Unofficial Tunisia 7–8 Algeria (Nabeul, Tunisia; 24 February 2007) Official Kazakhstan 5–26 Algeria (Merlimau, Malaysia; 6 June 2015)
Biggest win
Unofficial Algeria 50–0 Libya (Cairo, Egypt; 26 October 2010) Egypt 0–50 Algeria (Cairo, Egypt; 29 October 2010) Official Zambia 0–31 Algeria (Mufulira, Zambia; 20 October 2018)
Biggest defeat
OfficialZimbabwe 29-3 Algeria (Kampala, Uganda; 29 July 2024)
The Algeria national rugby union team represents the Algerian Rugby Federation (FAR) in men's international rugby union. The first match they competed in was on 24 February 2007, in a game in Tunis against the Tunisia national rugby union team (to which Algeria won by 8–7). While almost all current national team players play for clubs in the French championship, 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 was played on Algerian territory during French colonization. After this period, its practice decreased rapidly, until disappearing in 1972.[1]
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 they won 8 to 7 Algeria,[2] 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.,[2] 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.[2]
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 1 January 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 Stade Oranais 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 1 June 2015, the Algerian Rugby Union team flew to Malaysia for the Crescent Cup Rugby Championship, their first official international competition.,[3] 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.[4]
Creation of the national federation
Former logo of the NT
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).[5][6] Membership in the continental federation Rugby Africa is planned in December 2016.[7]
The first official match played under the auspices of the Algerian federation on 18 December 2015 Oran against the Tunisia. Salim and Djemaï Tebani are breeders of this first official meeting on Algerian soil.[8] 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.[9]
The Algerian team, in their first participation in the tournament, signed in the North Group with Cameroon and Nigeria, but the Cameroonian team had been postponed through lack of organization that Rugby Africa disqualified Cameroon and suspended the activity of the country's federation for three months.[12] which made the organizing committee to play a home-and-home series matches against Nigeria in Zambia, but the latter also withdrew to be a final Winner North vs Winner South against Zambia 4 November 2017 at Mufulira Leopards Rugby Club. in a historic match as the first official match to enable the Algerian team to win a 30–25 in the first defeat to Zambia in its home since 2002.[13] the Algerian national team will play next season in the Rugby Africa Silver Cup.
The current coaching staff of the Algerian national team:
Name
Nationality
Role
Ousmane Mané
SEN
Head coach
Nasser Benamor
ALG
Assistant coach (Forwards)
Boris Brahim Bouhraoua
ALG
Assistant coach (Backs)
Nordine Badji
ALG
Assistant coach (Backs)
Thomas Drouin
FRA
Strength & Conditioning coach
Rouabah Nahim
ALG
Strength & Conditioning coach
Mustapha Bouguendouz
ALG
Physiotherapist
Yanis Hannouche
ALG
Physiotherapist
Historical coaches
On 31 August 2021, the Senegalese Ousmane Mané was chosen by the FAR as the coach of the national selection succeeding to Boumedienne Allam[14]. Below is a list of historical coaches of the Algeria rugby union national team.
