Algeria national rugby union team

Algeria
Nickname(s)	"Les Lionceaux" (The Lion Cubs)
Ground(s)	Stade Ahmed Zabana
Coach(es)	Djemaï Tebani, Foudil Youbi and Salah Rebadj
Captain(s)	Faisal Bentayeb
Most caps	Samir Khamouche (9)
Top scorer	Boris Bouhraoua (40)
Most tries	Mohamed Khedaria (3)
Team kit	Change kit
First international
	Tunisia 7–8 Algeria ; (24 February 2007)
Largest win
	Libya 0–50 Algeria ; (26 October 2010); Egypt 0–50 Algeria ; (29 October 2010)
Largest defeat
	Tunisia 27-13 Algeria ; (6 June 2012)
World Cup
Appearances	None (First in -)
Best result	-

The Algeria national rugby union team represents Algeria in rugby union. The team is administered by the Algerian rugby Federation (FAR). The first match they competed in was on the 24th February 2007, in a game in Tunis against the Tunisia national rugby union team (to which Algeria won by 8-7). Almost all current national team players play for clubs in the French championships,however there are some national players who practice the sport in Australia, New Zealand, Romania and England. The first coach of the Algeria national rugby union team was Morad Kellal.

History

Before 2015

Rugby is played on Algerian territory during French colonization. After this period, its practice decreased rapidly, until disappearing in 1972.^[2] At the invitation of the Tunisia national rugby union team, Algeria brought together Nabeul a selection of the best Algerian players from rugby and started on the international stage On 27 February 2007 against Tunisia, a match that she won 8 to 7 Algeria,^[3] the Fennecs dream of having a federation with an attempt of Samir Khamouche playing at Castres and a penalty Of Nadir Boukhaloua playing Lyon OU. Later, the Algerians won 20 points to 17 against the hopes of the Stade français at the Villeneuve stadium of the commune of Clichy, department of Hauts-de-Seine, As well as against other African teams, including the Ivory Coast team.,^[3] in the absence of a federation recognized by the Algerian State, it does not appear in the World Rugby Rankings and has not yet played an official meeting.^[3]

2015: return of rugby union in Algeria

Preparation of the setting up of official bodies

Disappeared in the early 1970s, rugby found its place in Algeria. On January 1, 2015, after eight years of discussions and exchanges, the Ministry of Sports, assisted by the Algerian Olympic Committee, validates the creation of the National Algerian Rugby Association which will become the rugby union current 2015.

The objectives of this new body are the Rugby World Cup in 2019 in Japan, not forgetting the Africa Cup. With the recognition of the Federation, the selection can now appeal to players who play in the Top 14 to build a highly competitive national team. For Sofiane Abdelkader Benhassen, founder of the pilot club of the Oranese Stadium in 2008, who has been appointed president, priority is also and above all to popularize the discipline in Algeria and to make this sport known to the youth of the country through the creation of schools.

Crescent Cup Rugby Championship

On June 1, 2015, the Algerian Rugby Union team flew to Malaysia for the Crescent Cup Rugby Championship, their first official international competition.,^[4] The Algerian rugby union team started its tournament with a 26-5 victory against the Kazakhstan team, ranked 39. He is victorious for the first official match in the history of the Algerian selection of rugby. Confirmation that the Algerian potential is indeed there. after the piece and against the same team again won 15-0 to qualify to the final to face the owner of the land shed Malaysian team stopped due to riots between the players.^[5]

Creation of the national federation

On 17 November 2015, the federation was formally established in Algiers at a general assembly meeting chaired by Mustapha Larfaoui, Honorary President of the Algerian Olympic Committee Olympic and Sports Algerian and in the presence of 18 clubs representing 16 wilayas. Sofiane Benhassen is elected the first president of the Algerian rugby union (FAR).^[6]^[7] Membership in the continental federation Rugby Africa is planned in December 2016.^[8]

The first official match played under the auspices of the Algerian federation on December 18, 2015 Oran against the Tunisia. Salim and Djemaï Tebani are breeders of this first official meeting on Algerian soil.^[9] In Ahmed Zabana Stadium of Oran, Algeria won this game 16-6 with a team consisting mainly of players based in France and two players trained in Algerian clubs.^[10]

Launch of the Maghreb Tri-Nations

In December 2016, the Algerian Rugby Federation in collaboration with Rugby Africa will organize the first edition of a Maghreb Tri-nations grouping Algeria, Tunisia national rugby union team and the Morocco national rugby union team. World Rugby has validated it, and the event will take place at Oran, Algeria.^[11]^[12]

World Cup record

The team has neither qualified for or being invited to any of the Rugby World Cups, because of its relatively recent foundation. Nevertheless, they are expected to enter the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifyings.

Staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Salim Tebani
Assistant coach	Djemai Tebani
General manager	Azzouz Aib
President of the Algerian federation (FAR)	Sofiane Abdelkader Benhassen
Fitness coach	Nahim Rouabah

Record

Overall

As of 18 December 2015 their record against all nations is as follows:

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Ivory Coast	1	1	0	100.00	25	18	+7
Egypt	1	1	0	100.00	50	0	+50
Kazakhstan	2	2	0	100.00	41	5	+36
Libya	1	1	0	100.00	50	0	+50
Malaysia	1	0	1	00.00	11	19	-8
Tunisia	3	2	1	75.00	37	40	-3
Total	9	7	2	75.00	214	82	+132

Rugby World Cup

World Cup record								World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A	P	W	D	L	F	A
1987	Did not enter							Did not enter
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023	To be determined							To be determined
Total	0/9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Crescent Cup

Crescent Cup record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A
2015	Second place	3	2	0	1	52	24
Total	1/1	3	2	0	1	52	24