Estonia’s national men’s XV squad travel to Vantaa for the opening match of the 2026/27 Rugby Europe Men’s XV Conference season, facing Finland at Ruutisavu Areena (KO 14:00 local time).
The squad named by head coach Tanner Saar is historic in several respects: five players make their senior debuts, Estonia’s first second-generation international is named, two graduates of this summer’s U18 European Championship step directly into XV rugby, and the overall group is Estonia’s youngest in at least seven years.
FIVE SENIOR DEBUTS
Alexis Besnard (10), Aleksander Nigul (20), Markus Zuhhovtski (22), Mihkel Troost (21) and Sten Uuskar (19) pull on the senior national jersey for the first time in Vantaa.
FROM U18 BUDAPEST TO SENIOR XV — IN THREE MONTHS
Besnard and Nigul both featured for Estonia’s U18 squad at the Rugby Europe U18 Boys 7s Trophy 2 in Budapest in July — Estonia’s historic first appearance at a European youth championship. Nigul scored Estonia’s first-ever try at a European youth championship. Three months later, both step directly into the senior XV squad.
ESTONIA’S FIRST SECOND-GENERATION INTERNATIONAL
Markus Zuhhovtski (22, Sohni Ragbiklubi) makes history as the first player to represent Estonia at senior level whose parent also played for the national side. His father Mark Zuhhovtski is a member of the Estonian Rugby Hall of Fame and one of the founding figures of the national programme. Markus follows in his footsteps wearing blue for the first time.
A YOUNG CLUB ON THE BIG STAGE
Three players in the squad — Tanner Saar, Aleksander Nigul and Markus Zuhhovtski — represent Sohni Ragbiklubi, founded within the last two years. Two of them represent the senior national team for the first time, making Vantaa also Sohni’s debut at senior international level — a notable milestone for one of Estonia’s newest clubs.
HEAD COACH
“Finland are a strong side and we know this is a tough opener on the road. They have a new head coach who we don’t know much about, but based on what we’ve seen before we expect a very strong forward game with little room for errors. We have many new players in the squad, but we are bringing a group with the character and will to be competitive. Five players making their senior debuts — two of whom were at the U18 European Championship just three months ago — shows how far we have come with the young players, and in the next squad window we will likely see even more young debutants in the men’s jersey.”
— Tanner Saar, Head Coach
MATCH DETAILS
Rugby Europe Men’s XV Conference 2026/27 · Pool A
Finland v Estonia | Ruutisavu Areena, Vantaa
10 October 2026 | KO 14:00 (local time)
Estonia’s next fixture is at home against Luxembourg — last season’s Conference champions and the strongest side in Pool A — on 17 October (KO 12:00, Tiskre).
📺 Watch live on Rugby Europe TV
SQUAD
Head Coach: Tanner Saar | Manager: Marten Laanisto | Physiotherapist: Siret Täks | S&C: Mariya Hortashka
- 24. Arseni Voropajev — Märjamaa Vikat
- 2. Georgi Dzaniasvili — Tallinna Kalev
- 1. Jürgen Hallimäe — Tallinna Kalev
- 4. Paul Davidson — Tallinna Kalev
- 5. Otto Gustavson — Tallinna Kalev
- 6. Tanner Saar — Sohni Ragbiklubi
- 7. Marten Martinson — Tallinna Kalev
- 16. Ott Krusell (c) — Märjamaa Vikat
- 9. Raimond Voigas — Tallinna Kalev
- 10. Alexis Besnard* — Marlow RFC (England)
- 11. Arsenii Zigan — Tallinna Kalev
- 12. Erich Ehte — Tallinna Kalev
- 13. Roland Kalso — Märjamaa Vikat
- 14. Michael Angelo Mason — Warlingham RFC (England)
- 15. Aleksandr Stepanov — Tallinna Kalev
Replacements:
- 17. Peter Malsub — Tallinna Kalev
- 18. Christopher Oun — Tallinna Kalev
- 19. Sten Uuskar* — Tallinna Kalev
- 20. Aleksander Nigul* — Sohni Ragbiklubi
- 21. Mihkel Troost* — Tallinna Kalev
- 22. Markus Zuhhovtski* — Sohni Ragbiklubi
*Senior debut
MEDIA
📷 Photos from last season’s fixture at Ruutisavu Areena (Finland v Estonia, 18 Oct 2025)