The Cyprus Rugby Federation

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The Cyprus Rugby Federation
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Rugby

• The sport of rugby has increased enormously in
  popularity over the past five years

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The Rugby World Cup 2003

• Generated an audience of 3.4 billion.
• 3rd most popular world sporting event after the
  Soccer World Cup the Olympics.
  

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Rugby is played all around the World.These are
the countries registered with the International
Rugby Board

• New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa,
  France, Ireland, Argentina, Wales, Scotland,
  Fiji, Italy, Samoa, Romania, Canada, Uruguay,
  USA, Portugal, Japan, Tonga, Georgia, Korea,
  Morocco, Namibia, Chile, Russia, Ukraine, Czech,
  Republic, Hong Kong, Germany, Tunisia,
  Netherlands, Spain, Paraguay, Poland, Brazil,
  Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland,
  Cote d'Ivorie, China, Denmark, Singapore,
  Madagascar, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Venezuela,
  Kazakhstan, Kenya, Belgium, Trinidad Tobago,
  Arabian Gulf, Slovenia, Malta, Cook Islands,
  Bermuda, Peru, Sri Lanka, Cayman Islands,
  Andorra, Thailand, Papua N Guinea, Latvia,
  Zambia, Serbia Montenegro, Lithuania, Uganda,
  Niue Island, Malaysia, Luxembourg, Guam, St
  Lucia, St Vincent G, Austria, Solomon Islands,
  Cameroon, Guyana, Monaco, Barbados, Hungary,
  Nigeria, Botswana, Senegal, Colombia, Jamaica,
  Tahiti, Swaziland, Bulgaria, Vanuatu, Israel,
  India, Norway, Bahamas, Bosnia, Finland
• There are five teams currently in registered in
  the Greek Rugby Federation. Athens RFC, Attica
  Springboks RFC, Corinthos RFC, Spartans RFC
  Thessaloniki RFC.

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Values Traditions

• It is because of, not despite, Rugbys intensely
  physical and athletic characteristics that such
  great camaraderie exists before and after
  matches. The long standing tradition of players
  from competing teams enjoying each others company
  away from the pitch and in a social context,
  remains at the very core of the game. Rugby is
  rightly proud of its ability to retain high
  standards of sportsmanship, ethical behaviour and
  fair play.

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Rugby in Cyprus

• Rugby has been played by the British Army and UN
  units since the 1950s
  
• They played in an exclusive local league of 6
  sides up until 2003.
  
• Paphos Tigers joined this league as the first
  civilian side in 2003 and came joint second in
  the league.
  
• In 2004 Limassol Crusaders and Nicosia Barbarians
  joined the league.
  
• The Paphos Tigers won this league in 2005 and
  Nicosia Barbarians came second.
  

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Paphos Tigers RFC

• Established May 2003
• 25 Playing Members. Mostly South African Cypriots
  (16) and British expats. 19 Eligible to play for
  a Cyprus XV
  
• 120 Social Members

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Limassol Crusaders RFC

• Established January 2004.
• 25 Playing Members. Mostly British.
• 18 Eligible to play for a Cyprus XV
• 75 Social Members

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• Established January 2004.
• 10 Playing Members. Mostly British. Plus players
  from the UN base.
  
• 7 Eligible to play for a Cyprus XV
• 5 Social Members

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Mini (Children's) Rugby

• Our aim is to establish Mini Rugby Clubs in each
  City to ensure the future of the game.
  
• These clubs have already been established around
  international schools to form a nucleus of
  knowledgeable players.
  
• Paphos Tigers and Limassol Crusaders are already
  running Mini-Rugby sessions with local school
  children to promote the sport.
  
• Nicosia Barbarians have given presentations at
  the international schools in the Nicosia and
  Larnaca area. They will be establishing Sunday
  rugby academy shortly.
• From here we will target local government
  schools.
  

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Cyprus held its first Mini Rugby Festival on
Saturday 16th April 2005
120 Children took part.
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Touch Rugby

• It caters for the players that want to avoid the
  full contact sport.
  
• Touch rugby can be an important step to taking
  part in the full game.
  
• It appeals to beginners and experienced players
  alike.
  
• It is thriving, particularly in Nicosia.

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May 2003An Unofficial Cyprus Team v Combined
British Forces Cyprus
Score 8 8 An honourable draw
An estimated 2000 people watched this game in
Paphos
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Beirut 2004

• Last year a representative Cyprus side won the
  Beirut 10s competition.
  
• The team was made from players of all three
  sides Tigers, Crusaders Barbarians
  
• The tournament included Cairo, Jordan, and three
  teams from the Lebanon.
  
• George Agathocleous from Cyprus was Player of
  the Tournament.

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Our Aims

• To promote rugby at every opportunity.
• To get registered with FIRA-AER
• To put Cyprus on the rugby world map.
• To bring visiting national and club rugby sides
  to Cyprus.
  
• To organise international rugby events in Cyprus.
  
  
• To promote rugby within local schools.
• To get the game going!

Paphos Tigers v Monmouth ( From Wales) 2003
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The Present Situation

• All three teams are competing successfully in the
  local league with the Army sides
  
• Repeat participants in the annual Beirut
  Tournament as a Cyprus representative team
  
• Achieving international recognition as a
  rugby-playing country
  

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Other Invitations

• International Tournament in Greece
• Jordan Rugby Club. The 7th annual King Abdullah
  II Trophy was held in Amman on the 7th the 8th
  of May 2005.
  
• Cairo 10s. Egypt. April 1-2nd 2005

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We have also been provisionally invited to the
prestigious Dubai International Sevens
Competition.
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We hope you can help us in our efforts.