Luxembourg Claim Second Rugby Europe Conference Win Against Norway

On Saturday 24 October 2026, Luxembourg's senior men's XV rugby team claimed their second victory of the 2026/27 Rugby Europe Conference campaign with a 41-12 home win over Norway at the Stade de Luxembourg.

Head coach James Kent's team entered the match following a 106-5 away victory over Estonia in Tallinn the previous weekend. The Red Lions initially spent more time defending, but after the fifth minute they managed to move play into Norway's half.

Much of the early action took place in midfield, with medical staff from both teams called onto the pitch in the tenth minute. Norway were subsequently forced to make a change, with Ola Hovdhaugen replacing Jakob Ofsthus Henriksen.

Two minutes later, Luxembourg opened the scoring when Thomas Verlaque broke through down the left wing to score the first try of the match. Fintan Lawlor's ensuing conversion attempt was unsuccessful (5-0).

In the fifteenth minute, Matteo Franzina added another five points for the hosts, followed by a successful conversion from Lawlor to extend Luxembourg's lead to 12-0.

Franzina scored his second try in the 22nd minute, although Lawlor was again unable to convert, leaving the score at 17-0.

Ten minutes later, Luxembourg capitalised on a Norwegian error following an unsuccessful line-out near the try line. Anton Agassi intercepted the ball and crossed for another try, with Lawlor adding the conversion to make it 24-0.

At half-time, James Kent told his players to improve their ball retention. Speaking to Chronicle.lu after the match, he explained: "We just needed to clean up a little bit. We were throwing the ball around a little bit too much, loose balls, loose carries, so we just needed to hold onto the ball a bit more and then things would come."

The Red Lions began the second half on the attack, with the coaching staff making changes to the team, including the introduction of Mattia Reuter in place of Anton Agassi.

In the 44th minute, Matteo Franzina completed his hat-trick of tries following an attack down the right wing. Fintan Lawlor missed the conversion, leaving Luxembourg 29-0 ahead.

Four minutes later, Norway responded through their number eight, Lachlan Ross Doyle, who scored the visitors' first try. Axel Montgomery's conversion attempt was unsuccessful, reducing the deficit to 29-5.

Luxembourg made further substitutions in the 52nd minute, with James Wheeler and Louis Darras replacing Christian Olsen and Federico Inciarte respectively, while Thomas Deom came on for Thomas Verlaque.

Shortly afterwards, a break by Darras created an opportunity for Deom to cross the try line without opposition. Lawlor converted to extend Luxembourg's lead to 36-5.

Rain accompanied much of the second half as Norway attempted to reduce the deficit. In the 68th minute, Luxembourg were reduced to fourteen players when Louis Darras received a yellow card and was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes.

Norway took advantage immediately, with James Magnus Moody scoring a try before Axel Montgomery added the conversion to make it 36-12.

The visitors made further changes in the 73rd minute, introducing Toby Buchan Henderson and Duncan Neil McCondochie in place of Michael John Pride and Magnus Lewis.

A minute later, Luxembourg completed another sustained attack, with replacement Mattia Reuter forcing his way through Norway's defence to score the hosts' final try. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 41-12.

Neither team added further points in the closing five minutes, as Red Lions secured their second consecutive victory of the Rugby Europe Conference campaign.

Following the match, James Kent told Chronicle.lu: "We put on a few good tries for the home fans, so that was good. A few new combinations as well from last week, so always takes a bit of time to try and work the combinations. But all in all, I think 41-12, I think we can be happy with that.” He added: "There’s a few work ons that we need to get right before Finland, but ultimately I think we're a pretty happy side. We've been together for two weeks and I think the time that we have together is quite rare, so we'll try and make the most of it."

Luxembourg's next Rugby Europe Conference fixture is scheduled against Finland on Saturday 24 April 2027.