Rugby World Cup history
Number of tournaments: 0
Best finish: NA
Most points in a match: NA
Biggest win: NA
Did you know...?
This is Belgium’s ninth attempt to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. They were not invited to the first RWC in 1987, and did not enter qualification for RWC 1991, but since RWC 1999 to RWC 2023 they have valiantly attempted qualification for each tournament.
Kit colour: Red and black with red, gold and black trim.
Nickname: Black Devils (Diables Noirs / Zwarte Duivels)
Known for: Hard-working forward based style
Current form
World Ranking: 22
Form: WLWWW
Final Qualification Tournament Matches
8 November: Belgium v Namibia – The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
13 November: Belgium v Brazil - The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
18 November: Samoa v Belgium - The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
How did they qualify for Dubai?
Qualified 15 March, 2025
Belgium’s progress to the FQT began back in February when they opened their campaign in Pool B of the Rugby Europe Championship 2025. Losses to Portugal and Romania was followed by victory over Germany to see them finish third in their pool and move on to the ranking finals.
To have any chance of keeping their 2027 RWC dream alive the Black Devils had to win both of their matches in the Ranking Finals and they did exactly that defeating Switzerland 38-5 before overcoming Netherlands 31-10 in the decider at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam on 15 March to qualify for the FQT.
Head Coach: Laurent Dossat
Laurent Dossat was appointed head coach of the Black Devils in August 2023 after the departure of Mike Ford and Mouritz Botha.
Dossat brings a wealth of experience to the role as a coach and manager of various teams in Fédérale 2 and Nationale 1 in France, the fifth and third tier of French rugby respectively, including most recently with Niort from 2018 to 2023, where he also served as the director of the training center.
He began his coaching career at Cercle Amical Lamezanais in Fédérale 1 from 2009 to 2014, during which time he also served as the head coach of the Mali national side from 2010-2012. From 2015-2018 he was General Manager of F.C. Oloron, also in Federale 1. From late 2018 to 2023 Dossat led Niort R.C., where in season 2021-22 he oversaw the promotion of the club from Fédérale 2 to Nationale 1.
On Dossat’s appointment Frédéric Cocqu, Technical Director of Belgium Rugby noted: "Laurent brings valuable continuity, having worked with numerous of our players and already been part of the coaching staff of the Black Devils. He is also familiar with Rugby Europe and the various organizations of Belgian rugby, which is a significant advantage."
In brief
The second seed in the FQT, Belgium have been in excellent form winning four of their last five internationals including an impressive 25-18 victory over already RWC 2027-qualified, Canada, in Edmonton back in July.
Although they lost to the USA a week earlier they also comfortably accounted for European rivals Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany during the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship, clearly establishing Belgium as a team on the rise.
Consistency and organisation have been the hallmarks under head coach Laurent Dossat and the Black Devils will be determined to take Belgium Rugby to new heights in Dubai by qualifying for their first ever Rugby World Cup
Key player: Jean-Maurice Decubber
The 29-year-old French born openside flanker, and vice-captain, was a major reason the Black Devils made their way through the European RWC 2027 qualifiers to reach the FQT. Renowned for his mobility and speed at the breakdown Decubber will be a crucial source of possession for Belgium during the tournament.
Decubber, who plays his club rugby for SAXV Charente Rugby in the French PRO-D2 has won 15 caps for the national team and captained the side for the second time against USA in North Carolina in July after first leading them against Germany in February.
Legend: Jens Torfs
Born in Mortsel, Belgium on 26 May 26, 1992 the rugged hard-running centre has been a main stay of the Black Devils for well over a decade and served as captain since 2017. After developing his skills in the Belgium national junior teams he enjoyed his first national selection in 2010. He has also excelled in sevens rugby, including as a member of the winning Belgian sevens team in the European tournament in Gdansk, Poland in 2011.
Squad
Belgium post a squad of experienced heads and talented youngsters, many who have cut their teeth playing in French rugby, with six players attached to Top 14 or Pro D2 clubs and another 11 in the Nationale leagues. The Belgium-based players also enjoy a regular standard of high quality rugby playing with Belgium’s entry in the Rugby Europe Super Cup (the third tier of European club rugby), the Brussels Devils.
Belgium will look to long-time captain and ex-Perpignan center Torfs for inspiration as well as outstanding flanker DeCubber. Dendermonde lock Dries de Keyser was recalled for the successful North American tour earlier in the year, while Kituro flyhalf Guillaume Fernández Grau made the step up from national Under 20 to senior level on that tour.
Forwards
Charlesty Berguet, Jérémie Brasseur, Tom Calomme, Jean-Baptiste de Clerq, Dries de Keyser, Toon Deceuninck, Jean-Maurice Decubber, Felipe Geraghty, Julien Masure, Lucas Rassinfosse, Alexandre Raynier, Arthur Smeets, Lucas Sotteau, William van Bost, Basile van Parys, Seppe Verelst, Bruno Vliegen
Backs
Théo Adaba, Julien Berger, Dazzy Cornez, Hugo de Francq, Guillem Fernández Grau, Isaac Montoisy, Ervin Muric, Florian Remue, Matias Remue, Siméon Soenen, Jens Torfs, Maxime Vacquier, Thomas Wallraf
They say
“There is a real motivation in the team to continue on this path (towards RWC 2027) and to prepare in the best possible way for the upcoming matches. The commitment I have seen from the players and the staff … gives me a lot of hope for the future.” – Head coach Laurent Dossat on the challenge facing the squad in Dubai
