Luxembourg Rugby Aiming for Return to Trophy Division, Coach Kent Says

Luxembourg’s senior men’s XV rugby team are competing in the Rugby Europe Conference for the 2025/2026 season, having been drawn in Group A alongside Finland, Norway, Latvia and Estonia as they seek to secure a play-off spot for promotion to the Rugby Europe Trophy.

Luxembourg were relegated from the Trophy division at the end of last season and will now aim to rebuild momentum in Europe’s third-tier competition. Led by Head Coach James Kent, the team have already taken an important first step, recording a 60-6 away victory over Norway in their opening match.

With more than a month until their next fixture, a home game against Estonia on Saturday 6 December 2025, Chronicle.lu spoke with Coach Kent about the Red Lions’ prospects this season and their goal of returning to the Trophy division.

The coach described competing in the Rugby Europe Conference as “like two seasons in one”, noting that the long breaks between matches present both advantages and challenges. He explained that the six-week gap allows players to gain fitness and playing time with their clubs in Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, the UK and Poland, but can also disrupt momentum after a strong performance.

“It can be a benefit, having that extended period of time off,” Kent said, “but it can also take away the momentum you build after a good performance.”

Looking ahead, Kent emphasised that the team’s main objective remains a return to the Rugby Europe Trophy, but stressed the importance of consistency and focus throughout the long season. Given the extended breaks between fixtures, he added that preparation cannot be approached as a continuous campaign, with the Red Lions instead treating each game as a separate challenge.

“We have to make sure we take each game as it comes and prepare for each one individually,” coach Kent said, adding that with long intervals between fixtures, up to three or even four months later in the season, maintaining rhythm will be crucial.

He noted that while promotion is the ultimate goal, progress will depend on the team’s ability to stay disciplined and “keep ticking the small boxes” throughout the campaign.

When asked which team could prove to be Luxembourg’s main rival in the race for promotion, coach Kent gave a measured response, acknowledging the competitive balance of the group.

“Aside from those in our conference - Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Finland, they’re all strong opponents,” he said. “But if we get past that, there’ll be a play-off game yet to be determined. With five pools in the Conference, there are many potential contenders, so it’s hard to pinpoint just one.”