Rugby union in Israel
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
is a growing sport in Israel
, with a history going back over seventy years and is most popular amongst people of South African origin.
was founded in 1971, and joined the IRB
in 1988. For political reasons it is also part of FIRA-AER, the European rugby body, rather than the Asian Rugby Football Union
.
, a former player for Natal
, helped bolster the national game, and organised teams amongst the various immigrants, and within the IDF.
Post-War rugby found a new advocate in South African Leo Camron. A graduate of Natal University, Camron was a former artillery captain of the South African Army who had served in the North African campaigns of WWII, and went to Palestine to join Machal
and fight in the Israeli War of Independence. In South Africa, Camron had also played for the Natal
rugby team. In 1951, succeeded in obtaining an appointment in the sports department of the IDF.
In 1952, Camron organised independent Israel's first rugby match, between a group of South Africans, and a team of parachutists in the IDF. The South Africans won 18-6. The match ball was somewhat unusual, being a shoe wrapped in a towel. The game proved fairly popular in the IDF, thanks partly to its emphasis on aggression and team tactics. Camron soon organised other games, mainly between soldiers, and immigrants from the British Commonwealth.
Camron made an attempt to get the IDF to adopt the game, but was unsuccessful due to institutional bureaucracy. This was a bitter blow to his campaign, and led to him taking a more passive role in Israeli rugby, until his death in 2008.
Yizre'el
near Afula
in the north west of the country, which had a number of South Africans living in it. It also garnered an interest in areas with large English-speaking populations such as Ra'anana
in west Cental Israel and Jerusalem.
A national league was set up in 1972, and the Israel Rugby Union formed in 1975.
Israel's first international match was away to Switzerland
on 25 May, 1981, and ended 9-9.
Israel rugby in this period countered its isolation, by building up contacts with British military teams based in Cyprus
, and teams and organisations based in South Africa and France.
The game was given a further shot in the arm when it was included in the four-yearly Maccabiah Games
in 1981 - the so called "Jewish Olympics" - in 1993, it was won by a South African national Jewish side.
The high point of Israeli rugby has been seen as their shock 67-8 win against Hungary
in the World Cup Qualifiers
, which did much to promote the sport within Israel.
In 1989, Chris Thau claims that Israel had eight clubs (a figure which has remained fairly steady), and around 400 players (a number which has increased somewhat).
Israel has also entered the Rugby World Cup Sevens
.
Roughly 70% of Israeli players are now locally born.
on 25 May, 1981, and ended 9-9. They participated in the European section
of the qualifying rounds
for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
. In a group with Denmark
, Sweden
and Switzerland, Israel lost all three matches, but were by no means humiliated.
In the qualifying matches for the 1995 World Cup
, Israel thrashed Hungary
67-8 in the preliminary round, before being knocked out in the Round 1 group stage, failing to score a point in two of their three games.
The qualifying matches
for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
followed the established pattern, with Israel being knocked out in the group stage, though they avoided finishing bottom of their five-team group by beating Austria
. The same happened in the 2003 WC qualifiers
, where they finished fourth in a six team group. In the 2007 WC qualifiers
they did not even make it to the group stage, being thrashed 113-7 on aggregate by Lithuania
. In April 2007, they were ranked 93rd out of 95 IRB member nations.
Their home ground is at Wingate Institute
.
Since then the league has fluctuated between six and ten teams, with six members at the start of the 2006/7 season:
There are four women's teams;
There is also a Golden Oldies club called the Elders of Zion [sic].
Rugby has a low take up rate amongst the Arab Israeli population, and Mizrachi
, although some originate in countries such as Morocco
and Tunisia
with a significant rugby tradition.
There is at least one Druze
player and some Christians (particularly in Jerusalem), but the game does not appear to be popular amongst Muslims.
With the exception of Beit Jala Lions
, based in Bethlehem
, there is little rugby to speak of in the West Bank
or Gaza
, and contact with neighbouring Arab communities is low.
since 2005. (Current playing record).
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 growing sport in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, with a history going back over seventy years and is most popular amongst people of South African origin.
Governing body
The Israel Rugby UnionIsrael Rugby Union
The Israel Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Israel.The Israel Rugby Union was founded in 1971, and joined the IRB in 1988...
was founded in 1971, and joined the IRB
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. For political reasons it is also part of FIRA-AER, the European rugby body, rather than the Asian Rugby Football Union
Asian Rugby Football Union
The Asian Rugby Football Union ' is the governing body of rugby union in Asia under the authority of the International Rugby Board.Founded in 1968 by eight charter nations, the Union today has 27 member unions in countries across Asia, stretching from Kazakhstan to Guam.The aim of ARFU is: "to...
.
Mandate Era
Rugby union was brought to the country by British soldiers (and other military) during the Mandate era, but petered out after the British left. Around the same time, there was an influx of Jews who had immigrated from various parts of the British Commonwealth, and the Francophonie who tried to establish the game. However, the game took a backseat in the 1940s, as Israelis were involved in the Second World War and Israeli War of Independence in 1948, and the country's infrastructure struggled to cope with the large numbers of European immigrants.1950s: Leo Camron
In the 1950s, Leo CamronLeo Camron
Leo Camron was a South African-Israeli educationalist and sportsman, from Natal particularly remembered for his English textbooks, and rugby advocacy.-Early life:...
, a former player for Natal
Natal, South Africa
Natal is a region in South Africa. It stretches between the Indian Ocean in the south and east, the Drakensberg in the west, and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The main cities are Pietermaritzburg and Durban...
, helped bolster the national game, and organised teams amongst the various immigrants, and within the IDF.
Post-War rugby found a new advocate in South African Leo Camron. A graduate of Natal University, Camron was a former artillery captain of the South African Army who had served in the North African campaigns of WWII, and went to Palestine to join Machal
Machal
Machal is a term used to describe both Jewish and non-Jewish volunteers who went to Israel to fight in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War including Aliyah Bet. About 4,000 volunteers from all over the world came to fight on the Israeli side....
and fight in the Israeli War of Independence. In South Africa, Camron had also played for the Natal
Natal, South Africa
Natal is a region in South Africa. It stretches between the Indian Ocean in the south and east, the Drakensberg in the west, and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The main cities are Pietermaritzburg and Durban...
rugby team. In 1951, succeeded in obtaining an appointment in the sports department of the IDF.
In 1952, Camron organised independent Israel's first rugby match, between a group of South Africans, and a team of parachutists in the IDF. The South Africans won 18-6. The match ball was somewhat unusual, being a shoe wrapped in a towel. The game proved fairly popular in the IDF, thanks partly to its emphasis on aggression and team tactics. Camron soon organised other games, mainly between soldiers, and immigrants from the British Commonwealth.
Camron made an attempt to get the IDF to adopt the game, but was unsuccessful due to institutional bureaucracy. This was a bitter blow to his campaign, and led to him taking a more passive role in Israeli rugby, until his death in 2008.
1960s and 70s: Decline and reorganisation
Israeli rugby went into decline during the 1960s, until in the 1970s, a new wave of immigrants from rugby playing countries arrived, particularly from South Africa. A major focus for the Israeli game was the KibbutzKibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
Yizre'el
Yizre'el
The kibbutz was established on 20 August 1948 by demobilised Palmach soldiers just to the west of the remains of the depopulated Palestinian village of Zir'in It was named after the ancient city of Jezreel, which was located in the area allotted to the tribe of Issachar...
near Afula
Afula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
in the north west of the country, which had a number of South Africans living in it. It also garnered an interest in areas with large English-speaking populations such as Ra'anana
Ra'anana
Ra'anana is a city in the heart of the southern Sharon Plain of the Central District of Israel with a population of 68,300, . Ra'anana is bordered by Kfar Sava on the east and Herzliya on the southwest...
in west Cental Israel and Jerusalem.
A national league was set up in 1972, and the Israel Rugby Union formed in 1975.
1980s and 90s: Maccabiah Games and Internationals
Switzerland national rugby union team
The Swiss national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA - Association of European Rugby and plays in the 3A division of the European Nations Cup. Thus far Switzerland have not qualified for a Rugby World Cup.-History:...
on 25 May, 1981, and ended 9-9.
Israel rugby in this period countered its isolation, by building up contacts with British military teams based 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...
, and teams and organisations based in South Africa and France.
The game was given a further shot in the arm when it was included in the four-yearly Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
in 1981 - the so called "Jewish Olympics" - in 1993, it was won by a South African national Jewish side.
The high point of Israeli rugby has been seen as their shock 67-8 win against Hungary
Hungary national rugby union team
The Hungary national rugby union team represents Hungary at rugby union. They are governed by the Magyar Rögbi Szövetség , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, although they have entered qualifiers for all the tournaments from the 1995 edition onwards...
in the World Cup Qualifiers
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
, which did much to promote the sport within Israel.
In 1989, Chris Thau claims that Israel had eight clubs (a figure which has remained fairly steady), and around 400 players (a number which has increased somewhat).
Israel has also entered the Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
.
Roughly 70% of Israeli players are now locally born.
National team
The national team is in the third tier of international rugby. Their first match was away to SwitzerlandSwitzerland national rugby union team
The Swiss national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA - Association of European Rugby and plays in the 3A division of the European Nations Cup. Thus far Switzerland have not qualified for a Rugby World Cup.-History:...
on 25 May, 1981, and ended 9-9. They participated in the European section
1991 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
In 1989-1990, 14 European teams competed for the two available positions in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.- Pool 1 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
of the qualifying rounds
1991 Rugby World Cup qualifying
For the 1991 Rugby World Cup, 16 nations participated in the finals tournament, half of which came through qualifying matches, and the other were granted automatic entry as they were quarter-finalists at the 1987 Rugby World Cup...
for the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
. In a group with Denmark
Denmark national rugby union team
The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:...
, Sweden
Sweden national rugby union team
The Sweden national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA – Association of European Rugby and plays in the 2010–12 European Nations Cup Second Division. Sweden has been trying to qualify for the Rugby World Cup since the 1991 Rugby World Cup, but has yet to make it to the final competition...
and Switzerland, Israel lost all three matches, but were by no means humiliated.
In the qualifying matches for the 1995 World Cup
1995 World Cup
1995 World Cup may refer to:*1995 Rugby World Cup, held in South Africa for rugby union*1995 Rugby League World Cup, held in England and Wales for rugby league*1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, held in Sweden for women's football...
, Israel thrashed Hungary
Hungary national rugby union team
The Hungary national rugby union team represents Hungary at rugby union. They are governed by the Magyar Rögbi Szövetség , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, although they have entered qualifiers for all the tournaments from the 1995 edition onwards...
67-8 in the preliminary round, before being knocked out in the Round 1 group stage, failing to score a point in two of their three games.
The qualifying matches
1999 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
In the 1999 Rugby World Cup qualifying, European teams played for six places in the final tournament. Three more places were available in the repechage. France and Wales were automatic qualifiers.-Pool 1:Ukraine qualify for Round B.Match...
for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
followed the established pattern, with Israel being knocked out in the group stage, though they avoided finishing bottom of their five-team group by beating Austria
Austria national rugby union team
Austria is a third tier rugby union playing nation. They began playing international rugby in the early 1990s. Thus far, Austria has not made an appearance at any of the World Cups.-History:...
. The same happened in the 2003 WC qualifiers
2003 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
There were a number of positions open to European nations to qualify for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Ireland, Romania, Georgia and Italy, joining a number of other nations that automatically qualified.-Pool A:...
, where they finished fourth in a six team group. In the 2007 WC qualifiers
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification
2007 Rugby World Cup - European qualification was based around the European Nations Cup, and decided which European teams participated in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The group stages counted towards both qualification and the European Nations Cup...
they did not even make it to the group stage, being thrashed 113-7 on aggregate by Lithuania
Lithuania national rugby union team
The Lithuania national rugby union team represents Lithuania at rugby union. They are governed by the Lithuanian Rugby Federation , and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-History:...
. In April 2007, they were ranked 93rd out of 95 IRB member nations.
Their home ground is at Wingate Institute
Wingate Institute
The Wingate Institute is a sports training facility located south of Netanya, Israel, established in 1957. Named after Orde Wingate, the facility serves as the host facility for numerous Israeli national teams as well as a military training base....
.
Domestic rugby
The first league was set up in 1972 with five clubs, and was played over the 1972/3 season. Initially the league was run by the players themselves, but in a general meeting in 1975, it was decided to set up a committee to run the game.Since then the league has fluctuated between six and ten teams, with six members at the start of the 2006/7 season:
| Team | City | Home Field | Year Accepted into League |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASA Tel Aviv ASA Tel Aviv Rugby Club Igud Sport Akademi Tel Aviv Rugby Club, commonly referred to as ASA Tel Aviv , is an Israeli amateur rugby club based in Tel Aviv. Founded in 1973, they are members of the Israel Rugby Union, and play home matches at the Sportech.-History:... |
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with... |
? | ? |
| Ashkelon RC | Ashkelon Ashkelon Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age... |
? | ? |
| Haifa Technion | Haifa Haifa Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher... |
? | ? |
| Jerusalem Lions | Jerusalem | ? | ? |
| Ra'anana Roosters (formerly Netanya Roosters) | Ra'anana Ra'anana Ra'anana is a city in the heart of the southern Sharon Plain of the Central District of Israel with a population of 68,300, . Ra'anana is bordered by Kfar Sava on the east and Herzliya on the southwest... |
? | ? |
| Yizrael | Kibbutz Yizrael | ? | ? |
There are four women's teams;
- Haifa Technion
- Ra'anana Roosters
- Tel Aviv
- Jerusalem
Former clubs
| Team | City | Home Field | Year Accepted into League |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be'er Sheva Camels (Cup winners 2004/5) | Beersheba Beersheba Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300.... |
? | ? |
| Galil HaElyon (גליל עליון) | Upper Galilee Upper Galilee The Upper Galilee is a geographical-political term in use since the end of the Second Temple period, originally referring to a mountainous area overlapping the present northern Israel and southern Lebanon, its borders being the Litani river in the north, the Mediterranean Sea in the west, the Beit... |
? | ? |
There is also a Golden Oldies club called the Elders of Zion [sic].
Demographics
Rugby is most popular amongst English speaking immigrants, particularly those from South Africa, Australia, and the UK, and a lesser extent New Zealand and North America. There are also players from other parts of the world, particularly France, Italy, Georgia and other parts of Europe where the game is popular.Rugby has a low take up rate amongst the Arab Israeli population, and Mizrachi
Mizrachi
Mizrachi or Mizrahi may refer to:*Mizrahi Jews, Jews from the Eastern world*Mizrachi , a religious Zionist movement*Mizrachi and Hapoel HaMizrachi, defunct Israeli political parties...
, although some originate in countries such as Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and 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...
with a significant rugby tradition.
There is at least one Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
player and some Christians (particularly in Jerusalem), but the game does not appear to be popular amongst Muslims.
With the exception of Beit Jala Lions
Beit Jala Lions
The Beit Jala Lions is a rugby union club situated in the town of Beit Jala near Bethlehem in the West Bank.The team was started in October 2007 by international rugby players and local guys and later encouraged by members of the Munster Supporters Club...
, based in Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
, there is little rugby to speak of in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
or Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, and contact with neighbouring Arab communities is low.
Women's rugby
Although Israel's women have not yet played test match rugby, they have been playing international sevens rugbyWomen's International Rugby Union Sevens
Rugby Union Sevens - a short form of the sport of rugby union - was first played in 1883, with the first internationals taking place in 1973...
since 2005. (Current playing record).
See also
- Jamie HeaslipJamie HeaslipJames Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...
, born in Tiberias, plays for IrelandIreland national rugby union teamThe Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
and Leinster RugbyLeinster RugbyLeinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...