Following the disappointment of missing out on a playoff place to the Rugby Europe Trophy, on ranking point difference, the Luxembourg senior men’s selection embarks on their next quest for promotion.
The team comfortably beat every country they faced and ended the season on top of their pool, but Rugby Europe’s rules emphasise that the two teams of the five pools with the best ranking points ratio make it into the play-off game for the Rugby Europe Trophy.
The Maltese side (who qualified for the playoffs) achieved bonus point victories in all three of their games, thus averaging five points for their ranking points ratio, while Luxembourg narrowly missed out on a bonus point victory against Finland and only averaged 4.75 points over four games.
Henceforth, the objective must be clear: bonus point victories in every single game which should assure a spot in the coveted play-off places.
Upcoming fixtures
Luxembourg will face Estonia away in the first of two games during the autumn internationals on 17 October, followed by a home fixture against Norway in the Stade de Luxembourg on 24 October. James Kent’s men beat both teams last season; 93-0 and 60-6 respectively.
This season, Luxembourg are in a four team pool as opposed to last year where they were in a five team pool with Latvia dropping to the lower division. In view of the ranking point ratio, this could play to their advantage or disadvantage depending on results.
On Tuesday, the Luxembourgish rugby federation announced the squad set to play in the opening games of the season:
| Name | Club |
| Anton Agassi | Midleton RFC |
| Ruben Albstmeijer | AAC Rugby |
| Gauthier Bares | US Bazas |
| Peter Barton | RC Luxembourg |
| Hugo Bertani | FC Barcelona (C) |
| Arthur Binanzer | Rugby Union Sportive Hayange |
| Louis Darras | Zurich Grasshoppers |
| Matthew Dennis-Soto | RC Luxembourg |
| Thomas Deom | Walferdange RC |
| Anthony Drennan | Blackheath RFC |
| John Fitzpatrick | West of Scotland RFC |
| Matteo Franzina | San Cugat Rugby |
| Ed Graybrook | University of Essex RFC |
| Federico Inciarte | RC Luxembourg * |
| Maxime Kenens | RC Luxembourg |
| Fintan Lawlor | Benfica Rugby |
| Denis Logelin | RC Luxembourg |
| Adrian Mendez | AAC Rugby |
| Mattia Reuter | University of Bath * |
| James O’Donoghue | RC Luxembourg * |
| Christian Olsen | RC Luxembourg |
| Anthony Rossi | SCAC Cusset |
| Kai Sweetnam | Rugby Club ’t Gooi |
| Tristan Touzellier | RC Luxembourg * |
| Callum Trees | Wharfedale RFC |
| Thomas Verlaque | Vale of Lune RFC |
* indicate a new cap.
