Credit: Luxembourg Lacrosse
Luxembourg Lacrosse has shared the details of its two most important events in 2025: the European Champions in the Olympic six-a-side and the ten-a-side field Lacrosse competitions.
Luxembourg Lacrosse is looking to field two men's national teams in 2025 - one for the Olympic format six-a-side and one for the ten-a-side field Lacrosse format. The Sixes event will be in Monte Gordo, Portugal where Luxembourg Lacrosse competed in February 2024. The tournament marks the first qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games, in which lacrosse is represented for the first time in the new Sixes discipline. Separately, the field event is taking place in Szombathely, Hungary (which will also host the European Championship in 2025) between 12 and 20 July 2024.
According to Luxembourg Lacrosse, both events offer a major opportunity, with players getting to experience international competition in Europe by competing against other nations.
Current head coach and board member Henning Schmidt commented that he was "very excited to see two big adventures for 2025 - we are now inviting players, coaches and anyone wanting to join to put their names down". Players can express their interest to participate in one or both of the tournaments, based on their availability. "Players with and without experience and we especially want to hear from players and coaches based in the region," added Coach Schmidt.
As a first step, a player and coaches pool is to be established followed by a series of local camps to prepare players. When asked to name reasons to compete, World Cup 2018 Veteran Yves Audrimont offered his personal take: "Competing in Israel was challenging, difficult and full of some of the best memories anyone can make in sports."
Commenting on the objectives for the federation, President Pit Bingen outlined that the main priority is the six-a-side competition: "It is Olympic, it requires a small roster, we have scope to become competitive in Europe." The short field version will have a dozen spots whereas the field version will have 25. The former gives Luxembourg more opportunity of running the entire preparation with all players in the Grand Duchy, noted Luxembourg Lacrosse. It also gives the youth players built over the last few years (e.g. at the Lycee Guillaume Kroll) their first taste of international competition.
"Sixes is fast, exciting and there is a huge premium for fitness and basic skills," noted Coach Schmidt, "so using the time until March well can give us a competitive advantage beyond what others may expect from us."
Coaches, players and anyone else who would like to contribute to Luxembourg's national teams are invited to register their interest via email: Schmidt@lacrosse.lu.
