Country Slovenia First played 1900 Clubs 16 | National team Slovenia Registered players 1,065 | |
Rugby union in Slovenia is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 43rd by the IRB.
Contents
Governing body
The governing body is Rugby Zveza Slovenije (Rugby Union of Slovenia).
Yugoslav period
Rugby union was a moderately popular sport in Yugoslavia (a name which Serbia retained long after the disintegration of that state). Although rugby union in Croatia was the main centre for the sport in the former Yugoslavia, there was still quite a bit of rugby played in Slovenia. The Rugby Championship of Yugoslavia ran from 1957-1991.
Post independence
The breakup of Yugoslavia, fortunately, cost few Slovenian lives. However, it broke up many of the Slovenian rugby structures, which had to be started afresh.
In the early 1990s, former Italian cap, Dr Giancarlo Tizanini was a major driving force in Austrian rugby. Before his death in 1994, he tried hard to establish a Central European equivalent of the Six Nations between Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia.
Slovenia also borders Italy, which is a major rugby playing nation. In recent years, however, there have been serious attempts by rugby league to expand into the Balkans, using substantial financial incentives, and expats from Australia.
Clubs
As of 2009, the following clubs were active:
Current Team
Current team has been refreshed with many new young talents while most of the players from former strong squad retired. Team is now mostly represented by Rugby Club Ljubljana, Rugby Athletic Club Olimpija and Rugby Club Bežigrad. Majority of the squad consists of RK Ljubljana who stands firmly on first position in Austrian Elite League as well at home cup.
Slovenia (Slovenia 8:7 Hungary 27.10.2012)
1. MIKLIČ LUKA (RAK OLIMPIJA)
2. SAMBOL LOVRO (RK BEŽIGRAD)
3. HOČEVAR TIT abroad (Germany)
4. JAVORNIK PEČNIK ŽIGA (RK LJUBLJANA)
5. KRSMANOVIČ ŽARKO (RK LJUBLJANA)
6. GOMBAČ SIMON (RK BEŽIGRAD)
7. MILJUŠ GREGOR (RK LJUBLJANA)
8. DAMJAN JOVIČ (RK LJUBLJANA)
9. RADELJ ŠEMROV ENEJ (RK LJUBLJANA)
10. AHAČIČ DAMJAN (RK LJUBLJANA)
11. ŠUBIC ANDREJ (RK LJUBLJANA)
12. SULJIČ DALI Cpt.(RK LJUBLJANA)
13. HABJANIČ BLAŽ (RK LJUBLJANA)
14. JOVANOVIČ DRAGAN (RK LJUBLJANA)
15. SAJEVIC JAKA (RK LJUBLJANA)
16. PILKO BLAŽ (RK LJUBLJANA)
17. JAVORNIK IZTOK (RK LJUBLJANA)
18. ZUKIČ MAKS (RK LJUBLJANA)
19. SITAR NEJC (RK MARIBOR)
20. MAGUŠAR URBAN (RAK OLIMPIJA)
21. TANKO BOŠTJAN (RAK OLIMPIJA)
22. MIHELIČ IGOR (RAK OLIMPIJA)
23. HORVAT DAVID (RAK OLIMPIJA)
Head Coach: ZORAN KALAKOVIČ Backs Coach: ROBERT PUCONJA Assistant Coach: ANDREJ ČEVKA