Kelssek national rugby team
| https://i.imgur.com/fd6lhto.gif | |
| Union | Kelssek Rugby Federation |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Thomas Harrison |
| Captain | Martin Tang |
| NSRB rankings | |
| Current | 11th |
| Highest | 1st |
| Rugby World Cup | |
| Appearances | 12 (first in RWC 8) |
| Best result | Champions (11, 12, 31) |
The Kelssek national rugby team represents Kelssek in international rugby union, primarily the Rugby World Cup which it has won thrice. The team are governed by the Kelssek Rugby Federation (KRF).
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 resulting to two red cards in Kelssek's defeat and the Kelssek media picking up and amplifying the co-hosts' 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.
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 |
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