Yugoslavia national rugby union team

SFR Yugoslavia
UnionRagbi Savez Jugoslavije
Nickname(s)Plavi
Most capsNikola Stancevic (44)
Top scorerNasir Vehabovic (48)
Team kit
First international
 Romania 11–3 Yugoslavia 
(31 July 1968)
Largest win
 Yugoslavia 46–4 Denmark 
(15 May 1982)
Largest defeat
 Yugoslavia 6–86 France 
(20 September 1979)
World Cup
Appearancesnone

The Yugoslavia national rugby union team used to represent Yugoslavia at Rugby union until the 1990s.

History

[edit]
Further information: Rugby union in Yugoslavia

SFR Yugoslavia made their debut as early as 1968 against a Romanian XV, losing 3 points to 11 in World Youth Sports Games in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria). They made their full Test debut on 29.December 1968, in FIRA competition against Italy. Till the 1991 SFR Yugoslavia national rugby team played in total 66 Test games and regularly participated in FIRA Nations Cup and FIRA Trophy. The last game SFR Yugoslavia played in April 1991 against Czechoslovakia and won the first time against this opponent.

The best result SFR Yugoslavia gained in season 1979–1980. After wins against The Netherlands and Sweden, drawn against West Germany and defeat versus Spain SFR Yugoslavia finished second in B group, eight in total ranking in FIRA competition.

National managers were Branimir Alaupovic from Zagreb (twice), Mihovil Radja from Split,Dusan Novakov from Pancevo, Marko Protega from Split and Suad Kapetanovic from Zenica.

Yugoslavia affiliated to the IRB in 1988 [1] and played in the 1988 World Cup qualification.

Due to the links between many Yugoslav and New Zealand families, the side also toured there.[1]


Notable players

[edit]
Main article: List of SFR Yugoslavia national rugby union players

The longest serving and the most capped players were Nikola Stancevic and Dragan Kesic from Dinamo Pancevo, Ante Zekan, Branko Radic, Damir Buzov and Vinko Labrovic from Nada Split, Tihomir Vranesevic and Dubravko Gerovac from Zagreb, Damir Uzunovic, Sreto Cadjo, Nasir Vehabovic and Jasmin Deljkic from Celik Zenica, Drago Lulic from Energoinvest Makarska, Zlatko Zver from Koloys LJubljana, Dragan Grujic from Partizan Belgrade.

In the second half of the 1980s, many SFR Yugoslavia representatives came to France to play rugby as semi-pro players in lower-level clubs. Drago Lulic from RK Energoinvest Makarska was the first, joining Montchanin in 1986. In 1987, Midi-Olympique rugby magazine voted Lulic as The Player of the Month for November. Lulic was also voted twice as Player of the week. In the 1987–1988 season, Damir Uzunovic, Ibrahim Hasagic and Pero Barisic joined Lulic at Montchanin Rugby Sportif. Lulic later played for Union Sportive Bourg-en-Bresse and Rhone-Alpes and finished his career in 1996 with Lons les Saunier.

Damir Dimitrijevic, Nikola Scepanovic, Renato Jukic and Muharem Gafurovic played for RC Dijon. Jasmin Deljkic played for Chalon Rugby. Pavle Grubisic, Vinko Labrovic and Dusan Jerotijevic for Plaisir Rugby. Boro Karaman played for Union Sportive Bourg-en-Bresse.

The highest individual achievement was by Dzoni Mandic, a 1.95 m and 110 kg, lock/backrow player. After a couple seasons in Club Olympique Creusot Bourgogne he joined Grenoble and in 1993 he played in the finale of the French Rugby Championship. He later played for Nice Rugby Club also.


Successor teams

[edit]

The rugby teams of Yugoslavia's successor states have had varying success, but none have yet qualified for the World Cup.

Test games

[edit]
Date Venue Opposition Result Tournament
31.07.1968. Stara Zagora  RomaniaXV 3–11 World Youth Games
02.08.1968. Stara Zagora  Bulgaria 6–29 World Youth Games
29.12.1968. San Dona di Piave  Italy 3–22 1968–1969 FIRA Nations Cup
01.05.1969. PANCEVO  Bulgaria 22–6 1968–1969 FIRA Nations Cup
21.12.1969. Madrid  Spain 3–14 1969–1970 FIRA Nations Cup
05.04.1970. S.PALANKA  Poland 12–9 1969–1970 FIRA Nations Cup
18.10.1970. SISAK  Poland 19–15 Friendly
24.10.1970. Havirov  Czechoslovakia 3–19 1970–1971 FIRA Nations Cup
29.11.1970. ZAGREB  Czechoslovakia 0–9 1970–1971 FIRA Nations Cup
05.12.1971. Madrid  Spain 4–26 1971–1972 FIRA Nations Cup
30.04.1972. SPLIT  Spain 7–21 1971–1972 FIRA Nations Cup
15.11.1972. Brussels  Belgium 0–3 Friendly
19.11.1972. Hague  Netherlands 3–9 Friendly
26.11.1972. Aosta  Italy 12–13 1972–1973 FIRA Nations Cup
08.04.1973. MAKARSKA  Portugal 3–3 1972–1973 FIRA Nations Cup
21.10.1973. Prague  Czechoslovakia 3–32 1973–1974 FIRA Trophy – Group B
11.11.1973. ZAGREB  Italy 7–25 1973–1974 FIRA Trophy – Group B
01.05.1974. MAKARSKA  West Germany 8–20 1973–1974 FIRA Trophy – Group B
26.10.1975. Gottwaldov  Czechoslovakia 3–28 1975–1976 FIRA Trophy – Group B
25.04.1976. SPLIT   Switzerland 31–4 1975–1976 FIRA Trophy – Group B
08.12.1976. Brussels  Belgium 6–8 1976–1977 FIRA Trophy – Group B
11.12.1976. Lausanne   Switzerland 18–6 1976–1977 FIRA Trophy – Group B
14.05.1978. SARAJEVO  Soviet Union 3–18 1977–1978 FIRA Trophy
18.05.1978. TRAVNIK  Soviet Union 6–16 1977–1978 FIRA Trophy
15.10.1978. Enkoping  Sweden 7–3 1978–1979 FIRA Trophy – Group B
02.12.1978. SPLIT  Netherlands 11–30 1978–1979 FIRA Trophy – Group B
16.09.1979. SPLIT  Tunisia 23–0 Mediterranean Games
20.09.1979. SPLIT  France 6–86 Mediterranean Games
22.09.1979. SPLIT  Morocco 7–22 Mediterranean Games
17.11.1979. SPLIT  RomaniaXV 6–32 25th Anniversary of Yugoslavia RU
16.12.1979. LJUBLJANA  Netherlands 10–6 1979–1980 FIRA Trophy – Group B
22.12.1979. Madrid  Spain 3–25 1979–1980 FIRA Trophy – Group B
03.05.1980. Hannover  West Germany 6–6 1979–1980 FIRA Trophy – Group B
17.05.1980. SPLIT  Sweden 14–4 1979–1980 FIRA Trophy – Group B
30.11.1980. KARDELJEVO  West Germany 0–16 1980–1981 FIRA Trophy – Group B
14.12.1980. Hilversum  Netherlands 0–17 1980–1981 FIRA Trophy – Group B
25.04.1981. SPLIT  Morocco 0–13 1980–1981 FIRA Trophy – Group B
27.11.1981. Lausanne   Switzerland 10–0 1981–1982 FIRA Trophy Third division
29.11.1981. Liege  Belgium 0–9 1981–1982 FIRA Trophy Third division
08.05.1982. LJUBLJANA  Sweden 9–17 1981–1982 FIRA Trophy Third division
15.05.1982. ZENICA  Denmark 46–4 1981–1982 FIRA Trophy Third division
18.09.1982. SPLIT  Tunisia 4–0 Friendly
14.11.1982. Prague  Czechoslovakia 9–17 1982–1983 FIRA Trophy Third division
27.11.1982. SPLIT   Switzerland 36–19 1982–1983 FIRA Trophy Third division
30.04.1983. LJUBLJANA  Belgium 23–3 1982–1983 FIRA Trophy Third division
14.05.1983. Tunis  Tunisia 6–41 1982–1983 FIRA Trophy Third division
05.11.1983. SPLIT  Czechoslovakia 16–20 1983–1984 FIRA Trophy Pool B
13.11.1983. Hannover  West Germany 0–38 1983–1984 FIRA Trophy Pool B
05.05.1984. SPLIT  Tunisia 12–22 1983–1984 FIRA Trophy Pool B
07.12.1985. ZENICA   Switzerland 13–6 FIRA Grp C
25.05.1986. Pernik  Bulgaria 4–10 FIRA Grp C
16.11.1986. Geneve   Switzerland 4–3 FIRA Grp C
10.05.1987. VRANJE  Bulgaria 32–15 FIRA Grp C
29.11.1987. SPLIT  West Germany 6–15 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
14.04.1988. Liege  Belgium 11–18 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
16.04.1988. Hilversum  Netherlands 10–31 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
08.05.1988. SPLIT  Portugal 9–22 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
13.11.1988. SPLIT  Belgium 4- 31 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
20.11.1988. Hannover  West Germany 6–29 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
27.11.1988. SPLIT  Netherlands 6–0 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
22.04.1989. Lousa  Portugal 9–13 1987–1989 FIRA Trophy – Group B2
09.09.1989. Vyskov  Czechoslovakia 6–23 WCQ Europe
13.05.1990. Luxembourg  Luxembourg 28–6 1989–1990 FIRA Trophy Third division
26.05.1990. SPLIT  Andorra 3–9 1989–1990 FIRA Trophy Third division
11.11.1990. Kostinbrod  Bulgaria 0–3 1990–1992 FIRA Trophy
21.04.1991. BEOGRAD  Czechoslovakia 22–6 1990–1992 FIRA Trophy

In total 66 test games (20 won, 2 drawn, 44 lost)

Overall

[edit]
Nation Games Won Lost Drawn Percentage of wins
 Andorra 1 0 1 0 0%
 Belgium 6 1 5 0 16.67%
 Czechoslovakia 8 1 7 0 12.5%
 Denmark 1 1 0 0 100%
 France A 1 0 1 0 0%
 Italy 3 0 3 0 0%
 Morocco 2 0 2 0 0%
 Netherlands 6 2 4 0 33.33%
 Poland 2 2 0 0 100%
 Romania A 2 0 2 0 0%
 Spain 4 0 4 0 0%
 Soviet Union 2 0 2 0 0%
 Sweden 3 2 1 0 66.67%
  Switzerland 6 6 0 0 100%
 Bulgaria 5 2 3 0 40%
 Tunisia 4 2 2 0 50%
 West Germany 6 0 5 1 0%
 Portugal 3 0 2 1 0%
 Luxembourg 1 1 0 0 100%
Total 66 20 44 2 30.3%

SFR Yugoslavia XV (unofficial games)

[edit]
Date Venue Opposition Result Tournament
30.11.1968. SPLIT  CzechoslovakiaXV 10–12 Friendly
31.12.1968. Rovigo Northern Italy 9–19
22.11.1972. Koeln Nord Rhein (GER) 46–3
24.10.1974. ZAGREB Waitemata Rugby Club (NZL) 3–33
25.11.1977. Timișoara RC Universitatea Timișoara (ROM) 0–4
27.11.1977. Timișoara Timișoara Selection (ROM) 19–0
29.11.1977. Timișoara RC Elektrotemis (ROM) 22–06
26.02.1978. ZAGREB NZL Yugoslav Rugby Club (NZL) 0–10
08.09.1978. KASTEL STARI University of Victoria (CAN) 9–16
10.09.1978. MAKARSKA RC Universitatea Timișoara (ROM) 7–23
12.09.1978. SINJ RC Universitatea Timișoara (ROM) 19–03
30.09.1978. BEOGRAD RC Partizan 48–3
03.10.1980. PANCEVO RC Valencia (ESP) 15–20 Kup oslobodjenja Panceva
05.10.1980. PANCEVO Yugoslavia U23 58–6 Kup oslobodjenja Panceva
18.10.1980. BEOGRAD Hrvatska 10–24 Kup oslobodjenja Beograda
19.10.1980. BEOGRAD Ljubljana 30–10 Kup oslobodjenja Beograda
09.04.1982. SIBENIK London Scottish RFC U23 (ENG) 21–12
15.10.1983. BEOGRAD Beograd 40–4
15.05.1984. SPLIT Middlesex County Clubs (ENG) 0–36
21.10.1984. BEOGRAD Beograd 48–4 Kup oslobođenja Beograda
22.10.1984. BEOGRAD RC Stiinta Baia Mare (ROM) 8–12 Kup oslobođenja Beograda
20.10.1985. BEOGRAD Beograd 40–0 Kup oslobođenja Beograda
21.10.1985. BEOGRAD RC Stiinta Baia Mare (ROM) 10–26 Kup oslobođenja Beograda
05.12.1985. Pordenone Northern Italy 6–10
16.10.1986. SPLIT NZ YUG Sports Club (NZL) 3–43
13.03.1988. SPLIT Dalmacija XV 23–14
20.03.1988. PALIC Srbija XV 60–3
02.04.1988. SINJ RK Sinj 46–0 Cetinska krajina
03.04.1988. SINJ Becket Haus RFC (ENG) 13–0 Cetinska krajina
03.05.1988. MAKARSKA RK Energoinvest 47–4
04.05.1988. MAKARSKA Selection Bourgogne (FRA) 13–13
20.05.1988. SPLIT Surrey County Clubs (ENG) 6–32
10.09.1988. SPLIT RK Nada II 80–0 Turnir povodom Dana mornarice
11.09.1988. SPLIT RK Nada 16–8 Turnir povodom Dana mornarice
01.10.1988. PANCEVO RK Nada 10–6 Kup oslobođenja Pančeva
02.10.1988. PANCEVO RK Partizan 8–4 Kup oslobođenja Pančeva
13.10.1988. Crawley North Sussex XV (ENG) 9–39 England Tour
16.10.1988. Southand Southand RFC (ENG) 9–13 England Tour
18.10.1988. London London Welsh RFC (ENG) 6–46 England Tour
20.10.1988. Esher Surrey County Clubs (ENG) 12–23 England Tour
26.03.1989. SPLIT Calder Vale RFC (ENG) 36–3
17.04.1989. Creusotin Club Olimpique Creusotin (FRA) 9–10 France/Spain Tour
24.04.1989. San Sebastian Gipuzkoa XV (ESP) 36–3 France/Spain Tour
18.05.1989. SPLIT Old Emanuel RFC (ENG) 26–4
03.06.1989. ZAGREB RK Mladost 82–9
06.09.1989. LJUBLJANA RK Bežigrad 69–9
06.05.1990. Pontarlier France Universitaire 19–42 France Tour
08.05.1990. Digoin Sel.Bourgogne (FRA) 7–24 France Tour
10.05.1990. Plaisir Plaisir Rugby Club (FRA) 21–18 France Tour
14.10.1990. SPLIT NZ YUG Sports Club (NZL) 0–30

Managers (Test games only)

[edit]
Name Period Games Wins Draws Lost Win Ratio
Branko STIMAC 1968 3 0 0 3 0%
Branimir ALAUPOVIC 1969–1974 15 3 1 11 19,8 %
Mihovil RADJA 1975–1979 14 5 0 9 35,5 %
Dusan NOVAKOV 1980–1981 7 2 1 4 28,6 %
Suad KAPETANOVIC 1982 2 1 0 1 50,0 %
Branimir ALAUPOVIC 1982–1987 12 5 0 7 42,5 %
Marko PROTEGA 1987–1991 13 3 0 10 23,1 %

Most capped players (Test games only)

[edit]
Name Club Serving Test Games Points
Nikola STANCEVIC RK Dinamo Pancevo 1973–1990 44 34
Dragan KESIC RK Dinamo Pancevo 1968–1980 30
Branko RADIC RK Dinamo Pancevo 1968–1980 29 13
Tihomir VRANESEVIC RK Sisak/RK Zagreb 1979–1990 29 16
Vinko LABROVIC RK Nada Split 1980–1990 27 33
Nasir VEHABOVIC RK Celik Zenica 1982–1991 22 48
Damir UZUNOVIC RK Celik Zenica 1980–1991 22 12
Ante ZEKAN RK Nada Split 1970–1981 20 8
Damir BUZOV RK Nada Split 1979–1988 20
Dusan PANIC RK Zagreb 1979–1985 19 12
Jasmin DELJKIC RK Celik Zenica 1982–1991 18 4
Ante STAGLICIC RK Nada Split 1968–1974 17 5
Dubravko GEROVAC RK Zagreb 1975–1982 16 28
Zlatko ZVER RK Koloys LJubljana 1975–1981 16
Sreto CADJO RK Celik Zenica 1976–1982 16 4
Ranko ARMANDA RK Nada Split 1968–1976 15
Marko PROTEGA RK Nada Split 1968–1973 15
Goran TRKULJA RK Zagreb 1978–1984 13
Nikola TEPIC RK Dinamo Pancevo 1983–1981 13 13
Ilija BJELANOVIC RK Nada Split 1968–1979 13 3
Drago LULIC RK Energoinvest Makarska 1978–1989 13 8
Tonci IVANISEVIC RK Nada Split 1969–1975 12 8
Dragan GRUJIC RK Partizan Beograd 1988–1991 12 8

ENC

[edit]

The following successor teams are in the European Nations Cup:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20080118081541/http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.Touchline_Detail/storyId/439/sectionId/85
[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Proslo je 30 godina,anniversary book, 1985, published by SFR Yugoslavia Rugby Union
  • 20 godina Ragbi kluba Zagreb, 1984, published by RK Zagreb
  • 10 godina ragbija na Makarskoj rivijeri 1968–1978, published by RK Energoinvest Makarska
  • 50 godina Ragbi kluba Nada 1959–2009, published by RK Nada Split
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