Belgium

Union	Belgian Rugby Federation
Nickname(s)	Diables Noirs / Zwarte Duivels (Black Devils)
Coach(es)	Richarcd McClintock and Denis Duchau
Captain(s)	Pierre Plasman
Team kit
First international
Netherlands  0 - 6  Belgium (1 july 1930)
Largest win
Belgium  108 - 0  Switzerland (12 November 2005)
Worst defeat
Spain  77 - 0  Belgium (8 December 1996)

The Belgium national rugby union team is the third tier rugby playing nation of Belgium. They first played in 1930 and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Belgium is administered by the Belgian Rugby Federation. Jacques Rogge, the current International Olympic Committee president, was a member of the Belgium national team.

[edit] History

Germany playing Belgium in Qualifiers for the 2007 Rugby World Cup

The Belgium rugby team played their first match on 1 July in 1930 against the Netherlands. Belgium won their first game, defeating the Dutch six points to nil. Although they did not play any games in 1931, Belgium contested annual games against the Netherlands for half a decade, starting in 1932. They drew the 1932 game, but lost subsequent matches during the 1930s. They also played Italy and Germany in 1937, losing both games.

During the 1950s, Belgium continued playing the Netherlands, as well as teams like Spain. Belgium managed a draw in the 1960s against Portugal. In the 1970s they won the majority of their games, as well as playing a broader range of European nations. This trend continued throughout the 1980s. Belgium went on a six-game winning streak in the late 1980s as well. Belgium began playing more and more games as they entered the 1990s, playing their regular European nations. A Belgium side played the Argentina national team, Los Pumas, prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. A Belgium XV played the Barbarians on the 24th of May 2008

[edit] World Cup record

• 1987 - Not invited
• 1991 - Did not qualify
• 1995 - Did not qualify
• 1999 - Did not qualify
• 2003 - Did not qualify
• 2007 - Did not qualify

[edit] Squad

The following squad was selected for a match against Moldova in November 2008:

Julien BERGER ( Stade Rochelais)
Bertrand BILLI ( Soignies)
Dries BOVIJN ( Boitsfort)
Jérôme CAUWE ( ASUB)
Aurélien DECERF ( Arras)
Thomas DIENST ( Lyon OU)
Denis EPPE ( Ottignies)
Charlie FOURNEAU ( Lille)
Damien GODEFROY ( Lille)
Mathew HOCKEN ( Brussels Barbarians)
Simon MAROTE ( Arras)
Julien MASSIMI ( Arras)
Alain MIRIALLAKIS ( Orleans)
Jimmy MULUMBA ( Domont)
David NEMSADZE ( Domont)
Frédéric RONGÉ ( Haywards Heath)
Mathieu VERSCHELDEN ( ASUB)
Allan WILLIAMS ( Castres)
Kevin WILLIAMS ( Arras)
Julien DE SOMER ( ASUB)
Victor WARTIQUE ( Frameries)
Alexander TER HARK ( ASUB)

[edit] See also

• Rugby union in Belgium

[edit] External links

• Belgian Rugby Federation - Official Site