Confederation of African Rugby
Encyclopedia
The Confederation of African Rugby (CAR; "Confederation Africaine de Rugby") is governing body for rugby union
within Africa
. The Confederation currently has 37 member nations and is responsible for running various rugby tournaments within Africa, especially the Africa Cup
, and CAR Super 16
.
. The inaugural members at the meeting were Ivory Coast, Kenya
, Madagascar
, Morocco
, Senegal
, the Seychelles
, Tanzania
and Tunisia
. A meeting was held in July 1992 in Casablanca
with the view of integrating the SARFU into the confederation. South Africa had been denied entry until this time because of the government policy of apartheid (South African rugby had been governed by the mainly white South African Rugby Board and the mainly black South African Rugby Union). In March 1992 these were formally combined to form the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU). The Confederation now has 37 member nations.
(SARFU) Brian van Rooyen, in the presence of former South African president Nelson Mandela
, and the South African Minister of Sport, Makhenkesi Stofile. It states:
(IRB) members
7 members are associate IRB members
2 members are affiliated with the IRB
12 members are not affiliated with the IRB
as a curtain raiser between Springboks
and Australia
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
within Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The Confederation currently has 37 member nations and is responsible for running various rugby tournaments within Africa, especially the Africa Cup
Africa Cup
The Africa Cup is an annual rugby union tournament involving African nations, organised by the Confederation of African Rugby . The tournament was first held in 2000, and has since been contested on an annual basis...
, and CAR Super 16
CAR Castel Beer Trophy
The African Development Trophy is a rugby union tournament consisting of 16 teams played in the continent of Africa, formerly named the CAR Castel Beer Trophy. It is organised by the Confederation of African Rugby and is also known as the CAR Super 16. The tournament contains the teams in the...
.
History
The Confederation was officially launched in January 1986 in TunisTunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. The inaugural members at the meeting were Ivory Coast, Kenya
Rugby union in Kenya
Rugby union is a popular sport in Kenya, in particular due to the success of the Kenyan Sevens Team in the rugby sevens format, and tournaments such as the Safari Sevens, which has been growing yearly, and now includes numerous international teams....
, Madagascar
Rugby union in Madagascar
Rugby union in Madagascar is a popular team sport. Madagascar is ranked 43rd worldwide by the International Rugby Board , and boasts over 22,540 registered players and more than 410 rugby clubs...
, Morocco
Rugby union in Morocco
Rugby union in Morocco is a significant, and popular, sport.-Governing body:The Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation was formed in 1916, joined the IRFB in 1988.-History:...
, Senegal
Rugby union in Senegal
Rugby union in Senegal is a moderately popular sport. They are currently ranked 55th by the IRB.-History:Senegal is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby , which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis, Tunisia...
, the Seychelles
Rugby union in the Seychelles
-Governing body:The governing body is a member of the Confederation of African Rugby but not of the International Rugby Board.-History:Rugby was first introduced to the Seychelles when it was a British colony...
, Tanzania
Rugby union in Tanzania
-Governing body:The governing body is the Tanzania Rugby Union, which is an associate member of the IRB.Originally the Tanzanian Rugby Football Union was incorporated into the Rugby Football Union of East Africa in 1956...
and Tunisia
Rugby union in Tunisia
Rugby union in Tunisia is a significant sport. They are currently ranked 35th in the world, with 15,057 registered players , and 72 clubs.-Governing body:...
. A meeting was held in July 1992 in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
with the view of integrating the SARFU into the confederation. South Africa had been denied entry until this time because of the government policy of apartheid (South African rugby had been governed by the mainly white South African Rugby Board and the mainly black South African Rugby Union). In March 1992 these were formally combined to form the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU). The Confederation now has 37 member nations.
African Rugby Charter
The African Rugby Charter was signed by the President of CAR, Abdelaziz Bougja, the then President of the South African Rugby UnionSouth African Rugby Union
The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
(SARFU) Brian van Rooyen, in the presence of former South African president Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, and the South African Minister of Sport, Makhenkesi Stofile. It states:
Members
16 members are full International Rugby BoardInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
(IRB) members
7 members are associate IRB members
2 members are affiliated with the IRB
| * | * |
12 members are not affiliated with the IRB
- *The governing body for Mayotte and Réunion is the French Rugby Federation, which is affiliated with the IRB and which has territorial committees for France's overseas departments and territoriesOverseas departments and territories of FranceThe French Overseas Departments and Territories consist broadly of French-administered territories outside of the European continent. These territories have varying legal status and different levels of autonomy, although all have representation in the Parliament of France , and consequently the...
.
Leopards
The African Leopards are a representative team from Africa which aims to promote the sport throughout the whole of Africa. The Leopards played their first ever match in July 2005 at Ellis ParkEllis Park Stadium
Ellis Park Stadium, also known because of its sponsorship by The Coca-Cola Company as Coca-Cola Park, is a rugby union and association football stadium in the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It hosted the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was won by the country's...
as a curtain raiser between Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
and Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
.