Limassol Crusaders
Encyclopedia
The 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.
. Temporary training facilities were used initially, including a spell at the Elias Beach Resort Hotel, until the club finally leased their current home at the AEK Achileas Stadium in 2004, with the club joining the Joint Services Rugby League and competing formally from the 2004/2005 season.
When, in 2006, Cyprus formed a national squad
, five Crusaders were members of the team that won their inaugural game against Greece
.
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...
club based in Limassol
Limassol
Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the...
, 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...
. They were the 2nd independent rugby club to be formed in Cyprus, after the Paphos Tigers
Paphos Tigers
The 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....
. They were established in late 2003.
History
The club was formed, and initial membership recruited, by word of mouth after the 2003 Rugby World Cup2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
. Temporary training facilities were used initially, including a spell at the Elias Beach Resort Hotel, until the club finally leased their current home at the AEK Achileas Stadium in 2004, with the club joining the Joint Services Rugby League and competing formally from the 2004/2005 season.
When, in 2006, Cyprus formed a national squad
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...
, five Crusaders were members of the team that won their inaugural game 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....
.