Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Côte d'Ivoire
, also known as "the Ivory Coast", is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top flight league and the national rugby union team
.
The sport is popular among school children, but the rugby union playing population in Côte d'Ivoire
is still relatively small with only 14 clubs, but there are also around 5,383 registered players , and the game takes in people from all walks of life. They are currently ranked 45th.
. It was founded in 1961 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board
in 1988.
.
The first recorded game in the Ivory Coast was just after the Second World War, in 1946, when Mme Andre Benois organised a match between two teams of expatriates. They used an improvised ball, made from the inner tube of a tyre.
The game was further developed by French schoolmasters working in the country.
As a former French colony, the country has tended to come under the French sphere of influence, and many top players, including Max Brito
played in France. Although the origins of Ivorian rugby go back to the 1960s and earlier, real growth came about when the paid French official Jean-François Turon managed to get the game adopted by Abidjan University at the turn of the 1980s, but it is François Dali who is seen as the father of Ivorian rugby, and his son, Athanase Dali
, was the national captain during the 1990s.
Ivorienne delegates were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board
in 1986.
The Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team
is a relatively recent creation. It was not even in existence when the first (invitation only) Rugby World Cup
was played in 1987. They played their first international in 1990 against Zimbabwe
.
Côte d'Ivoire went into the World Cup optimistic, with coach Claude Ezoua saying: "We want to prove to the world that there is more to African rugby than just South Africa."
Despite Namibia
and Zimbabwe
having qualified for the RWC at different times, both of these countries were firmly within the South African orbit, had players who spoke English and/or Afrikaans, who were mostly white. Namibia had previously been a colony of South Africa, as South West Africa, and Zimbabwe had provided SA with a number of players such as Ray Mordt
. Côte d'Ivoire, on the other hand, was in West Africa
, not Southern Africa
, and was French speaking not Anglophone. Moreover, none of its players were white, whose success has been seen by many as a positive sign that black Africa was emerging as a force in world rugby.
Namibia, a South African former territory, narrowly missed out on qualifying for the RWC, because they had rested a number of key players in the qualifying rounds. Côte d'Ivoire slipped past them, Zimbabwe, and the third African favourite, Morocco
.
The composition of the World Cup squad also revealed interesting things about Ivorian rugby. 25 out of 26 were Ivorian born (with the exception of Max Brito
, who was born in Senegal
), half the squad was based and played in France, and many of the players were originally from Abidjan
's harbour district. At this point, 8/10 of the country's senior clubs were based in the capital. As an incentive, many of them had been paid the equivalent of £1.25 to turn up to training.
Once in the World Cup, the Ivory Coast's fortunes waned. Captain Athanase Dali
was injured playing against Scotland
who won 89-0, and fearless tackler Max Brito
suffered a spinal injury when he went for a Tongan.
Côte d'Ivoire is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby
(CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis
, Tunisia
. Rugby officials from Tunisia
, Morocco
, Senegal
, Tanzania
, Kenya
, the Seychelles
and Madagascar
also attended.
, nicknamed "Les éléphants," French
for "The elephant
s", is a third tier rugby union
side representing Côte d'Ivoire. Their presence at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
wasn't particularly memorable, with a 89-0 loss to Scotland in the opening match, a worthy performance to France in their 54-18 loss, in a game where the Ivorians managed to score two tries, and a 29-11 and final defeat to Tonga. Ivory Coast came close to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
, but was eliminated by Namibia.
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 Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, also known as "the Ivory Coast", is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top flight league and the national rugby union team
Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team
The Ivory Coast national rugby union team, nicknamed Les Éléphants, represents Côte d'Ivoire in rugby union. The team is recognised as Ivory Coast by the International Rugby Board...
.
The sport is popular among school children, but the rugby union playing population in Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
is still relatively small with only 14 clubs, but there are also around 5,383 registered players , and the game takes in people from all walks of life. They are currently ranked 45th.
Governing body
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire is administered by the Fédération Ivoirienne de RugbyFédération Ivoirienne de Rugby
Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby is the governing body for rugby union in the Ivory Coast. It was founded in 1961 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988.-References:...
. It was founded in 1961 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board
International 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...
in 1988.
History
As with many other minor rugby nations, the sport is mainly played in and around the former capital AbidjanAbidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
.
The first recorded game in the Ivory Coast was just after the Second World War, in 1946, when Mme Andre Benois organised a match between two teams of expatriates. They used an improvised ball, made from the inner tube of a tyre.
The game was further developed by French schoolmasters working in the country.
As a former French colony, the country has tended to come under the French sphere of influence, and many top players, including Max Brito
Max Brito
Max Brito Max Brito Max Brito (born April 8, 1971 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is a former rugby union player who represented the Ivory Coast at international level. As a result of injuries sustained at the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup in South Africa, he was paralyzed...
played in France. Although the origins of Ivorian rugby go back to the 1960s and earlier, real growth came about when the paid French official Jean-François Turon managed to get the game adopted by Abidjan University at the turn of the 1980s, but it is François Dali who is seen as the father of Ivorian rugby, and his son, Athanase Dali
Athanase Dali
Athanase Dali is a former Ivorian rugby union player. He played as a fly-half.The son of François Dali, the main introducer of rugby in Ivory Coast, he graduated in Journalism in France in 1995. He played for Clamart Rugby 92 in France....
, was the national captain during the 1990s.
Ivorienne delegates were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board
International 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...
in 1986.
The Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team
Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team
The Ivory Coast national rugby union team, nicknamed Les Éléphants, represents Côte d'Ivoire in rugby union. The team is recognised as Ivory Coast by the International Rugby Board...
is a relatively recent creation. It was not even in existence when the first (invitation only) Rugby World Cup
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
was played in 1987. They played their first international in 1990 against Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe national rugby union team
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation...
.
Côte d'Ivoire went into the World Cup optimistic, with coach Claude Ezoua saying: "We want to prove to the world that there is more to African rugby than just South Africa."
Despite Namibia
Namibia national rugby union team
The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe national rugby union team
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation...
having qualified for the RWC at different times, both of these countries were firmly within the South African orbit, had players who spoke English and/or Afrikaans, who were mostly white. Namibia had previously been a colony of South Africa, as South West Africa, and Zimbabwe had provided SA with a number of players such as Ray Mordt
Ray Mordt
Raymond Herman "Ray" Mordt is a South African rugby union player. Ray grew up and started playing rugby in Rhodesia . He returned to South Africa and played Wing for the Springboks where he captained the team 3 times from 1980 until 1984...
. Côte d'Ivoire, on the other hand, was in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, not Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
, and was French speaking not Anglophone. Moreover, none of its players were white, whose success has been seen by many as a positive sign that black Africa was emerging as a force in world rugby.
Namibia, a South African former territory, narrowly missed out on qualifying for the RWC, because they had rested a number of key players in the qualifying rounds. Côte d'Ivoire slipped past them, Zimbabwe, and the third African favourite, Morocco
Morocco national rugby union team
The Morocco national rugby union team are a national sporting side, representing Morocco in rugby union. The team is also known as the Atlas Lions. Morocco is governed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Rugby. Morocco competes in the Africa Cup annually. The team has won the competition in 2003...
.
The composition of the World Cup squad also revealed interesting things about Ivorian rugby. 25 out of 26 were Ivorian born (with the exception of Max Brito
Max Brito
Max Brito Max Brito Max Brito (born April 8, 1971 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is a former rugby union player who represented the Ivory Coast at international level. As a result of injuries sustained at the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup in South Africa, he was paralyzed...
, who was born in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
), half the squad was based and played in France, and many of the players were originally from Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
's harbour district. At this point, 8/10 of the country's senior clubs were based in the capital. As an incentive, many of them had been paid the equivalent of £1.25 to turn up to training.
Once in the World Cup, the Ivory Coast's fortunes waned. Captain Athanase Dali
Athanase Dali
Athanase Dali is a former Ivorian rugby union player. He played as a fly-half.The son of François Dali, the main introducer of rugby in Ivory Coast, he graduated in Journalism in France in 1995. He played for Clamart Rugby 92 in France....
was injured playing against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
who won 89-0, and fearless tackler Max Brito
Max Brito
Max Brito Max Brito Max Brito (born April 8, 1971 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is a former rugby union player who represented the Ivory Coast at international level. As a result of injuries sustained at the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup in South Africa, he was paralyzed...
suffered a spinal injury when he went for a Tongan.
Côte d'Ivoire is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby
Confederation of African Rugby
The Confederation of African 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.-History:The Confederation was officially...
(CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis
Tunis
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....
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Rugby officials from 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:...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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....
, 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...
and 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...
also attended.
National team
The Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union teamCôte d'Ivoire national rugby union team
The Ivory Coast national rugby union team, nicknamed Les Éléphants, represents Côte d'Ivoire in rugby union. The team is recognised as Ivory Coast by the International Rugby Board...
, nicknamed "Les éléphants," French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for "The elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s", is a third tier 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...
side representing Côte d'Ivoire. Their presence at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
wasn't particularly memorable, with a 89-0 loss to Scotland in the opening match, a worthy performance to France in their 54-18 loss, in a game where the Ivorians managed to score two tries, and a 29-11 and final defeat to Tonga. Ivory Coast came close to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
, but was eliminated by Namibia.