The Croatia national rugby union team is governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. The national side is ranked 46th in the world (as of 20 March 2023)
Internationals
Croatia played their first international on 28 November 1992, away against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and won 47–3. Croatia played four the following year with wins over Austria and Hungary. They then faced off against Italy, who won 76–11. The year finished off with a win over Morocco 36–12 but a loss to Spain .
The following year they won three of their five fixtures, though they lost to Ukraine and Luxembourg, though the following year, they were able to defeat Luxembourg in 1995. Croatia won a number of games in 1996–97, defeating the likes of Israel, Norway, Bulgaria, Latvia and Moldova and but losing to an experienced Georgia that year by 29–15.
1997 to 2000, Croatia played 11 International for 10 wins and 1 loss (to the Netherlands).
Croatia won five matches in a row from 2001 to 2002. Croatia started in round three of the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualification tournament but were knocked out by Latvia and Andorra.
On St. Patrick's Day 17 March 2007, in Knin, the Croatian national team played an Irish Barbarians side and won the St. Pat's in Knin Cup.
On 10 November 2007 Croatia defeated Malta 24–9 in Makarska. There are two internationals coming up in 2008 with Croatia taking on Andorra in Split (19 April) and away to Latvia in Riga (10 May)
Famous players Croatia have a host of players who are New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans of Croatian origin who play the game and have played internationally for these countries. The first New Zealander of Croatian descent to play for Croatia was Brendon Winslow against Luxembourg in 1995.
Other New Zealanders, were Paul Vegar (North Shore, NZ reps), Mario Vodanovich (Te Kauwhata, Counties), Paul Vujcich (Counties, Manurewa and North Shore) and the Graham brothers Rob and Reon (Counties, Patumahoe, Manurewa).
Anthony Posa was another New Zealander who played many times for Croatia (1996–2003), playing out of both the GHA RFC, Glasgow, Scotland and Beverley RUFC, Yorkshire, England. He is now Head Coach of the Yorkshire Under 20 County side which has won numerous English National County Championships and coaches professionally at the Doncaster club in England. His family originated from the Island of Korčula.
Frano Botica was a one time Croatian rugby player and former All Black, whose grandparents were also born in Korčula. Another former All Black who turned out for the Croatian side at the same time was Matthew Cooper. Dan Luger is an England representative whose father Darko Luger is from the island of Brac. Sean Fitzpatrick is another former All Black captain who has Croatian heritage.
Record
World Cup World Cup recordWorld Cup Qualification recordYearRound 1987Part of YugoslaviaPart of Yugoslavia 1991Part of YugoslaviaPart of Yugoslavia 1995Did not enterDid not enter 1999Did not qualify8602297172 200342025670 200741037686 201143017460 201541037892 2019421110679 2023Automatically eliminatedTotal0/90000002815112687559
European Competitions Season Division2000European Nations Cup Second Division4301 105 36 +29 9 2nd2000-01European Nations Cup Second Division5212 70 77 -7 10 4th2002-04European Nations Cup Second Division Pool B8314 114 95 +19 15 3rd2006-08European Nations Cup Second Division 2B8404 133 134 -1 16 3rd2008-10European Nations Cup Second Division 2B8602 161 114 +47 20 2nd2010-12European Nations Cup Second Division 2A8305 162 170 -8 19 4th2012-14European Nations Cup Second Division 2A8206 145 221 -76 11 4th2014-16European Nations Cup Second Division 2A8305 166 217 -51 17 3rd2016-17Rugby Europe Conference 1 South4211 106 79 +27 12 3rd2017-18Rugby Europe Conference 1 South4211 85 97 -12 11 2nd2018-19Rugby Europe Conference 1 South4310 123 69 +54 16 2nd2019-20Rugby Europe Conference 1 South2200 64 30 +34 9 1st2021-22*Rugby Europe Conference 1 South2200 77 11 +66 10 1st2022-23Rugby Europe Trophy4103 100 133 -33 5 5th2023-24Rugby Europe Trophy3102 83 75 +8 6 4th
Overall
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Croatia national XV at test level up until 3 October 2026, updated after match with .
Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn % Won 7 5 1 1 % 4 4 0 0 % 5 2 3 0 % 5 5 0 0 % 2 2 0 0 % 4 4 0 0 % 10 2 8 0 % 6 5 0 1 % 1 0 1 0 0% 1 0 1 0 0% 3 1 1 1 % 5 5 0 0 % 1 0 1 0 0% 1 0 1 0 0% 8 7 1 0 % 8 6 2 0 % 8 4 4 0 % 3 1 1 1 % 15 8 5 2 % 1 0 1 0 0% 1 1 0 0 % 1 1 0 0 100% 5 1 4 0 % 1 1 0 0 % 5 1 4 0 % 1 1 0 0 % 1 1 0 0 % 1 1 0 0 % 11 8 3 0 % 2 0 1 1 0% 8 1 7 0 % 10 2 8 0 % 6 2 4 0 % Total 151 82 62 7 %
Recent Matches Matches
Current squad The following players formed the squad for the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Conference 1 South match against Cyprus on 13 November 2021. Known Caps updated after match with Cyprus.
Head coach: Anthony Posa
See also Rugby union in Croatia
References
External links