The Czech Republic national rugby union team marked a historic achievement by defeating Sweden 48-24 to secure promotion to the Championship division of the 2025/26 Rugby Europe Men's Trophy. The match took place on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Prague’s Marketa Stadium, drawing a record crowd and signaling the nation’s rising status in European rugby.
This promotion is a key milestone in the Czech Rugby Union’s (Český Rugbyový Svaz) long-standing ambition to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Since their first participation in the 1995 World Cup qualifiers, the Czech Republic has steadily developed its rugby program, achieving its highest world ranking of 24th in 2005, according to World Rugby statistics. The current upward trajectory reflects a strategic blend of experienced international players and emerging homegrown talent.
The team’s tactical approach centered on a robust defensive system, successfully converting every try scored in the fixture, a testament to rigorous training and discipline. This structural focus is part of a federation-wide development strategy encompassing all levels of Czech rugby. Supporting evidence of this strategy’s success is visible in the performance of the Czech U18 and U20 teams, both of which recently advanced to the semi-finals of their respective European Championships—competitions also hosted in Prague. Notably, the U18s clinched a narrow 29-26 win against Portugal in the 2025 Championship, underscoring the depth of the nation's rugby pipeline.
The 2031 Rugby World Cup will mark a historic expansion to a 24-team tournament, the first time the competition will be held in the Americas, providing emerging rugby nations like the Czech Republic opportunities to compete on the world stage. The team’s promotion to Rugby Europe’s Championship division thus lays a strong foundation for this ambitious goal, offering valuable experience against Europe’s leading second-tier rugby nations.
