Basque Country national rugby union team (Basque: Euskal Herriko errugbi selekzioa) is the national and/or representative rugby union team of the Basque Country. It is also sometimes referred to as the Basque Selection. They made their international debut on 14 May 1983 against Wales while the latter were on a tour of Spain. The Basque Country lost this game 3–24. Since 1985 the team has been organised by the Basque Rugby Federation.

History Friendlies Since making their international debut against Wales in 1983, the Basque Country has regularly played international friendlies. They have also played regular friendlies against Basque club teams, including Aviron Bayonnais and Biarritz Olympique, and against touring club and provincial teams, including Ulster and Leinster.

Competitions Since 1983–84 the Basque Country have competed in the Spanish Regions Championship, featuring other teams, such as Catalonia, representing the autonomous communities of Spain. This competition is organised by the Spanish Rugby Federation. The Basque Country were the inaugural winners of this competition. Since 2001–02 they have also competed in the European Regions Championship. On 8 December 2011 the Basque Country also played a Lisbon XV in the final of the Iberian Regions Cup, losing 22–30.

List of international results Date Home Score Away Venue14 May 1983 Basque Country3–24 Guernica26 February 1984 Basque Country24–1212 May 1984 Basque Country7–24Hernani1984–8512–6 Basque Country1985–86 Basque Country23–133 March 1985 Basque Country25–421 September 1985 Basque Country6–8Getxo5 June 198816–9 Basque Country8 May 1990 Basque Country3–64Anoeta Stadium11 May 1990 Basque Country56–15San Mamés1992–93 Basque Country6–10 Irish Exiles1992–93 Basque Country14–221993–94 Basque Country28–101993–94 Basque Country11–214 April 1995 Basque Country41–10San Sebastián1995–96 Basque Country25–171996–97 Basque Country37–141997–98 Basque Country29–81997–98 Basque Country31–311998–99 Basque Country8–173 March 1999 Basque Country34–12Eibar2003–04 Basque Country33–2518 June 200617–21 Basque CountryCornellà

Notes Spanish Regions Championship final

Recent results

Team details FB 15Jon IturririaRW 14Ander AyalaOC 13Vincent BordagarayIC 12Beñat Goicoetxea LW 11Clement Sallaber FH 10Igor GenuaSH 9 Pablo Feijóo N8 8 Jon MagunazelaiaOF 7 Adrien Juanicotena BF 6 Clement Pinon (c)RL 5 Julen ZamakolaLL 4 Damien ElgoyhenTP 3 Sebastien Guillemin HK 2 David Pérez LP 1 Ekaitz Sadaba Replacements:PR 16Christophe Gaye HK 17Facundo Orive PR 18Iker Lavín LK 19Gastón Ibarburu FL 20William BrocaSH 21Mikel Ezeiza WG 22Mathieu BetacheWG 23Axier Álvarez de Eulate Coach: Jean Pierre Elissalde FB 15Jerónimo EtcheverryRW 14Francisco BulantiOC 13Joaquín PradaIC 12Alberto RománLW 11Rodrigo Silva FH 10Manuel BlengioSH 9 Alejo Durán N8 8 Agustín Alonso OF 7 Fernando Bascou BF 6 Juan de FreitasRL 5 Mathias Palomeque LL 4 Franco Lamanna TP 3 Oscar Durán (c)HK 2 Germán Kessler LP 1 Mateo Sanguinetti Replacements:HK 16Carlos Arboleya PR 17Mario Sagario PR 18Alejo Corral LK 19Jorge ZerbinoFL 20Diego Magno FL 21Matías Beer SH 22Andrés Vilaseca WG 23Santiago Gibernau Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Team details FB 15Oier GarmendiaRW 14Thomas ChouzenouxOC 13Guillen GiresseIC 12Peyo Achigar LW 11Clement Sallaber FH 10Stephane GuecainburuSH 9 Pablo Feijóo N8 8 Jean Yves OrabeOF 7 Adrien Juanicotena BF 6 Clement Pinon (c)RL 5 Damien ElgoyhenLL 4 Jean-Marc Zubizarreta TP 3 Bittor Aboitiz HK 2 Unai Lasa LP 1 Jon Insausti Replacements:PR 16Xabi Argagnon HK 17Jojo Blaison PR 18Axier Álvarez de Eulate LK 19Igor Genua FL 20Battitt ChaudiereSH 21Thomas Erguy WG 22Florien LapeyradeWG 23Mikel Meabebasterretxea Coach: Jean Pierre Elissalde FB 15Francisco UrrozRW 14Franco VelardeOC 13Pablo CasasIC 12José Ignacio LarenasLW 11Italo Zunino FH 10Francisco GonzálezSH 9 Juan Pablo Perrotta (c)N8 8 Nikola Bursic OF 7 Javier Richard BF 6 Cristóbal NiedmannRL 5 Felipe Bassaletti LL 4 Raimundo Piwonka TP 3 Roberto Oyarzún HK 2 Felipe Burgos LP 1 Iñaki Gurruchaga Replacements:HK 16Claudio Zamorano PR 17Sebastián Parra PR 18Sergio de la Fuente LK 19Benjamín SotoFL 20Hernán Amigo FL 21Sergio Bascuñán SH 22Francisco de la Fuente WG 23Leonardo Montoya Coach: Paul Healy Touch judges: Pedro Montoya (Spain) Arnaltz Bilbao (Spain)

Honours Spanish Regions Championship Winners: 1983–84, 1984–85, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11: 14 Runners-up: 1987–88, 1994–95, 2000–01, 2000–01, 2001–02 : 5 Iberian Regions Cup Runners-up: 2011 : 1

List of Basque players who also represented IRB international teams in International matches

See also Basque Country women's national rugby union team List of Basque rugby union players

References