|
Rugby India
June 2009 Newsletter
11/07/2009
Rugby Season in India Kicks Off
A busy year ahead as Rugby India sees new competitions and tournament taking place all over India. The 10 team East zone senior season is under way and the West starts its season in early July with an Expat team travelling from Delhi for a series of games then it’s into the 8 team club season. Schools begin their season in a few weeks with Under 16s and Under 13s being played in the zones. The women’s season will begin at the end of July.
Technology - Check Out our New Website
The website is proving very popular and in particular news on women’s events is drawing the most attention with over 3000 hits from individual IDs over the past 6 weeks. This has proven that a good website will attract attention and of course Rugby India will be endeavouring to improve the content as we develop.
We will be adding many of the newspaper and electronic media articles as they come in to the news menu so this will eventually be a one stop shop for all news and events for Rugby India and international rugby happenings.
Commonwealth Games 2010 Rugby 7s Update
Days till Kick Off 471
The training grounds in Delhi are well on the way to completion with all grounds now having been sown with grass.
The main competition ground at Delhi University is looking great with the new pitch grassed and at about 4 inches. Meanwhile work is progressing well on the Stadium itself with construction moving ahead in accordance with the expected timelines.
The Commonwealth squad goes back into camp on June 28th to fitness testing and preparation for its upcoming South African camp followed by the Asian 7s series throughout Asia from September to December.
Magicians Club Features on New Olympic Video
Visit this page and see the Indian content of the IRB Olympic presentation
Boys and Girls from the Magicians Rugby club in Mumbai feature on the IRB Olympic bid video presentation as part of the formal Rugby presentation to the members of the IOC.
The children had a great time helping out the team putting the video together and are rapt they are able to contribute to the Olympic Rugby cause.
13 year old Mangesh Chavan, from a local fishing village who is featured on the video has become a celeb in Mumbai rugby circles and just loves playing the game and of course wants to represent India at the highest level,.
The Magicians Rugby Club is part of Young Star Rugby Association of Mumbai and is a club aimed giving opportunity to under privileged (Slum) children through Rugby. The club itself boasts teams competing at all levels of club rugby from Under 12 boys and Girls though to senior men’s and women’s with a particular emphasis on Under 16 and Under 20. The Club trains regularly on the local South Mumbai Maidan and has to compete with soccer and cricket for space every week.
Asian 5 Nations Division 2 Tournament
Although Rugby India Senior men’s national team came away from the tournament as bridesmaids yet again the comment from everyone who has seen the team play over previous years was the huge improvement in skills, fitness and game awareness of the all India based team.
In what would have been an ideal final India lost its first match the tournaments eventual winner Malaysia 43-29 in a tough game that saw India down by just 2 points after 38 minutes then a silly pop pass resulted in a intercept try by Malaysia to extend its half time lead to 9 points which India, although gallant in its second half effort could not close the score by playing catch up rugby
The difference in the 2 teams proved to be the big Fijian imported players for Malaysia who through their size and strength were able to attract several tacklers opening spaces for the breaks.
India again proved too good for a much improved Pakistan (with foreign coaching and several imported players) running away 44-3 in a one side encounter for 3rd place.
Malaysia easily dealt to China in the final for promotion to A5N’s Division 1 next year.
The positive thing out of the tournament was India’s improved performance through quality preparation.
Next year’s A5N Div 2 will see India take on China in its first match. A great prospect!
First All India Women’s 7s Championships
Held in Mumbai over 2 days the tournament was a fantastic success with over 24 teams wanting to participate we eventually settled on a 16 team format which proved ideal. Eventual winners Pune 2 proved their experience of several years of rugby was essential in the final outscoring the Jungle Crows by 19 - 5.
Women’s Club rugby to take a hold
With all the excitement over the recent All India women’s tournament and the selection of India’s first National women’s rugby team it is no wonder that more and more women are being attracted to the game in India.
As a result both the East and West zones will have, for the first time a regular club season for women featuring 7s and 15s. A National women’s 15 a side tournament to be held later in the year will assist selecting a National women’s 15 a side team to travel to the Asian section of the Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament in October.
Asian Women’s Rugby 7s Championships Pattaya Thailand
India first ever Women’s National teams fared better than expected in the Asian Women’s 7s tournament held recently. Although finishing 13th out of the 14 international teams the new Indian women’s team only suffered one large defeat at the hands of Singapore whilst losing its other matches with just one score.
The determination, passion and share guts of the girls competing against mostly larger and vastly more experienced opposition proved that Indian women rugby players can compete on an International level and with more experience will prove very competitive.
All India Under 20s Division 1 Championships
Bombay Gymkhana took out the inaugural 15 a side All India Division 1 tournament held at Bombay Gym over the past week.
Gym proved too strong for a smaller Jungle Crows team running out winners 15 - 3
Last year’s winner of the 12s Delhi Bulls were overcome by Gym in the Semis but went onto win the playoff for 3rd and 4th convincingly against Magicians.
Plate Winners Pune improved with each match and deserved their win in the Plate final in a tough match against Chennai Irish 12 - 5.
Bhubaneswar took the Bowl final in a tight tussle with an undisciplined Jammu Kashmir winning 10 - 5.
Bombay Gyms Rohan Sethna was named Back of the tournament and Nathan Dagar Forward of the tournament. The National training squad for the Asian under 20s will be named in the first week of July
Div 2 of the Under 20 will take place in late July /early August.
New Development Staff in the South Zone
Rugby in the South Zone is about to see another new overseas development person moving to Chennai in late June to work within the South Zone development and coaching structures. Mike Pirrit, a New Zealander, has considerable playing and coaching experience at Club and schools level in New Zealand largest rugby city in Auckland. He will be a valuable asset to Rugby in South India and is sponsored by e4e.
Also in the South local Bangalore Company Assetz has sponsored a Development officer to work chiefly at the schools and youth level. Adam Whittington from England will fit in well during his 12 month stay.
Zebbra taken on as Rugby India PR Company
Rugby India is pleased to announce that it has formed a partnership with the Mumbai based public Relations company Zebbra.
Zebbra has an extensive sports background having worked with major sports such as Tennis, Formula 1 and Cricket. Adding Rugby to it stable of sports for Zebbra is proving a wonderful gain for Rugby India with Media coverage of the sport throughout India growing tenfold since them coming on board in May, adding much to the Rugby awareness of Indian people throughout the world about what’s happening within India rugby wise
Rugby India to Host IRB West Asia Educators Course
Rugby India has been selected by the IRB to host the West Asian IRB Educators course to be held in Mumbai July 17, 18, 19.
This much needed Train the Trainers course will see around 20 people from across India and other West Asian countries being up skilled to a level that will enhance fast growing development programs throughout India and abroad
India will contribute up to half of the course attendees with all zones represented in both the coaching and referee educator pathways.
The course will enable those who pass the intense 2 and a half day workshop to conduct IRB level 1 coaching and refereeing certified courses in their zones and for India, is now well overdue with the huge increases in participation we are experiencing.
Gearing up for Rugby India
After many requests from Rugby India fans all over the world we have taken steps to create a Rugby India supporters jerseys, caps, ties and pins so our fans can feel part of that special feeling of Rugby India extended family
Production will start shortly on putting together a product range featuring the New Rugby India logo teamed with the Rigby India playing colours and design that fans will love
Interest in souvenirs has been great from Indians at home and abroad so over the next few weeks we will be releasing a range of products that people will feel proud to wear whilst contributing to our much needed funding pool.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Author - |
Rob Wilkinson |
| Source - |
Rob Wilkinson |
|
