| Governing body | Serbia Rugby Union |
|---|---|
| National team | Serbia |
| Registered players | 2,419 |
| Clubs | 17 |
| Competitions | |
| National | |
| Rugby World Cup | |
| Rugby World Cup Sevens | |
| IRB Sevens World Series | |
| European Nations Cup | |
Rugby union in Serbia is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 59th by the IRB. [1]
Contents |
The governing body is the Serbia Rugby Union.[2]
Rugby union was a moderately popular sport in Yugoslavia. Although Croatia was the main centre for the sport in the former Yugoslavia, there was still fair amount of rugby union played in Serbia.
The first known rugby players from Serbia were Serbian students in George Heriot's School in Edinburgh, Scotland during The First World War. On 11 April, 1918 they played the first international game,in front of 10,000 spectators, against a British Dominions XV and won by eight points to three. Notable players were Toma Tomic from Leskovac, Dimitrije Dulkanovic and Danilo Pavlovic.
After First World War students returned to Serbia and formed a couple clubs like "Jugoslavija" in Belgrade and "Beli orao" in Sabac but in 1923 rugby activities were stopped due to the lack of pitches.
During 60's,70's and 80's Serbian players played for Yugoslavia national rugby teams together with players from Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia. After the finish of civil war in former Yugoslavia selection of FR Yugoslavia ,consisted only by players from Serbia, the first game played in Vrsac against Andorra 1996.
The Rugby Championship of Yugoslavia ran from 1957-1991. Partisan Beograd, a Belgrade team, won the second, third, and fourth title, as well as the final one in 1991 and Dinamo Pančevo won the first ever championship played in 57`, and later in '68, '69, '74 and '79. Dinamo Pančevo won and the firs ever Cup at the same year.
Before the break up in SFR Yugoslavia RC Partizan won titles in 1988 and 1991, in last championship.
In 2007, the Serbia women's national rugby union team played their first international, and they have played several games since then and regularly compete in FIRA Sevens competitions.
There are currently two divisions in Serbia.In season 2011/2012 In Pool A compete four clubs from Belgrade - RC Pobednik, RC Partizan, RC Zarkovo Balkanski komarac and KBRK. In Pool B are RC Vojvodina (Novi Sad), RC Krusevac, KBRK 2 and RC Crvena zvezda.
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