Kelssek national rugby team
 | |
| Union | Kelssek Rugby Federation |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Thomas Harrison |
| Captain | Martin Tang |
| World rankings | |
| Current | 4th |
| Highest | 1st |
| Rugby World Cup | |
| Appearances | 17 (first in RWC 8) |
| Best result | Champions (11, 12, 31) |
The Kelssek national rugby team represents Kelssek in international rugby union. It is under the authority of the national governing body, known in Anglian as the Kelssek Rugby Federation (KRF), or in Frankish as the Fédération kelssekienne de rugby (FKR). It is the second-most successful side at the Rugby World Cup, which it has won thrice.
History
Kelssek's first international test match is a matter of some historical obscurity. Kelssek's first internationally sanctioned match was a 27-23 defeat against Ariddia at Rugby World Cup 8. However, the KRF awarded caps to players for a Test match against Nouveau Bretagne around the same time for which all other records have been lost. By winning the 11th and 12th Rugby World Cup, Kelssek were the first team to successfully defend the sport's world championship.
Leigh Kirwan, who won a Rugby Superleague title as coach of Kirkenes Crusaders and a player in the back-to-back World Cup winning team, was appointed head coach as Kelssek reentered international competition at RWC 27. Under Kirwan, Kelssek reestablished itself as a World Cup presence reaching the knockout stage at RWC29. After upsetting Abanhfleft in the round of 16, they lost 13-16 to the hosts Hutanija in the quarterfinals. Kirwan resigned after a poor Rugby World Cup 30 hosted in Ko-oren and Quebec and Shingoryeo, which saw a controversial match against Q&S where two Kelssek players were sent off in a defeat. Adding to the humiliation, the Kelssek media picked up and amplified the Q&S head coach claiming their win had come after a drug-fuelled party the night before. After scraping through to the round of 16, Kelssek were crushed 52-3 by Nova Anglicana and Kirwan announced his resignation upon the team's return to Kelssek.
The KRF then hired Nordiques head coach Thomas Harrison to take the helm of the national team. Kelssek claimed its third World Cup title at RWC31 by defeating Nova Anglicana, which came as a particularly emotional win as a rematch of the round of 16 match in the previous tournament with all the negativity that had transpired there.
At RWC34 in Hannasea, Kelssek ran unbeaten through their group, racking up six wins before losing to Abanhfleft. Moving on to the quarterfinals, Kelssek beat Baggieland and then took a 28-24 win over Ko-oren where Carl Letteri's try stood as the difference maker, after Kelssek were able to hold their lead against a Ko-oren onslaught. They moved on to the final where they once again met Abanhfleft and once again were beaten, by a score of 33-25.
Record
Rugby World Cup
| RWC | Result | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 3rd in group | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 137 | 198 | UR |
| 9 | tournament abandoned | |||||||
| 10 | 4th | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 135 | 114 | n/a |
| 11 | Champions | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 219 | 96 | 4 |
| 12 | Champions | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 227 | 144 | 1 |
| 13 | 3rd | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 40 | 1 |
| 14 | QF | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 283 | 138 | 1 |
| 15 | tournament abandoned | |||||||
| 16 | R16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 200 | 122 | 2 |
| 18 | 4th in group | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 113 | 154 | 18 |
| 20 | 4th in group | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 113 | 154 | |
| 27 | R16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 59 | 55 | UR |
| 28 | QF | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 53 | 50 | 19 |
| 29 | QF | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 89 | 65 | 13 |
| 30 | R16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 60 | 95 | 10 |
| 31 | Champions | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 268 | 125 | 11 |
| 32 | 4th | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 212 | 151 | 3 |
| 33 | QF | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 125 | 49 | 2 |
| 34 | Runners-up | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 227 | 131 | 4 |
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