Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu

On Saturday 6 December 2025, Luxembourg’s senior men’s XV rugby team claimed their second win of the 2025/2026 Rugby Europe Conference campaign with a 93-0 home victory over Estonia at the Stade de Luxembourg.

Head coach James Kent was not on the touchline during the match but positioned on a platform beneath the stadium roof, explaining to Chronicle.lu that: “I like to watch the game from a different perspective.”

Captain Hugo Bertani opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a break down the left wing, although Fintan Lawlor’s ensuing conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Two minutes later, Lawlor made amends by breaking through the central defence to score Luxembourg’s second try, followed by a successful conversion (12-0).

The Red Lions maintained their momentum, with William Verrinder extending the lead to 22-0 after scoring two further tries following strong runs down the right wing; both conversion attempts were unsuccessful. Luxembourg added another seven points in the 17th minute when they broke through Estonia’s defence once more: Thomas Verlaque grounded the ball with the support of his teammates, followed by a successful conversion from Fintan Lawlor (29-0). Less than five minutes later, Adrian Mendez Elola increased the advantage with a powerful break for five points, and Lawlor added the extras.

In the 24th minute, a line-out move resulted in another Luxembourg try, finished by Guillaume Kimmel and again followed by a successful Lawlor conversion (43-0). The eighth try came in the 30th minute, when captain Hugo Bertani once again pierced Estonia’s left flank to make it 48-0, underscoring the Red Lions’ total dominance under James Kent.

Before half-time, the hosts extended their lead to 60 points, with Adrian Mendez Elola and Fintan Lawlor adding further tries. They went into the break having contributed ten and thirteen points respectively, further consolidating their commanding advantage.

“It was obviously a strong first-half performance and we just wanted to make sure that we could play the game plan that we'd wanted to play in what we practiced and execute that, which I think we did. It was also a good opportunity for some of our younger players to come in and get some experience, especially at home in a beautiful stadium,” said James Kent.

At half-time, Kent made his first change, with Thomas Verlaque making way for Denis Logelin. The Red Lions extended their lead just two minutes after the restart, as Alexandre Piquet crossed for a try, followed by another successful conversion from Fintan Lawlor (67-0). Luxembourg then introduced five further players: Anthony Rossi replaced Thomas Verlaque, Luis Darras came on for Lucas Schmitt, Melvil Ruppert replaced Anthony Drennan, Oscar Whiteman came on for William Verrinder and Casmier Yandall replaced Alexandre Piquet.

By the final whistle, the Red Lions had added four more tries, scored by Stuart Logier, Julian Clavien Timon and replacements Oscar Whiteman and Melvil Ruppert. Fintan Lawlor contributed three further successful conversions. 

This second victory (93-0) against Estonia in the Rugby Europe Conference lifted Luxembourg to the top of Pool A. The team will now enter a break of more than four months before hosting Latvia on 18 April 2026.

“It’s important for the guys to stay fit and keep playing for their clubs. Four to five months is a long time. It also provides an opportunity for some of our long-term injuries to return. We had a fairly young team tonight and several serious injuries in recent weeks, so hopefully this period allows players to heal, get game time with their clubs and then put themselves forward for selection,” concluded James Kent.