Rugby union in Algeria is a minor but growing sport. After many years of work, in 2015, Algeria finally created a federation enabling them to apply for member status of Rugby Africa (the administrative body for rugby union within Africa).
History
Rugby union was introduced into Algeria by the French. Some
Pied-Noirs (ethnic European Algerians) would go on to become significant rugby players, such as
Maurice Boyau.
As with many minor rugby nations, rugby is centered on
Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
,
Guelma
Guelma ( ar, قالمة ''Qālima''; arq, ڨالمة; Algerian pronunciation: ) is the capital of Guelma Province and Guelma District, located in north-eastern Algeria, about 65 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. Its location correspon ...
,
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
,
Annaba.
Like many North African countries, the historical connection with France is a mixed blessing. For a number of years, Algerian rugby players would leave to play there, which deprived Algerian rugby of any real competition.
[http://wesclark.com/rrr/islamic_rugby.html "Islam and Rugby" on the ''Rugby Readers review'' Retrieved 5 July 2009] There are at least sixty Algerians playing in English and French rugby.
[ Like many other Maghrebi nations, Algerian rugby tended to look to Europe for inspiration, rather than to the rest of Africa.
However, one exception might be Boumedienne Allam: Allam first played for France U-21 squad, winning the Six Nations Tournament of that category, in 2000. He was a member of the historical first game of ]Algeria national rugby union team
The Algeria national rugby union team represents Algeria in men's international 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 again ...
, on 24 February 2007.
After independence, the first club created was Stade Oranais in Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
on 2007. Algerian federation was created on 2015 and the first championship started on 2018.
Clubs
Algeria has six rugby union clubs to date, and there are plans to set up a proper national club competition.[http://www.latribune-online.com/sports/592.html] They are currently trying to promote the game in universities and schools.[
* Stade Oranais (]Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
)
* Rugby Club d'Alger (Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
)
* Mouloudia M'sila ( M'sila)
* Rugby Club de Béjaïa ( Bejaia)
* Rugby Turck (Aïn El Turk
Ain el-Turck (Arabic : عين الترك ) (literally "Fountain of the Turks") is the capital of Ain el-Turck District located about fifteen kilometers from Oran in the north-west of Algeria. The district contains nine municipalities. It now host ...
- Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
)
* Etoile de Biskra ( Biskra)
For the 2017–18 season, these were the top teams:
National teams
Men's teams
*Algeria national rugby union team
The national rugby union team played its first unofficial game on 24 February 2007 under its first coach Morad Kellal. Almost all players play at French clubs, however there are some national players who practice the sport in Australia, New Zealand, Romania and England.
On 18 December 2015, the national team played its first official game since the creation of the Algerian rugby federation (FAR) against the Tunisian rugby union team, to which they won 16 - 6. This was also the first international match played on Algerian soil (Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
), which was televised on the Algerian channel Canal Algerie in the country for the first time.
Ahmed Zabana Stadium which is situated in Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
is the official venue of Algeria national team.
*Algeria national sevens union team
Women's teams
*Algeria women's national rugby union team
*Algeria women's national rugby sevens team
Competitions
Men's competitions
* Algerian rugby union Championship
*Algerian rugby sevens Championship
The Algerian National rugby sevens Championship is a rugby sevens club competition that is played in Algeria and created in 2018. The national championship of rugby began in 2018, it was learned by the president of the Algerian Rugby Federation
...
Women's competitions
*Algerian women's rugby union Championship
*Algerian women's rugby sevens Championship
Youth competitions
Competitions for men's and women's rugby union for U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18 and U-20.
References
External links
Algeria Rugby
*
*
Algerian rugby team statistics
Current Situation
{{Rugby union outside WC
Rugby union in Algeria,