# Lithuania national rugby union team

The Lithuania national rugby union team (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Nacionalinė Regbio Sąjungos Komanda) represents Lithuania in men's international rugby union competitions. Nicknamed The Knights (Vytis), is considered one of the relatively stronger tier 3 teams in European rugby and currently compete in the second division of the Rugby Europe International Championships in the Rugby Europe Trophy, a competition which is just below the Rugby Europe Championship where the top 6 countries in Europe (apart from the teams in the 6 nations) compete. They are yet to participate in any Rugby World Cup and play in black with a pattern involving the colours red, yellow and green (the colours of the Lithuanian flag).

## History

Rugby was first introduced into Lithuania in 1961. However, as the country was a part of USSR, the national team could not be formed. After the collapse of the USSR, Lithuania could finally form their very own national team where they would start playing unofficial friendlies against Latvia, their traditional rivals as well as representative team from Kaliningrad before finally playing their first official game against Germany, in 1993 where they lost with the score 31-5.
After the reestablishment of independence in 1990, Lithuania's rugby authorities worked to gain international recognition after gaining continental recognition in 1991 by FIRA Europe (as it was known at the time) and by 1993, the national team were participating in the qualifying for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Lithuania also participated in the 1992-1994 FIRA Trophy competition at the bottom of the pyramid but failed to win any of their games. Later on in 1996, Lithuania had achieved their first official victory against Luxembourg during the qualifying competition for the 1999 World Cup. Overall, the 1990s were a poor decade for the national team, yet it must be considered that they were a relatively new country, never mind the fact that Lithuania started playing test match rugby in 1993.
Up until 2006, Lithuania was lingering in the middle of the third division of the European Nations Cup. However, a 100 percent record in their 2006-2008 European Nations Cup Third Division campaign earned them promotion from Division 3B to Division 3A. This effort was followed by another perfect record in the 2008-2010 European Nations Cup Third Division and a further promotion to Division 2A. Moreover, victories over Israel and the Netherlands would take them to the semifinal round of the European qualification tournament for a spot in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final Place Play-off. The rise in form of the national had thus resulted in an increase in the popularity of the sport in Lithuania.
During their 2008–10 European Nations Cup campaign, Lithuania was credited with setting a new record for consecutive Test wins in men's rugby. Their 77–5 away win over Serbia on April 24, 2010 was listed as their 18th straight, surpassing the previous record set by New Zealand in 1965–69 and by South Africa in 1997–98. This undefeated campaign, which could have led to a Lithuanian presence at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, ended in the 27–16 loss to Ukraine in the European qualifying semifinal. However, on later review, it was found that the first game in the 18-game sequence was in fact a loss, and as such are now credited with having held an equal record with South Africa and New Zealand (the record would later be broken by Cyprus in 2013).

## Record
### 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 | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country |
| 1991 | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country | Part of USSR: Not an independent country |
| 1995 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 38 |
| 1999 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 157 |
| 2003 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 127 | 89 |
| 2007 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 169 | 130 |
| 2011 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 239 | 83 |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 109 |
| 2019 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 47 |
| 2023 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | Automatically eliminated | Automatically eliminated | Automatically eliminated | Automatically eliminated | Automatically eliminated | Automatically eliminated |
| Total | 0/9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 18 | 1 | 16 | 778 | 653 |

### European Competitions

| Season | Division | G | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/− | Pts | Pos |
| 2000 | European Nations Cup Fourth Division Pool 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 4 | 3rd |
| 2001-02 | European Nations Cup Third Division Pool 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 66 | +21 | 10 | 2nd |
| 2002-03 | European Nations Cup Third Division Pool B | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 53 | +94 | 10 | 2nd |
| 2003-04 | European Nations Cup Third Division Pool B | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 32 | +57 | 8 | 3rd |
| 2004-06 | European Nations Cup Third Division Pool B | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 69 | +25 | 8 | 3rd |
| 2006-08 | European Nations Cup Third Division 3B | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 315 | 56 | +259 | 24 | 1st |
| 2008-10 | European Nations Cup Third Division 3A | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 50 | +220 | 21 | 1st |
| 2010-12 | European Nations Cup Second Division 2A | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 233 | 125 | +108 | 28 | 2nd |
| 2012-14 | European Nations Cup Second Division 2A | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 149 | 199 | -50 | 11 | 5th |
| 2014-16 | European Nations Cup Second Division 2B | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 144 | 75 | +69 | 20 | 1st |
| 2016-17 | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 47 | +46 | 14 | 2nd |
| 2017-18 | Rugby Europe Conference 1 North | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 78 | +49 | 19 | 1st |
| 2018-19 | Rugby Europe Trophy | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 63 | 175 | -112 | 5 | 5th |
| 2019-20 | Rugby Europe Trophy | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 61 | 103 | -42 | 7 | 5th |
| 2021-22* | Rugby Europe Trophy | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 108 | 177 | -69 | 5 | 6th |
* ↑ Following Lithuania's win in the European Nations Cup Second Division 2B, Rugby Europe reorganised their international championships for the following season. This resulted in them being placed into the Rugby Europe Conference 1 North for 2016-17.
* ↑ Lithuania's first place finish in the 2017–18 Rugby Europe Conference 1 North saw them advance into the Promotion play-off against Rugby Europe Conference 1 South winners Malta which they won 81-10. This resulted in them being promoted into the Rugby Europe Trophy.

### Overall

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Lithuania national XV at test level up until 23 November 2024, updated after match with Croatia.
| Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | % Won |
| Andorra | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80% |
| Armenia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Austria | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
| Belgium | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Bulgaria | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 80% |
| Croatia | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50% |
| Cyprus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Czech Republic | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33% |
| Denmark | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Germany | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Hungary | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75% |
| Israel | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Latvia | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 58.33% |
| Luxembourg | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71.43% |
| Malta | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 42.86% |
| Moldova | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Monaco | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Netherlands | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 25% |
| Norway | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Poland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Serbia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Serbia and Montenegro | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Slovenia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0% |
| Sweden | 11 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 18.18% |
| Switzerland | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 44.44% |
| Ukraine | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 42.86% |
| Total | 123 | 63 | 57 | 3 | 51.22% |

## Recent Matches

Matches :
23 October 2021 14:00 EEST (UTC+03)(1 LBP) Lithuania 37–39 UkraineReportRegbio stadionas, Šiauliai Attendance: 500 Referee: Ethan Glass (Switzerland) :
30 October 2021 15:00 EEST (UTC+03)Lithuania 16–46 Germany (1 TBP)ReportRegbio stadionas, Šiauliai Attendance: 450 Referee: Gert Visser (Netherlands) :
13 November 2021 15:30 CET (UTC+01)Switzerland 20–28 LithuaniaReportCentre Sportif de Colovray, Nyon Referee: Dan O'Connell (Germany) :

## Current squad

The following players are in the match day squad for the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Trophy game against Switzerland on 13 November 2021.
* Head Coach: Gediminas Marcišauskas
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Club/province |
| Tautvydas Mažylis | Prop | (1984-06-16) 16 June 1984 (age 40) | Azuolas Kaunas |
| Tomas Zibolis | Hooker | (1981-10-06) 6 October 1981 (age 43) | BaltRex Šiauliai |
| Tautrimas Mažylis | Prop | (1984-08-16) 16 August 1984 (age 40) | Azuolas Kaunas |
| Povilas Jankauskas | Lock | (1999-08-18) 18 August 1999 (age 25) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Mindaugas Kazlauskas | Lock | (1986-11-28) 28 November 1986 (age 38) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Martynas Lianzbergas | Back row | (1989-11-28) 28 November 1989 (age 35) | BaltRex Šiauliai |
| Donatas Trumpickas | Back row | (1996-10-01) 1 October 1996 (age 28) | BaltRex Šiauliai |
| Paulius Strigūnas | Back row | (1987-11-28) 28 November 1987 (age 37) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Tautvydas Krasauskas (c) | Scrum-half | (1995-09-08) 8 September 1995 (age 29) | Azuolas Kaunas |
| Eimantas Bagarauskas | Fly-half | (1987-08-16) 16 August 1987 (age 37) | Azuolas Kaunas |
| Jonas Mikalčius | Wing | (1994-01-15) 15 January 1994 (age 31) | |
| Dovydas Taujanskas | Centre | (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 25) | RK Geležinis Vilkas |
| Vytaras Bloškys | Centre | (1991-08-30) 30 August 1991 (age 33) | BaltRex Šiauliai |
| Domantas Bagužis | Wing | (1997-04-17) 17 April 1997 (age 27) | Azuolas Kaunas |
| Donatas Vilimavičius | Fullback | (1993-09-11) 11 September 1993 (age 31) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Povilas Jurgelionis | ?? | (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24) | Azuolas Kaunas |
| Daivaras Jonaitis | ?? | (1999-06-04) 4 June 1999 (age 25) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Tomas Mačiulis | ?? | (1998-03-18) 18 March 1998 (age 26) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Zilvinas Kungys | ?? | (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 26) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Tomas Bagdonas | ?? | (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 30) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Kęstutis Marcišauskas | ?? | (1985-07-24) 24 July 1985 (age 39) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |
| Matas Miežys | ?? | (1992-11-28) 28 November 1992 (age 32) | BaltRex Šiauliai |
| Justinas Vasiliauskas | ?? | (1988-01-29) 29 January 1988 (age 37) | RK Vairas Šiauliai |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the last 12 months.
| Player | Pos | Date of birth (age) | Club | Latest call-up |
| Lukas Gylys | Prop | | BaltRex Šiauliai | v. Germany, 30 October 2021 |
| Naglis Dunčikas | Lock | | Azuolas Kaunas | v. Germany, 30 October 2021 |
| Airidas Savickas | Lock | | RK Vairas Šiauliai | v. Ukraine, 23 October 2021 |
| Domantas Tautkus | Back row | 2 June 1993 (age 28) | Azuolas Kaunas | v. Germany, 30 October 2021 |
| Deniss Aleksejevs | Back row | | RK Geležinis Vilkas | v. Ukraine, 23 October 2021 |
| Kęstutis Riskus | Back row | | RK Vairas Šiauliai | v. Ukraine, 23 October 2021 |
| Alanas Alasauskis | Centre | | Azuolas Kaunas | v. Ukraine, 23 October 2021 |
| Rokas Lipnickas | | | RK Vairas Šiauliai | v. Germany, 30 October 2021 |
| Domas Malinauskas | | | Azuolas Kaunas | v. Ukraine, 23 October 2021 |

## Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Lithuanian national team:
| Name | Nationality | Role |
| Austeja Minkeviciute | LTU | Manager |
| Gediminas Marcišauskas | LTU | Head coach |
| Zygimantas Radzius | LTU | Assistant coach |
| Dr Liutkus | LTU | Team doctor |
| Arūnas Auga | LTU | Physiotherapist |
| Mantvydas Tveraga | LTU | Water Carrier |

### Former coaches

| Name | Years | Tests | Won | Drew | Lost | Win percentage |
| Simon Verbickas | 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Gediminas Marcišauskas | 2021 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50% |