Funny shaped balls?
As Cyprus fields its first ever international rugby side, we take a look at the history of the game on the island
Last year, the Cyprus Mail’s lean, hard sports correspondent, John Leonidou, had a run out with the Nicosia Barbarians and reported that Rugby Football was alive and well in Cyprus and that nearly 50 spectators turned up to watch a game every Saturday. Wasn’t this fun, he said, but he couldn’t see it competing with a real game like football, you know, that game played with a round ball by teams of sporting young gentlemen, whose impeccable behaviour on the field is reflected only by the delicate and modest response from their dedicated and loyal followers in the stand. Such manifestations of sporting excellence used to be known as Corinthian, how apt that it should finally rest in the football stadiums of Cyprus. But enough of the reverie, where was I, oh yes, Rugby.
How many of you are aware that from such humble beginnings, men of mighty thews are preparing to battle and grind, and shed blood on the playing fields of Paphos in the name of Rugby and for the glory of Cyprus? Yes, it is true, after all those years toiling in the mills of obscurity, being watched over by one man and his dog, international rugby has come to Cyprus. Next Saturday, March 24, the men of Cyprus take on the international might of that other venerable home of the oval ball, Greece. It is hard to credit.
How did this happen? Did William Webb Ellis acquire iconic status here? No, it was all the work of a dedicated band of rugby fanatics, determined to bring the great game to the public of Cyprus, and by their enthusiasm attract young players from the communities where the new clubs are based.
Let me take you back to the start. Rugby football was brought to Cyprus by the British military, whose ranks enjoyed games between the various regiments and corps based here and attracted no interest from the wider population.
It wasn’t until the influx of Cypriots returning from countries where they breathed the air of linament and jock-straps, and were baptised into the great game of rugby from childhood, which meant they were hooked forever, that the game started to receive a bit more attention. There is a camaraderie about the game that never leaves the participant – the firmest of friendships are made, spectators at international and club games are nearly always players or former players, and, let’s face it, if you haven’t played you’ll have no idea what’s going on.
The game is believed to have been invented by the Celts in Britain, not exactly a peaceful bunch, who stuffed a bull’s scrotum with straw and threw it about a bit. This progressed into vicious games between villages, where each side tried to gain control of the ball, which led to a few fatalities and drew down the odium of the monarchy, who outlawed it.
It wasn’t the mortality rate they were concerned about, they thought it would interfere with archery practice.
We now move forward a few years, to 2003, when a group of Anglos met up with a bunch of South African Cypriots in Paphos, all dismayed at the lack of opportunity to beat each other senseless, in the nicest possible way, under the Laws of Rugby (they are called laws because they were drawn up by a trio of lawyers from Rugby School, the Alma Mater of the great game). Did I mention that there is a great affinity between rugby and beer? Well there is, and it will not surprise you to hear that these meetings took place in the Keg and Barrel pub in Bar Street. The consequence of this meeting was the formation of the Paphos Tigers Rugby Football Club. They formed a scratch team and challenged that mighty military side, the Episkopi Eagles. Result: The Tigers triumphed. It is now a matter of history.
The word spread throughout the island, reaching the ears of Costas Mastroutis in Limassol and Loukis Pattihis in Nicosia, both former rugby players of some standing; Costas a representative of his Province in South Africa, and Loukis, a top-class schoolboy player in Scotland. These two, with help from committed friends, started to promote the game in their own cities. The Limassolians made the Woodman Pub their base and started training in carparks and on the beach. The Nicosians borrowed football pitches and made themselves at home on the old airport site now occupied by the UN. All this led to the formation of the Cyprus Rugby League, which is comprised of all the sovereign base sides and the three regional sides; the Paphos Tigers, the Limassol Crusaders and the Nicosian Barbarians. After only one year, the Tigers were top of the league and now look set to repeat the performance in 2007. The Barbarians were so confident they entered the Beirut 10s, a regional competition for ten-a-side teams and won.
We are now looking at serious rugby, so what is the next step; they make a constitution, and become part of the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA). Once an established member of KOA, the Cyprus Rugby Federation was formed, allowing the island to apply for membership of the Federation of International Rugby and Association of European Rugby; all pretty heady stuff for a union that has only been in existence for three years.
None of this could be done without the commitment and determination of such dedicated sportsmen as Costas and Loukis and those madmen from Paphos, Barry Hatam, Tony Toma, Gary Thomson, Ron James and of course the brain behind the coaching sessions, Niall Docherty. The Cyprus Federation also want to emphasise the crucial assistance that they received in those early days from the British Military Rugby Unions.
So after Costas’ visit to France we are now the 43rd member of FIRA, albeit though membership is conditional; we have to undergo a proving period during which we must display our ability to host and organise tournaments and international competitions, which is what this article is about.
The national committee of the Cyprus Rugby Federation, to celebrate their membership of the European Association, have arranged a game against Greece for the Independence Cup; this is to mark the day when Greece achieved its freedom from the Ottoman yoke on March 25, 1821. And where is all this taking place? Why in the Kiniras sports centre in Paphos, the ancient capital of Cyprus.
None of this comes about by chance, it takes tremendous organisation and unfortunately money; no event can take place under federation rules without there being full medical teams present, and all the activity must be covered by insurance. The clubs have all been active in gaining sponsorship, most notably from the stalwarts in Paphos; the host at the ground will be Artio Brasserie, which will run the hospitality marquee, and the international team will be kitted out by Kukri. One of the main supporters of rugby in Cyprus is Akis Socarophou of LTV and it hoped that they will cover the highlights.
One of the requirements of the international federation, apart from those listed above, is the promotion of the game on home turf, and it is this aspect of the game, that is attracting so much attention. Some of the clubs have established contacts with schools and are giving their time to training and encouraging young players to participate; however, any mothers reading this have nothing to fear, because, while the basic rules and moves are practiced, there is no bodily contact. Loucas Pattihis and Duncan Kirby, both Barbarians, but quite nice really, have developed touch rugby for juniors and colts on their old training ground at the English School in Nicosia; however, it seems that they now may have more space as a new ground may be in the offing.
Now for the pertinent question; who is on the Cyprus International Rugby Team? This is what I put to the President of the Cyprus Federation, Costas Mastroudis. It appears final selection will be made by the national coach, Niall Docherty and the captain. Who he? I query. Ah now, we encounter a
very interesting phenomenon; apparently there has been so much interest in our forthcoming international, that we have attracted the attention of our rugby playing diaspora in Australia, South Africa and the UK, surprise, surprise. League players there are keen to get a cap playing for Cyprus. These are countries where the game is taken very seriously. So, the answer to the question as to who will captain the first international Cyprus side is… Jonathan Pettemerides, a former top performer with Bath. As for the rest of the team we will have to wait until seven days before the game which kicks off at 2.30pm and will be preceded by an under 17s match between the Limassol Crusaders and the Paphos Tigers. Tickets are unbelievably cheap, at £2 for adults and £1 for children. This is a first for Cyprus so don’t miss it. And if there are any sponsors out there who want to get their names on a truly international shirt, and have no doubt, these guys are going to be seen on television screens around the world when we compete for the world cup in 2010, get in early, before the big companies catch on.
Tickets are available from: Keg and Barrel, Paphos Tel: 99 408367; Shaka Zulu, Limassol, Tel: 25 323362; VRS, Nicosia Tel: 22 878224
WANT A GO?
The essential contact names of the executive committee of the Cyprus Rugby Federation; for all those aspiring players and mothers wanting their children raised in the last bastion of sporting excellence.
Tony Thoma, Development Officer Tel: 99 156774
Chris Athinakis, Secretary Tel: 99 754295
Loukis Pattihis, Vice President Tel: 99 685798
Costas Mastoroudes, President Tel: 99 594936
Duncan Kirby, Treasurer Tel: 99 309197
David Bell, Chairman Tel: 99 490029
