Rugby union in Gibraltar
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
is a popular sport
since its introduction by British military personnel in the 19th Century.
Rugby is played in Gibraltar under the auspices of the (GRFU), which exists for the development of the game on the Rock. The GRFU has close links with the English RFU. In 2010 the GRFU appointed a Development Officer to meet the immense response shown by children in the schools. The development officer, Guy Leleu, regulalrly works with all middles schools and comprehensive schools.
Rugby union in Gibraltar has boomed and is set to increase in popularity. The GRFU boasts a dedicated team of individuals working hard to improve the image and popularity of the sport in Gibraltar.
, it has long had a rugby presence, and the game was probably introduced at some point during the 19th century by the military
.
Around World War II
, a number of Gibraltarians were evacuated to the United Kingdom
, and some learnt rugby while at school over there, or in the British Armed Forces.
Teams of locals have been bolstered by the constant coming and going of the British Armed Forces, who traditionally have strong teams. During the mid 1960s, a mini league was set up - just in time, as the land border with Spain would close in 1968. This was dominated by Gibraltar RFC
.
Even up to the mid-1980s, rugby on the rock, had a major problem, namely the lack of grass. Games were frequently played on a rocky surface, and visitors had to play touch rugby.
With the opening of the border in the 1980s, the huge demand by military personnel and returning local, university students led to the creation of Gibraltar's first national league. The original teams within this competition were teams from: Navy, Air Force, Army, La Linea and two Gibraltarian teams. This later increased with the introduction of the Spanish settlements of Ceuta
and Cadiz
to the league. The decline in this league was down to a number of factors, such as the decline in military personal in Gibraltar as well as the increase in the number of Spanish teams taking part in the Andalucian League (FAR) and the lack of investment in youth development.
There are several clubs in Gibraltar, and the warming relations with Spain has meant that there is now a wider fixture list with teams from there. The land border reopened in 1985, and a number of games were played against sides from Seville
and Madrid
. Gibraltar RFC now play as Gibraltar Barbarians in the Andalusia
First Division.
As with many other small rugby nations with a lot of talent and not many players, Gibraltarian
sides have done quite well in rugby sevens
, including tournaments such as the New York Sevens and Benidorm Sevens tournament. These achievements prove the talent within a population of less than 29,000.
Squad:
1. Will Collins
2. Chris Lugnani (Captain)
3. Jamie Choules
4. Chad Thomson
5. Alex Laverello
6. James Russo
7. Gary Evans
8. Chris Lyons
9. Freddie Cruz
10. Mark Garcia
11. Nick Isola
12. Joey Garcia
13. Hamish Couper
14. Mike Massey
15. Chris Gillighan
Replacements:
Charles Cruz
Nick Ramagge
Sixto Parody
Matt Guerero
Robert Philips
Albert Isola
Julian Leigh
In 2011 the GRFU will be hosting its first, locally based, international Sevens
tournament called "The Rock 7s".
The GRFU will also be reviving its internal league, which for this year will be contested between four teams:
The franchise type league will be played by seniors and juniors, under the above names.
and various clubs agreed to the formation of a Liga Superibérica , which will operate on a franchise system (similar to rugby league
's Super League
or Japan
's bj league
of basketball
). The new league shall operate with 5 Spanish clubs, 4 Portuguese
, and one from Gibraltar
. It will operate on a different season from the División de Honor.
2010: Gibraltar will now contribute players and technical support to the Spanish owned franchise of Rugby Rocks.
, born Gibraltar, capped for three times.
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...
is a popular sport
Sport in Gibraltar
Sport plays a prominent role in Gibraltarian life. The range of sports practiced in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar is wide and varied in comparison to its size of less than 7km2. The Government of Gibraltar is committed to promote sport within The Rock and supports many local sports...
since its introduction by British military personnel in the 19th Century.
Governing body
The Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has existed since the 1980s when the border with Spain was opened.Rugby is played in Gibraltar under the auspices of the (GRFU), which exists for the development of the game on the Rock. The GRFU has close links with the English RFU. In 2010 the GRFU appointed a Development Officer to meet the immense response shown by children in the schools. The development officer, Guy Leleu, regulalrly works with all middles schools and comprehensive schools.
Rugby union in Gibraltar has boomed and is set to increase in popularity. The GRFU boasts a dedicated team of individuals working hard to improve the image and popularity of the sport in Gibraltar.
History
As Gibraltar had been a British colonyColony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
, it has long had a rugby presence, and the game was probably introduced at some point during the 19th century by the military
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
.
Around World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a number of Gibraltarians were evacuated to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and some learnt rugby while at school over there, or in the British Armed Forces.
Teams of locals have been bolstered by the constant coming and going of the British Armed Forces, who traditionally have strong teams. During the mid 1960s, a mini league was set up - just in time, as the land border with Spain would close in 1968. This was dominated by Gibraltar RFC
Gibraltar Rugby Football Club
The Gibraltar Barbarians Rugby Football Club is a Rugby union club from Gibraltar and the surrounding Campo in Spain, who play in the Andalucian League as Gibraltar Barbarians RFC. They play their home games in the town of Guadiaro near Sotogrande in the Cadiz province of Spain. They currently...
.
Even up to the mid-1980s, rugby on the rock, had a major problem, namely the lack of grass. Games were frequently played on a rocky surface, and visitors had to play touch rugby.
With the opening of the border in the 1980s, the huge demand by military personnel and returning local, university students led to the creation of Gibraltar's first national league. The original teams within this competition were teams from: Navy, Air Force, Army, La Linea and two Gibraltarian teams. This later increased with the introduction of the Spanish settlements of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
to the league. The decline in this league was down to a number of factors, such as the decline in military personal in Gibraltar as well as the increase in the number of Spanish teams taking part in the Andalucian League (FAR) and the lack of investment in youth development.
There are several clubs in Gibraltar, and the warming relations with Spain has meant that there is now a wider fixture list with teams from there. The land border reopened in 1985, and a number of games were played against sides from Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Gibraltar RFC now play as Gibraltar Barbarians in the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
First Division.
As with many other small rugby nations with a lot of talent and not many players, Gibraltarian
Gibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
sides have done quite well in rugby 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...
, including tournaments such as the New York Sevens and Benidorm Sevens tournament. These achievements prove the talent within a population of less than 29,000.
National team
On the 5th November 2011 the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) fielded a national team in its first official Test Match. The Fixture was against Belgium Development Team in Brussels. The final score was Belgium XV 20 Gibraltar XV 8. Test Caps have been awarded to the Gibraltar Team.Squad:
1. Will Collins
2. Chris Lugnani (Captain)
3. Jamie Choules
4. Chad Thomson
5. Alex Laverello
6. James Russo
7. Gary Evans
8. Chris Lyons
9. Freddie Cruz
10. Mark Garcia
11. Nick Isola
12. Joey Garcia
13. Hamish Couper
14. Mike Massey
15. Chris Gillighan
Replacements:
Charles Cruz
Nick Ramagge
Sixto Parody
Matt Guerero
Robert Philips
Albert Isola
Julian Leigh
Domestic structure
The lack of a decent playing pitch was long a problem, however the laying of a 3rd generation (IRB Approved) astroturf pitch has meant that Gibraltarian teams have been allowed to play their first game of XVs under the splendid backdrop of the stunning North Face of The Rock. The new surface was laid in April 2010 and the first game played on the pitch was against a touring side. The first encounter between a Spanish and Gibraltarian side (U20s) was historically held in September 2010, against Marbella RFCIn 2011 the GRFU will be hosting its first, locally based, international 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...
tournament called "The Rock 7s".
The GRFU will also be reviving its internal league, which for this year will be contested between four teams:
- Gibraltar Bay Buccaneers,
- Rock Scorpions,
- Europa Stormers,
- Straits Sharks.
The franchise type league will be played by seniors and juniors, under the above names.
Superibérica de Rugby
In 2008 the Spanish Rugby Federation, Federação Portuguesa de RugbyFederação Portuguesa de Rugby
The Portuguese Rugby Federation is the governing body for rugby union in Portugal. It was founded in 1926 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988...
and various clubs agreed to the formation of a Liga Superibérica , which will operate on a franchise system (similar to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
or Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's bj league
Bj league
The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...
of basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
). The new league shall operate with 5 Spanish clubs, 4 Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and one from Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. It will operate on a different season from the División de Honor.
2010: Gibraltar will now contribute players and technical support to the Spanish owned franchise of Rugby Rocks.
Notable players
Jeremy Campbell-LamertonJeremy Campbell-Lamerton
Jeremy Robert Edward Campbell-Lamerton is a former Scottish rugby union lock. He played 3 times for the Scottish national team in the 1986-7 season.He is the son of Mike Campbell-Lamerton, the noted rugby player....
, born Gibraltar, capped for three times.