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 played their first international match on 27 February 2007 against Tunisia, a match Algeria won 8 to 7.[2]

In 2010, the Algerian rugby team participated in its first official tournament organized by the Confederation of African Rugby, the 2010 CAR Development Trophy which took place in Cairo, Egypt. Algeria emerged victorious from the tournament and won its first trophy by beating Egypt team in the final.[3]

2015: return of rugby union in Algeria

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.[4] The Algerian rugby union team started its tournament with a 26–5 victory against the Kazakhstan team, ranked Algeria reached the final of the competition against Malaysian team, but the match was stopped due to riots between the players.[5]

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).[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 18 December 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]

Africa Cup

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.[13] 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.[14] the Algerian national team will play next season in the Rugby Africa Silver Cup.

Home grounds

Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran, the home ground rugby and football (soccer) teams.

Algeria play internationals since it first receives match on 2015 at Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran.

Record

Tournaments

Rugby World Cup

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
Year Round P W D L F A P W D L F A
AustraliaNew Zealand 1987Not invited–
England France Ireland Scotland Wales 1991Did not enterDid not enter
South Africa 1995
Wales 1999
Australia 2003
France 2007
New Zealand 2011
England 2015
Japan 2019
France 2023Did not qualify530213098
Australia 202732016332
Total0/110000008503193130

Rugby Africa Cup

Rugby Africa Cup record
Year Round P W D L F A
2000 to 2016Did not enter
Zambia 2017Champions Bronze Cup11003025
Zambia 2018Champions Silver Cup33007631
2019–20Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
France 2021–22Third place530213098
Uganda 2024Runners-up32105553
Uganda 2025Third place32016332
Total5/20151104354239

African Development Trophy

African Development Trophy record
Year Round P W D L F A
2004 to 2009Did not enter
Egypt 2010Champions North Section22001000
Total1/722001000

North African Tri Nations

North African Tri Nations record
Year Round P W D L F A
Algeria 2016Third place20022628
Morocco 2017Second place21014933
Tunisia 2018Canceled
Total2/241037561

Crescent Cup

Crescent Cup record
Year Round P W D L F A
Malaysia 2015Second place32015224
Total1/132015224

Overall

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by an Algeria national XV at test level up until 22 November 2025, updated after match with  Kenya.

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Egypt1100100%500+50
 Ghana10100%2022−2
 Ivory Coast4400100%12049+71
 Kazakhstan2200100%415+36
 Kenya321066.67%8675+11
 Libya1100100%500+50
 Malaysia10100%1119−8
 Morocco20200%2432−8
 Namibia10100%721-14
 Senegal3300100%9242+50
 Tunisia431075%7353+20
 Uganda1100100%2216+6
 Zambia2200100%6125+36
 Zimbabwe212050%2670-44
Total27198070.37%639394+245

Current squad

The following 45 players were called up for the 2021–22 Rugby Africa Cup matches against Ghana Ghana and Uganda Uganda.

Head coach: Algeria Boumedienne Allam

  • Caps Updated: 30 July 2021

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Issam Hamel Hooker (1997-06-18) 18 June 1997 (age 29) 3 France USO Nevers
Adam Mokhtari Hooker (1995-12-11) 11 December 1995 (age 30) 2 France Drancy
Youssef Saaidia Hooker (1995-02-09) 9 February 1995 (age 31) 0 France Colomiers
Fayçal Tourek Hooker (1988-10-24) 24 October 1988 (age 37) 3 France Foyer Laïque du Haut Vernet
Bekada Belhaouari Prop (1991-08-19) 19 August 1991 (age 34) 8 France Lannemezan
Reda Benlebbad Prop (1992-07-18) 18 July 1992 (age 33) 5 France Appaméen
Yasin Boutemmani Prop (1990-07-12) 12 July 1990 (age 35) 0 France Montauban
Sofiane Chellat Prop (1990-01-12) 12 January 1990 (age 36) 9 Monaco Monaco
Malik Hamadache Prop (1988-10-17) 17 October 1988 (age 37) 3 France Montpellier
Yanis Hebal Prop (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 (age 25) 1 France Bourg-en-Bresse Espoirs
Thomas Mamou Prop (1994-12-02) 2 December 1994 (age 31) 5 France Oloron
Mehdi Mérabet Prop (1985-06-21) 21 June 1985 (age 41) 6 France La Seyne
Bilal Abed Lock (1989-07-30) 30 July 1989 (age 36) 8 France Avenir Castanéen
Johan Aliouat Lock (1993-01-22) 22 January 1993 (age 33) 0 France Biarritz
Jonathan Best Lock (1983-08-02) 2 August 1983 (age 42) 7 France Béziers
Yakine Djebarri Lock (1995-12-16) 16 December 1995 (age 30) 8 France Suresnes
Samir Doukbi Lock (1985-11-10) 10 November 1985 (age 40) 4 France La Seyne
David Medjebeur Lock (1996-01-22) 22 January 1996 (age 30) 4 Scotland Boroughmuir
Enzo Zaitri Lock (2001-06-10) 10 June 2001 (age 25) 2 France Colomiers Espoirs
Rabah Abdelkader (c) Back row (1987-06-21) 21 June 1987 (age 39) 13 France Millau
Walid Batchali Back row (1990-01-09) 9 January 1990 (age 36) 5 France Castelnaudary
Kamil Bouregba Back row (1999-07-10) 10 July 1999 (age 26) 0 France Narbonne
Rémi Cardon Back row (1991-01-30) 30 January 1991 (age 35) 7 France Beaune
Saïd Hireche Back row (1985-05-27) 27 May 1985 (age 41) 1 France Brive
Jordan Lavocat Back row (1993-05-01) 1 May 1993 (age 33) 2 France Hyères
Frédéric Medves Back row (1984-08-27) 27 August 1984 (age 41) 5 France Blagnac
Gauthier Saieb Back row (1994-05-07) 7 May 1994 (age 32) 2 France Stade Métropolitain
Marvyn Youcef Back row (1996-10-21) 21 October 1996 (age 29) 0 France Marcquois
Johan Bensalla Scrum-half (1991-04-01) 1 April 1991 (age 35) 8 France Lombez Samatan
Mathieu Lorée Scrum-half (1987-06-18) 18 June 1987 (age 39) 3 France Valence Romans
Lucien Maman Scrum-half (1994-02-26) 26 February 1994 (age 32) 2 France Paris Université
Enzo Kralfa Fly-half (1996-04-11) 11 April 1996 (age 30) 3 France Marmande
Alexis Renou Fly-half (1995-09-16) 16 September 1995 (age 30) 2 France Valence d'Agen
Yoan Saby Fly-half (1995-07-13) 13 July 1995 (age 30) 5 France Tyrosse
Mohamed Belguidoum Centre (1994-01-24) 24 January 1994 (age 32) 10 France Saint-Denis
Nabil Djalout Centre (1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 37) 2 France Céret
Maxime Meneghini Centre (1993-11-27) 27 November 1993 (age 32) 10 France Gruissan
Meddy Moussaoui Centre (1994-01-30) 30 January 1994 (age 32) 2 France Rumilly
Mehdi Chouchane Wing (1990-09-08) 8 September 1990 (age 35) 7 France Bédarrides
Yanis Guitoune Wing (1994-01-21) 21 January 1994 (age 32) 2 France Appaméen
Nadir Megdoud Wing (1997-03-26) 26 March 1997 (age 29) 3 France Beauvais
Djamel Ouchene Wing (1988-01-31) 31 January 1988 (age 38) 10 France Appaméen
Sami Shahba Wing (1994-05-29) 29 May 1994 (age 32) 2 France Vienne
Benjamin Caminati Fullback (1989-10-20) 20 October 1989 (age 36) 2 France Albi
Julien Caminati Fullback (1985-10-28) 28 October 1985 (age 40) 0 France Stade Niçois

Coaches

Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Algerian national team:

Name Nationality Role
Ousmane Mané SENHead coach
Nasser Benamor ALGAssistant coach (Forwards)
Boris Brahim Bouhraoua ALGAssistant coach (Backs)
Nordine Badji ALGAssistant coach (Backs)
Thomas Drouin FRAStrength & Conditioning coach
Rouabah Nahim ALGStrength & Conditioning coach
Mustapha Bouguendouz ALGPhysiotherapist
Yanis Hannouche ALGPhysiotherapist

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[15].
Below is a list of historical coaches of the Algeria rugby union national team.

Year Coach
2007–2011Algeria Morad Kellal
2011–2017Algeria Salah Rebadj
Algeria Djemaï Tebani
Algeria Foudil Youbi
2017–2021Algeria Boumedienne Allam
2021–Senegal Ousmane Mané

Individual all-time records

Most caps

# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw Win %
1.Rabah AbdelkaderFlanker2015–present135100094069.23
2.Boris BouhraouaScrum-half2015–present1211130084066.67
3.Nasser BenamorProp2015–2018115100074063.64
4.Khaled KahlouchiFlanker2015–present1010200073070.00
4.Mohamed BelguidoumCentre2015–present1010200073070.00
4.Djamel OucheneWing2015–present1015300071087.50
4.Maxim MeneghiniCentre2016–present100000073070.00
8.Lou BouhraouaScrum-half2015–present911013054055.56
9.Johan BensallaScrum-half2015–present8590713272077.78
9.Sofiane ChellatProp2015–present80000072077.78
9.Yazid ChouchaneWing2015–present810200053062.50

Last updated: Uganda vs Algeria, 18 July 2021. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries

# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1.Yazid ChouchaneWing2015–present8153000
1.Rémi CardonFlanker2017–present5153000
3.Yakine Djebbarilock2016–present6102000
3.Djamel OucheneWing2015–present8102000
3.Mohamed Belguidoumcentre2015–present9102000
3.Walid BatchaliFlanker2018–present3102000

Last updated: Algeria vs Zambia, 20 October 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points

# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1.Johan BensallaFly-half2015–present75907132
2.Yoan SabyFly-half2017–present5220540
3.Yazid ChouchaneWing2015–present8153000
3.Rémi CardonFlanker2017–present5153000
5.Enzo KralfaScrum-half2018–present3141130
6.Lou BouhraouaScrum-half2015–present9110130
6.Boris BouhraouaScrum-half2015–present11111300
8.Mohamed Belguidoumcentre2015–present9102000
8.Walid BatchaliFlanker2018–present3102000

Last updated: Algeria vs Zambia, 20 October 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1.Johan BensallaScrum-half150050 TunisiaAlgeria Oran24 December 2016
2.Yoan SabyFly-half110130 Ivory CoastFrance Toulouse14 July 2018
2.Johan BensallaScrum-half110130 TunisiaAlgeria Oran18 December 2015
4.Johan BensallaScrum-half100220 ZambiaZambia Mufulira4 November 2017
4.Rémi CardonFlanker102000 ZambiaZambia Mufulira4 November 2017
4.Enzo KralfaScrum-half101110 SenegalFrance Toulouse8 July 2018

Last updated: Algeria vs Zambia, 20 October 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries in a match

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A l'ombre des Fennecs, les Lionceaux algériens de l'ovale veulent se faire les griffes". rugbyrama.fr. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "En Algérie, les Fennecs rêvent d'avoir une fédération". rugbyrama.fr. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "2010 Africa Development Trophy - North". rugbyarchive.net. Redaction. 16 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Salim Tebani: "On n'est plus les oubliés du sport algérien"". rugbyrama.fr. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "Malaysia v Algeria rugby union final abandoned after savage brawl". The Guardian. 16 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "La Fédération algérienne voit le jour". lequipe.fr. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "La Fédération algérienne de rugby est née". lexpressiondz.com. 17 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "L'Algérie ralliera le Rugby Afrique en décembre 2016". aps.dz. 16 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "Première pour l'Algérie sur son sol". lequipe.fr. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "Première réussie pour l'Algérie". lequipe.fr. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  11. ↑ "Zone Afrique : un Tri Nations au Maghreb en décembre". lequipe.fr. Paris. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  12. ↑ "World Rugby donne son accord pour un Tri-nations à Oran !". lagazettedufennec.com. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  13. ↑ "Pas de Coupe d'Afrique pour un rugby camerounais en crise". rfi.fr (in French). 25 May 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "FINALE DE LA BRONZE CUP 2017 : L'EXPLOIT ALGÉRIEN !". rugbyafrique.com. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "le Sénégalais Ousmane Mané nouveau sélectionneur du XV d'Algérie". aps.dz. 31 August 2021.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria_national_rugby_union_team