From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Poland
Union	Polski Zwiazek Rugby
Coach	Jerzy Jumas
Captain	Maciej Brazuk
Team colours
First international
Poland 9 - 8 East Germany (1958)
Largest win
Poland 74 - 0 Norway (1994-09-24)
Worst defeat
Poland 13 - 74 Spain (1998-05-02)

The Poland national rugby union team represent Poland at the international level of rugby union. They are governed by Polski Zwiazek Rugby and have been participating in international rugby since 1958. Poland have yet to play in a Rugby World Cup. They play in red and white.

Poland made their international debut against East Germany in 1958 in Łódź, which they won by just one point, 9-8. Later that year they played West Germany in Krasnoyarsk, who defeated them 11-3. The following year they played two matches at Dinamo Stadion in Bucharest, defeating Czechoslovakia and then losing to Romania. Poland continued to contest irregular internationals with these nations over the coming years, finding mixed results.

In 1962 they played the Italian Barbarians in Poznań and lost 5-22. Poland played the Italian Barbarians again the following year in L'Aquila, and found a stronger result than their last meeting, losing 12-6. They started to play a wider variety of nations throughout the late 1960s, and won matches against the Netherlands and Sweden. In 1969 Poland played a non-cap France XV in Warsaw, but lost 67-0.

Poland lost all three of their fixtures during the 1970 interntaional season, and went onto defeat East Germany in Grimma the following year, this was followed by strong form from the Polish, winning matches against the Netherlands, Morocco, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. In 1975 Poland played Italy in Treviso, and lost 13-28. In 1977 Poland played a France XV again, and lost 9-26; also that year they played Italy, and lost by only six points, with the final score being 6-12. They played a France XV again in 1978, losing 24-35. They also defeated Spain that year.

Poland played Italy in 1979, losing 3-13, and then played a France XV the following year, though they did not perform as well as previous meetings, losing 42-0. A subsequent match against a France XV in 1981 saw the France XV defeat Poland 49-6. A match between the two sides in 1984 produced a good result for the Polish, losing 19-3. A match against the Italian Barbarians the following year produced the same scoreline.

In 1987 Poland played two Italian teams, the Italian Barbarians and Italy under-21, although they lost to the Barbarians, they won against the under-21 team. Poland did not play at the 1987 World Cup. In 1990 they played the full Italy team in Naples, losing 34-3. Poland did not play in the 1991 World Cup in England. From 1992 to 1993 Poland won six matches in a row, until they went down to Russia five to 41 in Gdańsk.

Poland played Italy A in 199, but lost 19-107. Poland also went down heavily to Romania in 1998, losing 74-13. Poland did not play at the 1999 World Cup in Wales or the 2003 tournament in Australia.

Poland were grouped in Pool D of round two of the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualify tournament. Poland performed very well in the pool, winning all four of their games, and finishing at the top of the pool. This saw them through to Pool A of Round three, but they were knocked out here, finishing fourth in the pool.

• PZrugby.com
• Poland on IRB.com