Kosovo
UnionKosovo Rugby Federation
Nickname(s)Dardanët (Dardanians)
Coach(es)Mark Barrett
Captain(s)Mehdi Krasniqi
First international
 Slovenia 22–5 Kosovo 
(11 June 2022)
Largest win
 Kosovo 38–0 Estonia 
(12 June 2022)
Largest defeat
 Kosovo 0–48 Malta 
(11 June 2022)

The Kosovo national rugby sevens team is the national rugby sevens side representing Kosovo.

History

The Kosovo Rugby Federation was established in September 2018. A great role in its establishment has played the Rugby Community in Kosovo. Rugby community consists of people that come with different cultural backgrounds coming from different continents of the world.[1] On 3 December 2021, Kosovo was accepted in Rugby Europe during their 103rd meeting.[2]

Competitive record

Rugby Europe Sevens

On 8 April 2022, it was decided that Kosovo should be part of Rugby Europe Sevens in Conference 2 of the 2022 Rugby Europe Sevens Conference, together with Estonia, Malta, San Marino, Slovakia and Slovenia.[3] On 11 June 2022, Kosovo made their debut in the Rugby Europe Sevens Conference with a 22–5 away defeat against Slovenia, which match was also the team's first-ever match.[4] A day later, Kosovo achieved their first win in the Rugby Europe Sevens Conference, which was also the team's first-ever win, a 38–0 home win against Estonia.[5] Kosovo is set to participate in the 2023 Conference 2 between 17 and 18 June 2023 in Bar, Montenegro.[6]

Rugby Europe Sevens
Year Division Pos Pld W D L P/R
before 2022 Team did not exist
Malta 2022 Conf. 2 5th 5 1 0 4 Same position
Montenegro 2023 Conf. 2
Total 5 1 0 4 —

Fixtures and results

2022

11 June Slovenia  22–5  Kosovo Hibernians Stadium, Paola, Malta  
10:00 Report
11 June Slovakia  22–12  Kosovo Hibernians Stadium, Paola, Malta  
16:44 Report
11 June Kosovo  0–48  Malta Hibernians Stadium, Paola, Malta  
19:14 Report
12 June San Marino  30–0  Kosovo Hibernians Stadium, Paola, Malta  
14:44 Report
12 June Kosovo  38–0  Estonia Hibernians Stadium, Paola, Malta  
17:14 Report

Players

Current squad

No. Player Club
1 Ramadan Elshani Kosovo Bears
2 Ndrec Musolli Kosovo Bears
3 Ardian Beqiri Switzerland Winterthur
4 Mehdi Krasniqi France Épernay Champagne
5 Kushtrim Dragusha Kosovo Bears
6 Mirsad Idrizi Kosovo Bears
7 Fatmir Ismajli Kosovo Bears
8 Korab Sefaj Kosovo Peja Eagles
9 Elton Rexhepi Kosovo Bears
10 Fatos Ibrahimi Kosovo Bears
11 Dardan Gashi Kosovo Peja Eagles
12 Ardit Koci Kosovo Bears

Head-to-head record

As of 12 June 2022
Opponent Pld W D L Win %
 Estonia 1 1 0 0 100.00
 Malta 1 0 0 1 000.00
 San Marino 1 0 0 1 000.00
 Slovakia 1 0 0 1 000.00
 Slovenia 1 0 0 1 000.00
5 countries 5 1 0 4 020.00

See also

References

  1. ^ "About Us". Kosovo Rugby Federation. 19 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Kosovo is accepted as a member of "Rugby Europe"". RTV21. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Rugby Europe Sevens Series 2022 calendar confirmed". Rugby Europe. 8 April 2022.
  4. ^ @KosovoRugby (June 11, 2022). "#KosovoRugby first match in #Conference2 ends in a defeat despite the courageous display of our boys. #Slovenia won the match 22–5 (12–5 H1). We hope for a victory in the second match against #Slovakia!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Kosovo v Estonia". Rugby Europe. 12 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Conference 2 7s 2023".
  7. ^ "Pjesëmarrje historike në garat ndërkombëtare, prezantohet ekipi i Kosovës në ragbi" [Historic participation in international competitions, the Kosovo rugby team is presented] (in Albanian). Kosova Press. 7 June 2022.

External links

National sports teams of Kosovo
National rugby sevens teams
International rugby union teams
Categories