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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
Creation of the national federation
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). Membership in the continental federation Rugby Africa is planned in December 2016.
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. 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.
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.
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. 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. the Algerian national team will play next season in the Rugby Africa Silver Cup.
Home grounds
Algeria play internationals since it first receives match on 2015 at Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran.
Record Tournaments Rugby World Cup World Cup recordWorld Cup Qualification recordYearRound 1987Not invited– 1991Did not enterDid not enter 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023Did not qualify530213098 202732016332Total0/110000008503193130
Rugby Africa Cup Rugby Africa Cup recordYearRound2000 to 2016Did not enter 2017Champions Bronze Cup11003025 2018Champions Silver Cup330076312019–20Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa 2021–22Third place530213098 2024Runners-up32105553 2025Third place32016332Total5/20151104354239
African Development Trophy African Development Trophy recordYearRound2004 to 2009Did not enter 2010Champions North Section22001000Total1/722001000
North African Tri Nations North African Tri Nations recordYearRound 2016Third place20022628 2017Second place21014933 2018CanceledTotal2/241037561
Crescent Cup Crescent Cup recordYearRound 2015Second place32015224Total1/132015224
Overall Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by an Algeria national XV at test level up until 19 July 2025, updated after match with . Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff 1 1 0 0 % 50 0 +50 1 0 1 0 0% 20 22 −2 4 4 0 0 % 121 49 +72 2 2 0 0 % 41 5 +36 3 2 1 0 % 68 53 +15 1 1 0 0 % 50 0 +50 1 0 1 0 0% 11 19 −8 2 0 2 0 0% 24 30 −6 1 0 1 0 0% 7 21 -14 3 3 0 0 % 83 42 +41 4 2 2 0 % 80 62 +18 1 1 0 0 % 22 16 +6 2 2 0 0 % 61 25 +36 2 1 2 0 % 23 41 -18Total 27 18 9 0 % 617 350 +267
Current squad The following 45 players were called up for the 2021–22 Rugby Africa Cup matches against Ghana and Uganda.
Head coach: Boumedienne Allam Caps Updated: 30 July 2021
Coaches Current coaching staff The current coaching staff of the Algerian national team: NameNationalityRoleOusmane ManéHead coachNasser BenamorAssistant coach (Forwards)Boris Brahim BouhraouaAssistant coach (Backs)Nordine BadjiAssistant coach (Backs)Thomas DrouinStrength & Conditioning coachRouabah NahimStrength & Conditioning coachMustapha BouguendouzPhysiotherapistYanis HannouchePhysiotherapist
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.Below is a list of historical coaches of the Algeria rugby union national team. YearCoach2007–2011 Morad Kellal2011–2017 Salah Rebadj Djemaï Tebani Foudil Youbi2017–2021 Boumedienne Allam2021– Ousmane Mané
Individual all-time records Most caps #PlayerPosSpanMatPtsTriesConvPensDropWonLostDrawWin % 1. Rabah Abdelkader Flanker 2015–present 13 5 1 0 0 0 9 4 0 69.23 2. Boris Bouhraoua Scrum-half 2015–present 12 11 1 3 0 0 8 4 0 66.67 3. Nasser Benamor Prop 2015–2018 11 5 1 0 0 0 7 4 0 63.64 4. Khaled Kahlouchi Flanker 2015–present 10 10 2 0 0 0 7 3 0 70.00 4. Mohamed Belguidoum Centre 2015–present 10 10 2 0 0 0 7 3 0 70.00 4. Djamel Ouchene Wing 2015–present 10 15 3 0 0 0 7 1 0 87.50 4. Maxim Meneghini Centre 2016–present 10 0 0 0 0 0 7 3 0 70.00 8. Lou Bouhraoua Scrum-half 2015–present 9 11 0 1 3 0 5 4 0 55.56 9. Johan Bensalla Scrum-half 2015–present 8 59 0 7 13 2 7 2 0 77.78 9. Sofiane Chellat Prop 2015–present 8 0 0 0 0 0 7 2 0 77.78 9. Yazid Chouchane Wing 2015–present 8 10 2 0 0 0 5 3 0 62.50
Most tries
#PlayerPosSpanMatPtsTriesConvPensDrop 1. Yazid Chouchane Wing 2015–present 8 15 3 0 0 0 1. Rémi Cardon Flanker 2017–present 5 15 3 0 0 0 3. Yakine Djebbari lock 2016–present 6 10 2 0 0 0 3. Djamel Ouchene Wing 2015–present 8 10 2 0 0 0 3. Mohamed Belguidoum centre 2015–present 9 10 2 0 0 0 3. Walid Batchali Flanker 2018–present 3 10 2 0 0 0
Most points
#PlayerPosSpanMatPtsTriesConvPensDrop 1. Johan Bensalla Fly-half 2015–present 7 59 0 7 13 2 2. Yoan Saby Fly-half 2017–present 5 22 0 5 4 0 3. Yazid Chouchane Wing 2015–present 8 15 3 0 0 0 3. Rémi Cardon Flanker 2017–present 5 15 3 0 0 0 5. Enzo Kralfa Scrum-half 2018–present 3 14 1 1 3 0 6. Lou Bouhraoua Scrum-half 2015–present 9 11 0 1 3 0 6. Boris Bouhraoua Scrum-half 2015–present 11 11 1 3 0 0 8. Mohamed Belguidoum centre 2015–present 9 10 2 0 0 0 8. Walid Batchali Flanker 2018–present 3 10 2 0 0 0
Most points in a match
#PlayerPosPtsTriesConvPensDropOppositionVenueDate 1. Johan Bensalla Scrum-half 15 0 0 5 0 Oran 24 December 2016 2. Yoan Saby Fly-half 11 0 1 3 0 Toulouse 14 July 2018 2. Johan Bensalla Scrum-half 11 0 1 3 0 Oran 18 December 2015 4. Johan Bensalla Scrum-half 10 0 2 2 0 Mufulira 4 November 2017 4. Rémi Cardon Flanker 10 2 0 0 0 Mufulira 4 November 2017 4. Enzo Kralfa Scrum-half 10 1 1 1 0 Toulouse 8 July 2018
Most tries in a match
See also Rugby union in Algeria Algerian Rugby Federation
References
External links Algerian rugby team statistics Algerian Rugby union Facebook page