Luxembourg and Moldova rugby teams;
Credit: Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Rugby
On Saturday 25 May 2024, Luxembourg's men's international rugby team played their Rugby Europe Conference Promotion final against Moldova, who won Pool C with three wins from three, with Luxembourg winning Pool B.
The match was played at the Stade Josy Barthel at 18:00, with the home team emerging 19-0 winners, maintaining their unbeaten record in the 2023/23 competition, and therefore earning promotion to the Trophy competition for 2024/25 (the second tier of Rugby Europe competition) and breaking through into Europe's Top 20 rugby playing nations.
Going into the game, Luxembourg were ranked 59th in the world, with Moldova 54th.
Refereed by Luis Fernandez of Spain, the game was played in front of around 1,000 spectators.
Luxembourg (aka the Red Lions) scored three tries (by Fintan Lawlor, Domenico Orsino, Adrian Mendez), with Fintan Lawlor and Matteo Franzina also successful with a conversion each. Moldova did not help their cause by picking up two yellow cards, meaning two of their players each spent ten minutes off the pitch.
In the Rugby Trophy 2024/25, Luxembourg will be playing against Sweden, Czechia, Croatia and Lithuania, as well as Poland who drop down to the Trophy competition (with Switzerland gaining promotion out of the Trophy; also Ukraine were relegated with Luxembourg being promoted).
