Kosovo national rugby union team
| Union | Kosovo Rugby Federation |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Dardanët (Dardanians) |
| Coach(es) | Mark Barrett |
| Captain(s) | Mehdi Kransniqi |
| Top scorer | Mehdi Kransniqi (10) |
| Most tries | Mehdi Kransniqi (1) |
| First international | |
| 7–52 Austria (1 April 2023) | |
| Largest win | |
| 27–0 Montenegro (3 December 2023) | |
| Largest defeat | |
| Austria 95–3 (22 April 2023) | |
The Kosovo national rugby union team is the national rugby union side representing Kosovo.
History
The Kosovo Rugby Federation was established in September 2018[1] and was accepted into Rugby Europe during their 103rd meeting on 3 December 2021.[2] The Kosovo national rugby union team is expected to play its first competitive match on 1 April 2023 at home to Austria in the 2022–23 Rugby Europe International Championships, Development tier.[3][4]
Competitive record
Rugby Europe International Championships
| Rugby Europe International Championships | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Division | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | P/R | ||||
| before 2023 | Team did not exist | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Development | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | ||||
| 2024 | Development | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||
| 2025 | Conference | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
| Total | |||||||||||
Squad
| No. | Name | Position | Club/Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armir Sfarqa | Prop | Finchley RFC |
| 2 | Agon Ademi | Hooker | Bears RFC |
| 3 | Edon Grajqevci | Prop | Provins RC |
| 4 | Arjanit Ibishi | Lock | Bears RFC |
| 5 | Daris Lekovic | Lock | Peja Eagles |
| 6 | Leart Hoxha | Backrow | Bears RFC |
| 7 | Ardian Beqiri | Backrow | Winterthur |
| 8 | Ramadam Elshani | Backrow | Bears RFC |
| 9 | Granit Hasani | Scrumhalf | Peja Eagles |
| 10 | Mehdi Kransniqi (c) | Flyhalf | Epernay Champagne |
| 11 | Ardit Koci | Winger | Bears RFC |
| 12 | Naser Sahitaj | Centre | TGS Haussen |
| 13 | Kushtrim Dragusha | Centre | Bears RFC |
| 14 | Azdren Celaj | Winger | Bears RFC |
| 15 | Elton Rexhepi | Fullback | Bears RFC |
| 16 | Diamant Rexhepi | Hooker | Bears RFC |
| 17 | Albion Ukaj | Prop | Annemasse RC |
| 18 | Shaipridion Begolli | Lock | Bears RFC |
| 19 | Dardan Gashi | Centre | Peja Eagles |
| 20 | Bekim Elezi | Scrumhalf | SCS Rugby Berlin |
| 21 | Fatmir Ismajli | Fullback | Bears RFC |
| 22 | Saud Slivova | Winger | Bears RFC |
| 23 | Artan Hasani | Winger | Bears RFC |
Fixtures and results
2023
2024
Head-to-head record
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Kosovo national XV at test level up until 5 April 2025, updated after match with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| Opponents | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | For | Aga | Diff | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 147 | -137 | 0% |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 77 | -67 | 0% |
| Montenegro | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 90 | -51 | 33.33% |
| Slovenia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 74 | -64 | 0% |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 79 | 388 | -309 | 14.29% |
See also
References
- ^ "About Us". Kosovo Rugby Federation. 19 July 2017.
- ^ "Kosovo is accepted as a member of "Rugby Europe"". RTV21. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ a b https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/competitions/development-22-23/kosovo-v-austria/
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=782901813338080&set=a.612089907085939