Croatia national rugby union team

Croatia played their first international on 28 November 1992, away against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and won 47–3. Croatia played four the following year with wins over Austria and Hungary. They then faced off against Italy, who won 76–11. The year finished off with a win over Morocco 36–12 but a loss to Spain .

The following year they won three of their five fixtures, though they lost to Ukraine and Luxembourg, though the following year, they were able to defeat Luxembourg in 1995. Croatia won a number of games in 1996–97, defeating the likes of Israel, Norway, Bulgaria, Latvia and Moldova and but losing to an experienced Georgia that year by 29–15.

1997 to 2000, Croatia played 11 International for 10 wins and 1 loss (to the Netherlands).

Croatia won five matches in a row from 2001 to 2002. Croatia started in round three of the 2007 Rugby World Cup European qualification tournament but were knocked out by Latvia and Andorra.

On St. Patrick's Day 17 March 2007, in Knin, the Croatian national team played an Irish Barbarians side and won the St. Pat's in Knin Cup.

On 10 November 2007 Croatia defeated Malta 24–9 in Makarska. There are two internationals coming up in 2008 with Croatia taking on Andorra in Split (19 April) and away to Latvia in Riga (10 May)

Croatia have a host of players who are New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans of Croatian origin who play the game and have played internationally for these countries. The first New Zealander of Croatian descent to play for Croatia was Brendon Winslow against Luxembourg in 1995.

Other New Zealanders, were Paul Vegar (North Shore, NZ reps), Paul Vujcich (Counties, Manurewa and North Shore) and the Graham brothers Rob and Reon (Counties, Patumahoe, Manurewa).

Anthony Posa was another New Zealander who played many times for Croatia (1996–2003), playing out of both the GHA RFC, Glasgow, Scotland and Beverley RUFC, Yorkshire, England. He is now Head Coach of the Yorkshire Under 20 County side which has won numerous English National County Championships and coaches professionally at the Doncaster club in England. His family originated from the Island of Korčula.

Frano Botica was a one time Croatian rugby player and former All Black, whose grandparents were also born in Korčula. Another former All Black who turned out for the Croatian side at the same time was Matthew Cooper. Dan Luger is an England representative whose father Darko Luger is from the island of Brac. Sean Fitzpatrick is another former All Black captain who has Croatian heritage.

The following players formed the squad for the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Conference 1 South match against Cyprus on 13 November 2021.[1]

• Known Caps updated after match with Cyprus.

Head coach: Anthony Posa

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

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Ivan Josip Kordun	Prop	(1994-04-19) 19 April 1994		RK Nada
Krešimir Čorić	Hooker	(1993-08-26) 26 August 1993		RK Nada
Luka Perlain	Prop	(1998-11-28) 28 November 1998		RK Nada
Alexander Bibic	Lock	(1998-08-08) 8 August 1998
Dražen Brčić-Šušak	Lock	(1996-11-28) 28 November 1996		RK Sinj
Ivo Perić	Flanker	(1993-08-02) 2 August 1993		RK Nada
Martin Rešković	Flanker	(1986-09-08) 8 September 1986		RK Zagreb
Marko Buljac	Number 8	(1986-11-28) 28 November 1986		HARK Mladost
Luka Lerotić	Scrum-half	(1990-11-28) 28 November 1990		RK Nada
Nik Jurišić (c)	Fly-half	(1988-07-06) 6 July 1988		HARK Mladost
Jan Vlašić	Wing	(1992-05-29) 29 May 1992		HARK Mladost
Filip Perica	Centre	(1991-06-04) 4 June 1991		RC Sarlat
Marko Grčić	Centre	(1992-11-28) 28 November 1992		RK Sinj
Nikola Pavlović	Wing	(1992-12-18) 18 December 1992		RK Sinj
Domagoj Plazibat	Fullback	(1995-10-31) 31 October 1995		RK Nada
Tomislav Fišić	Back row	(1999-01-29) 29 January 1999		HARK Mladost
Denis Brečić	Prop	(1999-11-28) 28 November 1999		HARK Mladost
Marko Bužančić	Prop	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000	1	RK Nada
Marin Miloš	Lock	(1999-05-02) 2 May 1999	1	RK Sinj
Željko Galić	Flanker	(1999-11-28) 28 November 1999		RK Zagreb
Dominik Fišić	??	(2000-01-29) 29 January 2000		HARK Mladost
Duje Plazibat	Centre	(1997-12-27) 27 December 1997		RK Nada
Fran Peršić	Wing	(1997-10-12) 12 October 1997		HARK Mladost

• Rugby union in Croatia

• Croatia Rugby official website