Rugby union arrived in Latvia during the post-WWII Soviet occupation.

Latvia was never a stronghold of rugby in the USSR - the game was mainly played in Russia and Georgia - but has experienced some growth after the restoration of independence.

[2] The Latvian SSR had its own rugby team in the USSR, but it was not treated as a proper national side.

Like many other minor rugby nations, the game is centered on the capital, Riga.

[1] The Baltic states are not a major rugby playing area at the time of writing, but several neighbouring countries such as Poland, Russia and Sweden can boast thousands of players.