# Algeria national rugby union team

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 brought together Nabeul a selection of the best Algerian players from rugby and started on the international stage On 27 February 2007 against Tunisia, a match that they won 8 to 7 Algeria, the Fennecs dream of having a federation with an attempt of Samir Khamouche playing at Castres and a penalty Of Nadir Boukhaloua playing Lyon OU. Later, the Algerians won 20 points to 17 against the hopes of the Stade français at the Villeneuve stadium of the commune of Clichy, department of Hauts-de-Seine, As well as against other African teams, including the Ivory Coast team., in the absence of a federation recognized by the Algerian State, it does not appear in the World Rugby Rankings and has not yet played an official meeting.

### 2015: return of rugby union in Algeria
#### Preparation of the setting up of official bodies

Disappeared in the early 1970s, rugby found its place in Algeria. On 1 January 2015, after eight years of discussions and exchanges, the Ministry of Sports, assisted by the Algerian Olympic Committee, validates the creation of the National Algerian Rugby Association which will become the rugby union current 2015.
The objectives of this new body are the Rugby World Cup in 2019 in Japan, not forgetting the Africa Cup. With the recognition of the Federation, the selection can now appeal to players who play in the Top 14 to build a highly competitive national team. For Sofiane Abdelkader Benhassen, founder of the pilot club Stade Oranais in 2008, who has been appointed president, priority is also and above all to popularize the discipline in Algeria and to make this sport known to the youth of the country through the creation of schools.

#### 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 39. He is victorious for the first official match in the history of the Algerian selection of rugby. Confirmation that the Algerian potential is indeed there. after the piece and against the same team again won 15–0 to qualify to the final to face the owner of the land shed Malaysian team 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
### Overall

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by the Algeria national XV at test level up until 29 July 2024:
| Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % | For | Aga | Diff |
| Egypt | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 50 | 0 | +50 |
| Ivory Coast | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 79 | 43 | +36 |
| Ghana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 20 | 22 | −2 |
| Kazakhstan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 41 | 5 | +36 |
| Kenya | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% | 53 | 48 | +5 |
| Libya | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 50 | 0 | +50 |
| Malaysia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 11 | 19 | −8 |
| Morocco | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | 24 | 32 | −8 |
| Senegal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 92 | 42 | +50 |
| Tunisia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75% | 73 | 53 | +20 |
| Uganda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 22 | 16 | +6 |
| Zambia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 61 | 25 | +36 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% | 23 | 41 | -18 |
| Total | 25 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 72% | 599 | 346 | +253 |

### Rugby World Cup

| World Cup record | World Cup record | World Cup record | World Cup record | World Cup record | World Cup record | World Cup record | World Cup record | World Cup Qualification record | World Cup Qualification record | World Cup Qualification record | World Cup Qualification record | World Cup Qualification record | World Cup Qualification record |
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 1987 | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1995 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1999 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2003 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2007 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2011 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2015 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2019 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2023 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 98 |
| Total | 0/9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 98 |

### Rugby Africa Cup

Rugby Africa Cup record :
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 2000 to 2016 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2017 | Champions Bronze Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 25 |
| 2018 | Champions Silver Cup | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 31 |
| 2019–20 | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled |
| 2021–22 | Third place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 98 |
| 2024 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 53 |
| Total | 5/20 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 291 | 207 |

### African Development Trophy

African Development Trophy record :
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 2004 to 2009 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2010 | Champions North Section | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Total | 1/7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |

### North African Tri Nations

North African Tri Nations record :
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 2016 | Third place | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 28 |
| 2017 | Second place | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 33 |
| 2018 | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled | canceled |
| Total | 2/2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 75 | 61 |

### Crescent Cup

Crescent Cup record :
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 2015 | Second place | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 24 |
| Total | 1/1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 24 |

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

## Coaches
### Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Algerian national team:
| Name | Nationality | Role |
| Ousmane Mané | SEN | Head coach |
| Nasser Benamor | ALG | Assistant coach (Forwards) |
| Boris Brahim Bouhraoua | ALG | Assistant coach (Backs) |
| Nordine Badji | ALG | Assistant coach (Backs) |
| Thomas Drouin | FRA | Strength & Conditioning coach |
| Rouabah Nahim | ALG | Strength & Conditioning coach |
| Mustapha Bouguendouz | ALG | Physiotherapist |
| Yanis Hannouche | ALG | Physiotherapist |

### 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.
| Year | Coach |
| 2007–2011 | Morad Kellal |
| 2011–2017 | Salah Rebadj Djemaï Tebani Foudil Youbi |
| 2017–2021 | Boumedienne Allam |
| 2021– | Ousmane Mané |

## Individual all-time records
### Most caps

| # | Player | Pos | Span | Mat | Pts | Tries | Conv | Pens | Drop | Won | Lost | Draw | Win % |
| 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 |
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 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 |
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 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 |
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 Bensalla | Scrum-half | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | Tunisia | Oran | 24 December 2016 |
| 2. | Yoan Saby | Fly-half | 11 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | Ivory Coast | Toulouse | 14 July 2018 |
| 2. | Johan Bensalla | Scrum-half | 11 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | Tunisia | Oran | 18 December 2015 |
| 4. | Johan Bensalla | Scrum-half | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Zambia | Mufulira | 4 November 2017 |
| 4. | Rémi Cardon | Flanker | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Zambia | Mufulira | 4 November 2017 |
| 4. | Enzo Kralfa | Scrum-half | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Senegal | Toulouse | 8 July 2018 |
Last updated: Algeria vs Zambia, 20 October 2018. Statistics include officially capped matches only.