvin RC |
Samuel Ekfeldt | Stockholm Exiles |
| Vilhelm Carlsson | Stockholm Exiles |
Leading Try Scorers
| Name | tries |
|---|---|
| Ian Gowland | 21 |
| Axel Kalling-Smith | 20 |
| Andreas Bruhn | 18 |
| Kari Tapper | 16 |
| Kanogo Njuru | 14 |
| Bobby Nave | 13 |
| Alan Letele | 12 |
| Theodor Karlsson | 12 |
| Johan Andersson | 11 |
| Alfred Nordgren | 10 |
| Thomas Arvidsson | 10 |
Rugby Europe Conference 1 North Champions 2021/22
2019 promoted side ↑ 2019 relegated side ↓ WR = World Ranking May 2022
| Conference 1 North | WR | Pl | W | D | L | B | F | A | DIFF | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden |
38 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 154 | 81 | 71 | 19 |
 Czech Republic ↓ |
37 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 142 | 70 | 72 | 15 |
| Latvia ↑ |
63 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 74 | 109 | -35 | 5 |
 Luxembourg |
61 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 145 | -89 | 4 |
 Hungary |
64 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 61 | 90 | -29 | 2 |
Rugby Europe Trophy Fixtures and Results 2022/23
| DATE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Croatia |
22 - 27 |  Ukraine |
22/10/2022 |
| Sweden |
37 - 17 | Croatia |
29/10/2022 |
 Lithuania |
39 v 20 | Ukraine |
05/11/2022 |
| Sweden |
12 v 69 |  Switzerland |
05/11/2022 |
| Switzerland |
45 v 6 | Lithuania |
12/11/2022 |
| Ukraine |
32 v 59 | Switzerland |
12/03/2023 |
| Ukraine |
38 v 15 | Sweden |
18/03/2023 |
| Lithuania |
37 v 39 | Croatia |
25/03/2023 |
| Lithuania |
15 v 18 | Sweden |
01/04/2023 |
| Croatia |
22 v 32 | Switzerland |
01/04/2023 |
Final League Table 2022/23
2022 promoted sides ↑ WR = current World Ranking (Apr 6 2023)
Rugby Europe Trophy Fixtures and Results 2023/24
| DATE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden |
48 - 37 | Czech Republic |
28/10/2023 |
| Czech Republic |
48 - 22 | Croatia |
04/11/2023 |
| Ukraine |
14 v 32 | Lithuania |
04/11/2023 |
| Switzerland |
23 v 12 | Sweden |
04/11/2023 |
| Lithuania |
17 v 31 | Switzerland |
11/11/2023 |
| Ukraine |
5 v 41 | Croatia |
11/11/2023 |
| Croatia |
20 v 22 | Sweden |
18/11/2023 |
| Czech Republic |
34 v 24 | Lithuania |
25/11/2023 |
| Czech Republic |
25 v 41 | Switzerland |
09/03/2024 |
| Croatia |
37 v 22 | Lithuania |
16/03/2024 |
| Lithuania |
8 v 27 | Sweden |
23/03/2024 |
| Ukraine |
18 v 48 | Czech Republic |
23/03/2024 |
| Switzerland |
35 v 10 | Croatia |
23/03/2024 |
| Sweden |
36 v 24 | Ukraine |
06/04/2024 |
| Switzerland |
68 v 0 | Ukraine |
13/04/2024 |
Final League Table 2023/24
2023 promoted sides ↑ Promoted to 2025 Rugby Europe Championship ▲ Relegated to 2024/5 Conference North ▼ WR = current World Ranking (Apr 6 2024)
| Trophy | WR | Pl | W | D | L | B | F | A | DIFF | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland ▲ |
28 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 198 | 64 | 134 | 22 |
| Sweden |
31 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 145 | 112 | 33 | 18 |
| Czech Republic ↑ |
32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 192 | 153 | 39 | 14 |
| Croatia |
33 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 130 | 132 | -2 | 11 |
| Lithuania |
34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 103 | 143 | -40 | 4 |
| Ukraine ▼ |
37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 61 | 225 | -164 | 0 |
Rugby Europe Trophy Fixtures and Results 2024/25
| DATE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithuania |
47 - 20 | Luxembourg |
26/10/2024 |
| Sweden |
22 - 16 | Czech Republic |
26/10/2024 |
| Lithuania |
19 - 46 | Sweden |
02/11/2024 |
| Czech Republic |
49 - 26 | Croatia |
09/11/2024 |
| Croatia |
31 - 42 | Sweden |
16/11/2024 |
 Poland |
40 - 13 | Lithuania |
16/11/2024 |
| Croatia |
32 - 23 | Lithuania |
23/11/2024 |
| Czech Republic |
15 - 22 | Poland |
23/11/2023 |
| Luxembourg |
31 - 31 | Croatia |
30/11/2024 |
| Poland |
58 - 27 | Croatia |
22/02/2025 |
| Czech Republic |
40 - 16 | Luxembourg |
08/03/2025 |
| Lithuania |
3 - 44 | Czech Republic |
29/03/2025 |
| Luxembourg |
18 - 57 | Sweden |
29/03/2025 |
| Luxembourg |
v | Poland |
05/04/2025 |
| Sweden |
v | Poland |
12/04/2025 |
Results and Fixtures
The following is a list of test matches since 2018, as well as any future test matches that have been officially scheduled. [3]
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Competition | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 October 2017 | Hungary |
Norrkōping, Sweden | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 12 - 10 |
| 28 October 2017 | Ukraine |
Odesa, Ukraine | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | L | 29 - 8 |
| 28 April 2018 | Lithuania |
Kaunas, Lithuania | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | L | 43 - 22 |
| 12 May 2018 | Latvia |
Enköping, Sweden | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 50 - 27 |
| 20 October 2018 |  Moldova |
Norrkōping, Sweden | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 80 - 6 |
| 3 November 2018 | Luxembourg |
Luxembourg | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 9 - 10 |
| 11 May 2019 | Hungary |
Norrkōping, Sweden | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 36 - 27 |
| 19 May 2019 | Ukraine |
Odesa, Ukraine | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | L | 23 - 14 |
| 26 October 2019 | Latvia |
Jurmala, Latvia | International | W | 22 - 26 |
| 2 November 2019 | Luxembourg |
Malmö, Sweden | International | L | 0 - 13 |
| 23 October 2021 | Luxembourg |
Norrköping, Sweden | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 51 - 5 |
| 23 April 2022 | Latvia |
Baldone, Latvia | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 25 - 46 |
| 7 May 2022 | Hungary |
Budapest, Hungary | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 25 - 29 |
| 14 May 2022 | Czech Republic |
Stockholm, Sweden | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | W | 28 - 18 |
| October 29, 2022 | Croatia |
Stockholm, Sweden | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 37 - 17 |
| November 5, 2022 | Switzerland |
Malmö, Sweden | Rugby Europe Trophy | L | 12 - 69 |
| March 18, 2023 | Ukraine |
Split, Croatia | Rugby Europe Trophy | L | 38 - 15 |
| April 1, 2023 | Lithuania |
Siauliai, Lithuania | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 15 - 18 |
| 28 October 2023 | Czech Republic |
Stockholm, Sweden | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 48 - 37 |
| 4 November 2023 | Switzerland |
Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland | Rugby Europe Trophy | L | 23 - 12 |
| 18 November 2023 | Croatia |
Makarska, Croatia | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 20 - 22 |
| 23 March 2024 | Lithuania |
Siauliai, Lithuania | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 8 - 27 |
| 6 April 2024 | Ukraine |
Trelleborg, Sweden | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 36 - 24 |
| 27 October 2024 | Czech Republic |
Trelleborg, Sweden | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 22 - 16 |
| 2 November 2024 | Lithuania |
Aukštaitija Stadium, Lithuania | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 19 - 46 |
| 16 November 2024 | Croatia |
NSC Stjepan Spajic | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 31 - 42 |
| 16 March 2025 |  Denmark |
Häljarp, Sweden | Friendly [4][better source needed] | W | 47 - 11 |
| 29 March 2025 | Luxembourg |
Stade de Luxembourg | Rugby Europe Trophy | W | 18-57 |
| 12 April 2025 | Poland |
Trelleborg, Sweden | Rugby Europe Trophy | ||
| 17 May 2025 |   Channel Islands |
Footes Lane, Guernsey | Granite Trophy [5] |
Record
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Sweden national XV at test level up until 12 April 2025, updated after match with Poland.
| Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | % Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Andorra | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 40% |
 Armenia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
 Austria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
 Belgium | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 33.33% |
| Croatia | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.71% |
| Czech Republic | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 55.56% |
| Czechoslovakia | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0% |
| Denmark | 49 | 36 | 10 | 3 | 73.47% |
 East Germany | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
 Finland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
 Gibraltar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
 Germany | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25% |
| Hungary | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
 Israel | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Latvia | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 69.23% |
| Lithuania | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 72.73% |
| Luxembourg | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87.5% |
 Malta | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 25% |
| Moldova | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% |
 Netherlands | 19 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 5.26% |
 Norway | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Poland | 16 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 6.25% |
 Portugal | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
 Serbia and Montenegro | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60% |
 Soviet Union | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
 Spain | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Switzerland | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75% |
 Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Ukraine | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 12.5% |
| West Germany | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 40% |
| Total | 220 | 111 | 103 | 6 | 50.45% |
Honours
- 2012 Champions European Nations Cup Division 2
- 2022 Champions Rugby Europe Conference 1 North
References
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