Balkanski Kotki (Bulgarian: Балкански Котки, "Balkan Cats") is a rugby club in Berkovitsa, Bulgaria. Its men's XV were the 2025/26 Bulgarian champions. The club also runs youth and children's teams.
History
Rugby has been played in Berkovitsa since 1973. That year Dimitar Avramov, a Berkovitsa native who had played for ZhPZ Sofia, returned to the town and began developing the sport with children and young people at the then sports society DFS Kom. The first official match was played in spring 1974, between the youth teams of Kom Berkovitsa and Spartak Varna.
A men's team was formed in 1988. In 1993, during a reform of Bulgarian sport, an independent rugby club was formed under the name Balkanski Kotki. The club's founding year is also given as 1982.
In 2025/26 the men won the Bulgarian championship (Държавно първенство) in XV rugby. On 17 May 2026 they beat Lokomotiv Sofia 124–3 at home in the championship.
Honours
- Bulgarian champions, men's XV: 2025/26
- Bulgarian champions, under-19 youth: 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Bulgarian runners-up, under-19 youth: 2002, 2003
The club has seven titles, for 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The 2025/26 title was its fifth in a row.
Ground
The club trains at the Dimitar Gavrilov-Trenera Stadium, 68 Kiril i Metodiy Street, Berkovitsa. Its home championship match against Lokomotiv Sofia in May 2026 was played at the Mramor Stadium in Berkovitsa.
Teams and training
The club has a men's XV and an under-18 sevens team. It recruits players for senior and junior youth groups and for boys' groups up to the ages of 14, 12 and 10. As of August 2026, it offers children free training and covers the necessary competition costs. The club tells newcomers: "There is always a place for you in the team!"