In Scotland, Wales, France and Belgium, the European Parliament rugby team lately faced several teams in a still relatively unknown format: touch rugby. Touch rugby is a non-tackling version of rugby, first developed in Australia in the 1960s. Initially, it served as a summer training exercise for rugby league players, designed to limit contact and injuries. The principle is simple: tackling is replaced by a simple touch of the hand, followed by the defending team retreating

Yep, that’s me. Face buried in the armpit of with a 123-kg Welsh policy advisor - specialised in regional agricultural integration - lying on top of me. The rain is pouring down at a rate usually reserved for the final scenes of a cheesy romantic Hollywood movie. Except instead of a glamorous actress, my co-star is a guy called Gavin. To be fair, he smells surprisingly good. You’re probably wondering how I got into this predicament. Well, a couple of years ago, I was dragged

On 22 November 2025 , the European Parliament Rugby Team (EPXV) took to the field in Cardiff to face the Senedd XV , the Welsh Parliament’s rugby team - exactly one year after a similar encounter in Edinburgh against the Holyrood XV . These fixtures followed an even more remarkable milestone. In November 2024, the EPXV embarked on its first great adventure on the world stage, competing in the prestigious Parliamentary Rugby World Cup in France. There, we lined up against so

It’s not exactly the usual time for EU institution employees in Brussels to arrive at Place du Luxembourg. Typically, they gather a few hours later for a drink or apéro at the famous cafés surrounding John Cockerill’s statue. However, on a damp and frankly miserable Friday morning - November 22nd - the 37 players and support staff of the European Parliament Rugby Team set off on yet another unpredictable adventure. Mission EPXV: Tour to Wales was finally underway. Despite the

Lise (second row) charging the Boitsfort opponents For their final game of the season, the EPXV players were welcomed onto familiar...

A most positive result overall, with lots of fun for players and supporters! That was the impression felt by the EPXV team at the “The...

Philippe Sella training with EPXV team at Boitsfort Rugby Club Every rugby player, past or present, knows the feeling: that childhood...

EPXV squad alongside President Roberta Metsola, Members and Secretary General Alessandro Chiocchetti The EPXV team faced Strasbourg City...

Schumann meeting Ovalion On 9 April this year, in the rugby citadel of Toulouse, the EPXV team secured a stunning victory over our hosts,...

On 6 February, the European Parliament Rugby Team (EPXV) had the honour of hosting a delegation led by Mr. Alin Petrache, President of...

On 30 January 2025, the European Parliament Rugby Team (EPXV) has successfully held its General Assembly, marking a significant milestone...

On Friday November 1 2024, just before dawn, while the whole of Brussels was still sleep with the capital covered by a typically ...

Vibbe Grimsrud Had you told me a year ago that I’d be playing in a mixed rugby team—the European Parliament XV Rugby Team - I would have...

Hicham El Fergui (l) with EPXV captain Roccu Garoby playing rugby was the sport that matched my physical attributes and core values Let's...

The rugby World Cup in France started on September 9. A week before that another world cup took place: that of the parliamentarians....

A new season is beginning ! All our events and training session here! Whether you're a seasoned rugby player or someone who is passionate...

On 31 August 2023, on the platforms of the Gare du Midi, we are a group of around forty people preparing to leave Brussels for the city...

*How old are you, where are you from, what's your job?* I am 38 years old , from Spain (Castellón de la Plana) and I am an official nurse...

*How old are you, where are you from and where do you work?* I'm nearly 35, I'm from Normandy (not a rugby region) and I'm an advisor on...

On 26 September, the first players of the European Parliament rugby team gathered in Boitsfort for their first training session with head...