Cyprus Rugby Federation
Encyclopedia
The Cyprus Rugby Federation the governing body for rugby union
in Cyprus
. It runs several competitions including a league with teams from the British military bases (Akrotiri, Episkopi
, Ayios Nikolaos and Dhekelia) and three local teams:
It became affiliated to FIRA
in 2006.
The first international game of the Cyprus Rugby National Team
took place on March 24, 2007 against Greece
in Paphos
. The Cypriot XV won the game by 39-3 in front of 2,500 fans.
In October and November 2007, Cyprus beat Azerbaijan
, Monaco
and Slovakia
to win the FIRA 3D Tournament, a great achievement in their first year on the international scene. They lost the play-off game for promotion to level 3C on 6 September 2008 against Israel by a score of 23-14. They remained in FIRA AER ENC Division 3D with Azerbaijan, Monaco, Slovakia and Bosnia Herzegovina until their recent victory against Bosnia.
Cyprus are one of the newest Rugby Nations and the most successful up and coming nation, they have played 12 internationals and have lost just one. Cyprus also remain one of the few countries to win their 1st international fixture, and are the only international team to win their 1st international by over 30 points.
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...
in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. It runs several competitions including a league with teams from the British military bases (Akrotiri, Episkopi
Episkopi Cantonment
Episkopi Cantonment is the capital of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus, administered as a Sovereign Base Area. It is located in the middle of the Western Sovereign Base Area, one of the two areas which comprise the territory. It is located at...
, Ayios Nikolaos and Dhekelia) and three local teams:
- Paphos TigersPaphos TigersThe Paphos Tigers are an independent rugby union club based in Paphos, Cyprus. They are known as the first independent rugby club in Cyprus. They have been established since July 10, 2003....
- Limassol CrusadersLimassol CrusadersThe Limassol Crusaders are an independent rugby union club based in Limassol, Cyprus. They were the 2nd independent rugby club to be formed in Cyprus, after the Paphos Tigers. They were established in late 2003.-History:...
- Nicosia Barbarians
It became affiliated to FIRA
FIRA - Association of European Rugby
The FIRA - Association Européenne de Rugby is the administrative body for rugby union in Europe. It was formed in 1999 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby in Europe under the authority of the International Rugby Board .The predecessor to FIRA–AER was the Fédération...
in 2006.
The first international game of the Cyprus Rugby National Team
Cyprus national rugby union team
The Cyprus National Rugby Union Team known as "The Moufflons" is the representative side of Cyprus in rugby union. Their nickname is "The Moufflons" after a kind of horned sheep which is also the Republic's national animal, the Cypriot mouflon...
took place on March 24, 2007 against Greece
Greece national rugby union team
The Greece National Rugby Union team represents one of the world's newest rugby union playing nations. The national team is governed by the HRF , or EOP , presided by Evangelos Stamos....
in Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
. The Cypriot XV won the game by 39-3 in front of 2,500 fans.
In October and November 2007, Cyprus beat Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
to win the FIRA 3D Tournament, a great achievement in their first year on the international scene. They lost the play-off game for promotion to level 3C on 6 September 2008 against Israel by a score of 23-14. They remained in FIRA AER ENC Division 3D with Azerbaijan, Monaco, Slovakia and Bosnia Herzegovina until their recent victory against Bosnia.
Cyprus are one of the newest Rugby Nations and the most successful up and coming nation, they have played 12 internationals and have lost just one. Cyprus also remain one of the few countries to win their 1st international fixture, and are the only international team to win their 1st international by over 30 points.