Armenia national rugby union team

Rugby team
country =Armenia Հայաստան


imagesize = 200px
union = Rugby Federation of Armenia
nickname =
captain = Amik Kazarian
caps =
top scorer =
coach = flagicon|France Jean-Jacques Bos
from =
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first = flagicon|Armenia Armenia 36 - 6 Norway flagicon|Norway
(2 June, 2004)
bigwin = flagicon|Armenia Armenia 48 - 3 Israel flagicon|Israel
(5 June, 2004)
bigloss = flagicon|Sweden Sweden 24 - 0 Armenia flagicon|Armenia
(21 October, 2006)
World cup apps =
url = www.rugby-armenia.com
best = The Armenian national rugby union team has recently begun playing in the European Nations Cup. The team is unexpectedly strong due to the large Armenian diaspora in France (as well as other traditionally strong rugby nations). So the team has drawn many players, coaches, and trainers from this experienced pool. The team was undefeated since debuting in European competition in 2004 until October the 1st, 2006, when they lost to Switzerland 16-29 in Vienne (France). The coach is Mark Abanozian.

The loss to Switzerland was Armenia's first loss in international rugby since they began playing tests in 2004. Prior to that loss they had won ten tests in a row progressing up the FIRA-AER divisions until reaching Division 3A in the European Nations Cup tournament. After the loss to Switzerland Armenia then lost 0-24 to Sweden on 21 October 2006. With the revamping of the competition structure Armenia will stay in this division for two seasons, playing home-away matches against Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Serbia.

Results so far in the second round have been impressive. Armenia has defeated Sweden 16-12 (01.09.2007) and Switzerland 28-15 (06.10.2007) to be placed in the middle of the competition table.

Current squad

See also

*Rugby union in Armenia
*Sports in Armenia

External links

* [http://www.yerkir.am/eng/index.php?sub=newspaper_arm&exp=sport&month=06&year=2005&number=10&id=5668 An article on the Armenian national rugby team]
* [http://www.rugby-armenia.com The Official Website of the Team]
* [http://www.armrugby.am/home-eng.htm The Official Website of the Federation]
* [http://rugbyarmenia.sport24.com/ Pictures of the Team in Armenia]

References