Rugby union in Poland

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Rugby union in Poland is a growing sport. The game is run by the Polish Rugby Union (Polski Związek Rugby), founded in 1957 and joining the international body in 1988. There are about 6,800 registered players and 74 clubs. The domestic game is organized in three main divisions: Ekstraliga (top), I liga, and II liga, plus a regional league around Warsaw and Łódź.

Poland’s national team, nicknamed the White and Reds (Biało-czerwoni), first played in 1922. They are around 30th in the world as of September 2025. The team has had notable moments, including strong showings in the late 1970s, but like many countries, faces ongoing development challenges.

Rugby union in Poland is complemented by a focus on rugby sevens. The women’s national sevens team won silver at the 2023 European Games and aims to reach Olympic qualification in 2024. Poland participates in Rugby Europe competitions, such as the second-division Trophy and the top-level Championship, and the men’s team features in the Europe Grand Prix 7s series.

History of the sport in Poland includes the White Eagles club, founded by Louis Amblard in 1921, with the first match in 1922. Growth was slowed by World War II, but rugby returned in the 1950s. The Cold War era also shaped international participation. Many Polish players have played abroad, especially in France and the United Kingdom, helping keep the sport alive at home. Notable players include Grzegorz Kacala, who helped Brive win the 1996 European Cup, and Mariusz Pudzianowski, the famous strongman who briefly played for Budowlani Łódź.

The official equipment supplier for the Polish Rugby Union is Gonga. The standard of domestic rugby is modest, with most national players in lower-division clubs or abroad. There is ongoing youth rugby and various one-day sevens tournaments that help introduce the sport across the country.