Ottoman Sevens
Encyclopedia
The Ottoman Sevens is an international Rugby Sevens
team, with its roots from Istanbul
, Turkey
. It is a spin-off from the Rugby XV club The Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C.
.
This team works on an "invitational" basis and participates on international Rugby Seven tournaments, starting in Europe and most probably soon around the world.
The Ottomans are easily recognized during the tournaments, as they are wearing "fezzes" during the evening and in between their matches. Also, their typical head, shoulder, knee and toe-warming up is a solid hint of where the Ottomans are.
are the first ever Turkish rugby union
team, having been established in 1999. It took almost nine years before the first Turkish National Rugby competition took off, as that started in the year of 2007/2008 together with four other clubs in Turkey and Cyprus. In the meantime, the Ottomans participated in numerous XV, 10s and 7s tournaments in surrounding countries, like Bulgaria, Greece and Russia.
team working on an invitational basis, rather than continuing under the name of the Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C., is to be able to invite high quality players for sevens tournaments only. With this possibility, the Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C. can continue with their own players to participate on Sevens tournaments, and the Ottoman Sevens can proceed with aiming for higher levels ((semi)pro).
With possible successes in (semi)professional levels, the Turkish Rugby will get more attention from both the international rugby community, as well as from the Turkish citizens for whom the sport is relatively unknown.
The greater cause is obviously to increase the awareness of this great sport to Turkish people, and to ensure that more youth will start playing this sport to have a solid future.
In June 2009, the Ottoman 7s were present at the Ameland Beach Rugby Festival again on Ameland
, The Netherlands. This team existed of players of the Castricumse R.C., but also a Duke in the shape of Bart Viguurs and a long lost Englishman James. The Ottoman 7s were capable of beating the opponents relatively easy, resulting in lifting the championships' cup at the end of the second day.
In 2010, there will be two big tournaments on the list of the Ottoman 7s: the huge Amsterdam Heineken Sevens, and the inaugural International Istanbul Sevens.
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
team, with its roots from Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It is a spin-off from the Rugby XV club The Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C.
Istanbul Ottomans
İstanbul Ottomans are the first ever Turkish rugby union team, having been established in 1999. Founded by mostly French and English rugby lovers working and living in İstanbul, the Ottomans were up until recently, the only chapter in the history of Turkish rugby prior to the foundation of Turkey's...
.
This team works on an "invitational" basis and participates on international Rugby Seven tournaments, starting in Europe and most probably soon around the world.
The Ottomans are easily recognized during the tournaments, as they are wearing "fezzes" during the evening and in between their matches. Also, their typical head, shoulder, knee and toe-warming up is a solid hint of where the Ottomans are.
Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C.
The Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C.Istanbul Ottomans
İstanbul Ottomans are the first ever Turkish rugby union team, having been established in 1999. Founded by mostly French and English rugby lovers working and living in İstanbul, the Ottomans were up until recently, the only chapter in the history of Turkish rugby prior to the foundation of Turkey's...
are the first ever Turkish rugby union
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...
team, having been established in 1999. It took almost nine years before the first Turkish National Rugby competition took off, as that started in the year of 2007/2008 together with four other clubs in Turkey and Cyprus. In the meantime, the Ottomans participated in numerous XV, 10s and 7s tournaments in surrounding countries, like Bulgaria, Greece and Russia.
The aim of the Ottoman 7s
The idea of having a separate Rugby SevensRugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
team working on an invitational basis, rather than continuing under the name of the Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C., is to be able to invite high quality players for sevens tournaments only. With this possibility, the Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C. can continue with their own players to participate on Sevens tournaments, and the Ottoman Sevens can proceed with aiming for higher levels ((semi)pro).
With possible successes in (semi)professional levels, the Turkish Rugby will get more attention from both the international rugby community, as well as from the Turkish citizens for whom the sport is relatively unknown.
The greater cause is obviously to increase the awareness of this great sport to Turkish people, and to ensure that more youth will start playing this sport to have a solid future.
Tournaments and Results
The Ottoman Sevens joined the Ameland Beach Rugby Festival in The Netherlands in June, 2008. The Ottomans - existing in 2008 of players of The Istanbul Ottomans R.F.C. and the Dutch Castricumse R.C. - ended up fourth in the recreational class of 64 teams. The fact that the Ottomans missed out on a place on the stand might be due to the fact that several key players were not able to attend on the second day (Sunday) in the morning for the play-offs.In June 2009, the Ottoman 7s were present at the Ameland Beach Rugby Festival again on Ameland
Ameland
Ameland is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes. It is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands Terschelling to the West and Schiermonnikoog to the East...
, The Netherlands. This team existed of players of the Castricumse R.C., but also a Duke in the shape of Bart Viguurs and a long lost Englishman James. The Ottoman 7s were capable of beating the opponents relatively easy, resulting in lifting the championships' cup at the end of the second day.
In 2010, there will be two big tournaments on the list of the Ottoman 7s: the huge Amsterdam Heineken Sevens, and the inaugural International Istanbul Sevens.