The Sweden men's national rugby union team represents Sweden in rugby union. They currently compete in the Rugby Europe Trophy division, two levels of competition below the Six Nations.
History
The national team is governed by the Swedish Rugby Union. Rugby has been played in Sweden since 1933. The first full international was played in 1949 against neighbours Denmark, a game Sweden won 6-0. Sweden has been a member union of World Rugby since 1988 and is one of the 48 members of Rugby Europe.
Sweden celebrated its 75th anniversary as a rugby nation in 2008.
Sweden have won several FIRA / Rugby Europe divisional competitions throughout their history, notably achieving Grand Slams in 1981-82 and 2021-2022. They also won five straight editions of the regional Nordic Cup between 1987 and 1991. Sweden have not yet successfully qualified for the Rugby World Cup.
In recent years the team has enjoyed a sustained period of relative success, having risen to their highest ever world ranking of 30th and going unbeaten in calendar year 2024. Following promotion to the Trophy in 2022, they have consolidated their position at this level having finished second in the table for three straight seasons, losing only to Switzerland and Poland.
In May 2025 the team was invited to compete in the inaugural Granite Trophy, a challenge match set up to showcase a newly formed combined Channel Islands rugby team composed of players drawn from Jersey and Guernsey.
Honours 1981-82 FIRA Trophy Division 3 - Champions (Grand Slam) 1987 Nordic Cup - Champions 1988 Nordic Cup - Champions 1989 Nordic Cup - Champions 1990-92 FIRA Trophy Division 3 - Champions 1990 Nordic Cup - Champions 1991 Nordic Cup - Champions 2006-08 European Nations Cup Division 3 - Champions 2011-12 European Nations Cup Division 3 - Champions 2011 Viking Tri Nations - Champions 2022-23 Rugby Europe Conference 1 North - Champions (Grand Slam)
Age grade and sevens
The Swedish Rugby Union also administers age grade rugby for both sexes; a women's national team and a Sevens national team.
Home ground Sweden currently play international matches primarily at the purpose built Trelleborg Rugby Arena, home of Pingvin RC. Built to replace Pingvin's former home Pilevallen, on which Pilehallen now stands, it was completed in 2024 and features an all-wooden covered grandstand and clubhouse.
In previous seasons games have also been played at Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Malmö Stadium and in Norrköping.
Players Sweden draws its players both from its domestic clubs as well as players competing abroad.
2025/26 Squad +ForwardsPositionClubVilhelm CarlssonLock Stockholm ExilesAdam ChristerssonHooker Lukas EdströmFlanker Newcastle UniversityVaa Pusateri Iuta "Tezza" FryxellNumber 8 Stockholm ExilesElias GranathLock Enköping RCTheodor KarlssonFlanker Stockholm ExilesArmir KozhaniHooker Gustav LindbergProp Malmö RC Ale Loman Prop Leicester TigersArthur MariniFlanker Alexander NahasProp Erikslunds KFWill Neilson Hooker St. Joseph's RFCChristopher NilsériusProp / Hooker Enköpings RKOliver NilssonFlanker Anthony RafaelFlanker / Number 8 Stockholm ExilesChristopher SidgwickLock NRK TrojánChristopher VannerbergLock GTO RC77Levan XhizanishviliProp / Hooker Stockholm Exiles +BacksPositionClubSamuel AhlbeckWing Malmö RCJoar BlanckOutside half Dunvant RFCJames ColeScrum half Stockholm ExilesMathis De ChavailleWing CM Floirac RugbySamuel EkfeldtCentre / Wing Stockholm ExilesRobin Fransson Fullback Enköpings RKJonathan HectorWing Vänersborgs RKDavid HillWing Stockholm ExilesTim JohanssonOutside half RK LivoniaAxel Kalling-Smith (VC)Centre Rams RFCPhilip Murphy (C)Centre Trinity College DublinHannes NylénFullback Enköpings RKJack Tatu RobertssonOutside Half RK LivoniaKristian ThomsonCentre / Wing Hammersmith & Fulham RFC
Uncapped 2026 Squad players The following players participated in the non-cap international vs Gibraltar in March 2026 but are yet to make their full international debuts:
+PlayerPositionClubDan CutlerFlanker Rugby Union Donau WienSetanta MacAodhaWing Enköpings RKKyle Manson KullinProp Stockholm ExilesKarl NilssonWing SAB Rugby
Other/former squad players The following players have either participated in a full-squad training session or taken part in a full senior international game since Autumn 2024: +PlayerPositionClubLinus AhlgrenFlanker Pingvin RCViktor CordesProp Lugi RugbyklubbJack DuffyScrum half Amsterdam Athletic ClubNils GranathSecond Row Enköping RCPetter Stråhle Heelge Prop RK LivoniaOscar LarssonLock Malmö RCMattias NilssonScrum half Club San CiranoAlfred NordgrenWing Malmö RCEskil Flawn OrpanaWing / Fullback Pingvin RCElias PettiforProp SpartacusAron QvarnströmFlanker SpartacusAdrian WaddenLock Oakville Crusaders
Leading Try Scorers NameTriesAxel Kalling-Smith24Ian Gowland21Andreas Bruhn18Kari Tapper16Kanogo Njuru14Bobby Nave 13Alan Letele12Theodor Karlsson12Johan Andersson11Alfred Nordgren10Thomas Arvidsson10
Upcoming Season
2026-27 Rugby Europe Trophy
Table
Key: ↓ Relegated from 2026 Rugby Europe Championship↑ Promoted from 2025-26 Rugby Europe Conference
Fixtures
Recent Results
The following is a list of test and representative matches since 2018. 2025-26 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result Score 25 October 2025 Trelleborg, SwedenRugby Europe Trophy W 57 - 12 1 November 2025 Trelleborg, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy W 38 - 3 15 November 2025 Břevnov, Prague, Czech Republic Rugby Europe Trophy L 48 - 24 21 March 2026 Europa Point Stadium, Gibraltar Non-cap friendly W13 - 37 4 April 2026 Trelleborg, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy W 33 - 32 11 April 2026 Gdynia, Poland Rugby Europe Trophy L 72 - 3
2024-25 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result Score27 October 2024 Trelleborg, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy W22 - 162 November 2024 Aukštaitija Stadium, Lithuania Rugby Europe Trophy W19 - 4616 November 2024 NSC Stjepan Spajic, Zagreb, CroatiaRugby Europe Trophy W31 - 4216 March 2025 Häljarp, Sweden Non-cap Friendly W47 - 11 29 March 2025 Stade de Luxembourg Rugby Europe Trophy W18 - 5712 April 2025 Trelleborg, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy L 25 - 2917 May 2025 Channel Islands Footes Lane, Guernsey Granite Trophy (Non-cap Friendly) L 28 - 66
2023-24 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result Score28 October 2023 Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy W48 - 374 November 2023 Stade Municipal, Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland Rugby Europe Trophy L23 - 1218 November 2023 Gradski sportski centar, Makarska, Croatia Rugby Europe Trophy W20 - 2223 March 2024 Šiauliai Rugby Academy Stadium, Lithuania Rugby Europe Trophy W8 - 276 April 2024 , Trelleborg, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy W36 - 24
2022-23 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result ScoreOctober 29, 2022 Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy W37 - 17November 5, 2022 Malmö Stadion, Sweden Rugby Europe Trophy L12 - 69March 5, 2023 Foixarda, Barcelona Friendly L51 - 14March 18, 2023 Stadion Stari plac, Split, Croatia ‡ Rugby Europe Trophy L38 - 15April 1, 2023 Šiauliai Rugby Academy Stadium, Lithuania Rugby Europe Trophy W15 - 18 ‡ Ukraine played their home game in Croatia due to the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
2021-22 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result Score 23 October 2021 , Norrköping, Sweden Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W51 - 5 23 April 2022 Baldones Stadions, Baldone, Latvia Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W25 - 46 7 May 2022 Budapest Rugby Center, Hungary Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W25 - 29 14 May 2022 Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Sweden Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W28 - 18
2019-20 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result Score 26 October 2019 Sloka Stadium, Jurmala, Latvia Rugby Europe Conference 1 North † W 22 - 26 2 November 2019 Malmö Stadion, Sweden Rugby Europe Conference 1 North † L0 - 13 † Competition cancelled mid-season due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2018-19 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result Score 20 October 2018 , Norrköping, Sweden Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W 80 - 6 3 November 2018 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W 9 - 10 11 May 2019 , Norrköping, Sweden Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W 36 - 27 19 May 2019 Spartak Stadium, Odesa, Ukraine Rugby Europe Conference 1 North L 23 - 14
2017-18 Season Date Opponent Venue Competition Result Score14 October 2017 , Norrköping, Sweden Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W12 - 1028 October 2017 Spartak Stadium, Odesa, Ukraine Rugby Europe Conference 1 North L29 - 814 April 2018 Dorking RFC Brockham, Surrey, England Non-cap friendly W74 - 5 28 April 2018 Centrinis Stadionas, Telšiai, Lithuania Rugby Europe Conference 1 North L 43 - 22 12 May 2018 Enköping, Sweden Rugby Europe Conference 1 North W 50 - 27
Recent Tournament Record
2025-26 Rugby Europe Trophy
Results
Table ChampionsRelegated to Rugby Europe Conference Key: ↑ 2025 promoted side
Mid-season Friendly
FB 15Chris Porral RW 14Pablo KussnerOC 13Charlie BakerIC 12Simon AdamsonLW 11Chris WinrowFH 10Benn MorrisSH 9 Euan KentN8 8 Tristan Lark OF 7 Oscar Cruz (c)BF 6 Charlie HillRL 5 Kalib FalconerLL 4 Ollie PorralTP 3 Kris TimminsHK 2 Luke PayasLP 1 Tommy Grimes Replacements: 16Phil Nilsen 17Stefan Tilbury 18Aidan Beazley 19Joey Galloway 20James Savignon 21Max Wiseman 22Harvey Leroy 23Julian Turnock 24Ashley White FB 15Hannes Nylen RW 14Samuel AhlbäckOC 13Kristian ThomsonIC 12Philip Murphy (c) LW 11Setanta MacAodhaFH 23Tim Johansson SH 9 Jack Duffy N8 8 Theodor KarlssonOF 7 Lukas EdströmBF 6 Vaa Iuta FryxellRL 5 Christopher SidgwickLL 4 Elias GranathTP 3 Anthony RafaelHK 2 Will NeilsonLP 1 Kyle Manson-KullinReplacements: 16Armir Kozhani 17Levan Xhizanishvili 18Adam Christersson 19Christopher Vannerberg 20Karl Nilsson 21David Hill 22Robin Fransson 10Jonathan Hector 24Dan Cutler 24Vilhelm Carlsson
2024-25 Rugby Europe Trophy
Results
Table TrophyWR28 5 5 0 0 182 90 +92 23 14 2 0 2231 5 4 0 1 192 113 +79 26 16 2 1 1932 5 3 0 2 164 89 +75 20 9 2 2 1633 5 1 1 3 147 203 -56 22 27 0 0 634 5 1 0 4 105 182 -77 13 25 1 0 5 ↑▼37 5 0 1 4 95 208 -113 11 26 0 0 2 Key: ↑ 2024 promoted side ▼ Relegated to 2025/6 Rugby Europe Conference WR World Ranking as of April 2025
2025 Granite Trophy
2023-24 Rugby Europe Trophy
Results
Table TrophyWRDLBFADIFF ▲285500219864 1342231540121451123318 ↑325302219215339143352333130 132 -2113451040103143 -404 ▼375005061225 -1640 Key: ↑ 2023 promoted side ▲ Promoted to 2025 Rugby Europe Championship ▼ Relegated to 2024/5 Rugby Europe Conference North WR World Ranking as of April 2024
2022-23 Rugby Europe Trophy
Results
Table TrophyWRDLBFADIFF274400320572 133193642021117135 -189 ↑394202182139 -579524103397 122 -257 ↑4241031100133 -335 Key: ↑ 2022 promoted sides WR World Ranking April 2023
2021-22 Rugby Europe Conference 1 North
Results
Table Conference 1 NorthWRDLBFADIFF ▲384400315481 7119 ↓3743013142 70 7215 ↑633102174109 -355614103056145 -89464300326190 -292 Key: ▲ Promoted to Rugby Europe Trophy ↑ 2019 promoted side ↓ 2019 relegated side WR World Ranking May 2022
Overall tournament record 2017-present : Rugby Europe International Championships Season Competition Single season position Overall season position 2026 - 2027Rugby Europe Trophy TBD (of 6) 2024 - 2026Rugby Europe Trophy 3rd (of 6) 3rd (of 7)Rugby Europe Trophy 2nd (of 6) 2022 - 2024Rugby Europe Trophy 2nd (of 6) 2nd (of 5)Rugby Europe Trophy 2nd (of 5) 2021 - 2022Rugby Europe Conference 1 North 1st (of 5) Grand Slam ChampionsPromoted to Trophy 2019 - 2020Rugby Europe Conference 1 North N/A Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2018 - 2019Rugby Europe Conference 1 North 2nd (of 5)2017 - 2018Rugby Europe Conference 1 North 3rd (of 5)2016 - 2017Rugby Europe Conference 1 North 4th (of 5)
2000-2016 : FIRA-AER European Nations Cup