Rugby union in Yugoslavia
Encyclopedia
Please note, this article refers to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(1943–1992). For rugby in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, post-1992, please see rugby union in Serbia
Rugby union
in Yugoslavia
was a moderately popular sport. It was most popular in the Croatian SR
(especially Zagreb
), and to a lesser extent in the Serbian
and Slovenian SR
s (especially Belgrade
and Ljubljana
), with some presence in the Bosnian SR
as well.
In 1953, the rival code of rugby league
was introduced into Serbia, rather than rugby union played in Croatia and the authorities demanded that Serbian clubs switch to rugby union to unite Yugoslavia under one form of rugby football
in 1964.
Yugoslavia was not invited to the first Rugby World Cup in 1987
, and did not qualify for the second in 1991
.
The former All Black scrum half Chris Laidlaw
, writing at the end of the 1970s, saw rugby as a positive force in east-west relations at the time:
Chris Laidlaw writing of the open secret of shamateurism in Soviet sport said:
Yugoslavia affiliated to the IRB
in 1988 , and played in the 1988 World Cup qualification.
Due to the links between many Yugoslav (mostly Croat) and New Zealand
families, the side also toured there.
In the early 1990s, former Italian cap
, Dr Giancarlo Tizanini was a major driving force in Austrian rugby
. Before his death in 1994, he tried hard to establish a Central European
equivalent of the Six Nations
between Austria
, Hungary
, Croatia
,
Slovenia
and Bosnia
.
(a name which Serbia retained long after the disintegration of that state). Although rugby union in Croatia
was the main centre for the sport in the former Yugoslavia, there was still quite a bit of rugby played in Serbia. The Rugby Championship of Yugoslavia
ran from 1957-1991. Partisan Beograd, a Belgrade team, won the second, third, and fourth title, as well as the final one in 1991 and Dinamo Pančevo won the first ever championship played in 1957, and won again in 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1979. Dinamo Pančevo won and the firs ever Cup at the same year.
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
(1943–1992). For rugby in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, post-1992, please see rugby union in Serbia
Rugby union in Serbia
Rugby union in Serbia is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 59th by the IRB. -History:Rugby union was a moderately popular sport in Yugoslavia...
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...
in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
was a moderately popular sport. It was most popular in the Croatian SR
Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia was a sovereign constituent country of the second Yugoslavia. It came to existence during World War II, becoming a socialist state after the war, and was also renamed four times in its existence . It was the second largest republic in Yugoslavia by territory and...
(especially Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
), and to a lesser extent in the Serbian
Socialist Republic of Serbia
Socialist Republic of Serbia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is a predecessor of modern day Serbia, which served as the biggest republic in the Yugoslav federation and held the largest population of all the Yugoslav...
and Slovenian SR
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
s (especially Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
), with some presence in the Bosnian SR
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina , known until 1963 under the name of People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
as well.
1950s and 1960s
Some people date the start of Croatian rugby to the 17th of January 1954 when the Mladost team from Zagreb was formed to become Croatia's first rugby union club.In 1953, the rival code of 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...
was introduced into Serbia, rather than rugby union played in Croatia and the authorities demanded that Serbian clubs switch to rugby union to unite Yugoslavia under one form of rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
in 1964.
1970s and 1980s
Yugoslav rugby did not enjoy high reputation. For example, in 1988, an anonymous French rugby official joked that "one of the FIRA nightmares... is to have playing refereed by a Soviet."Yugoslavia was not invited to the first Rugby World Cup in 1987
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...
, and did not qualify for the second in 1991
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...
.
The former All Black scrum half Chris Laidlaw
Chris Laidlaw
Christopher Robert Laidlaw , Rhodes Scholar, All Black, diplomat, MP, talk radio host, author, is a 20th century New Zealand figure.-Academic and Rugby Union:...
, writing at the end of the 1970s, saw rugby as a positive force in east-west relations at the time:
- "Rugby has become the ping-pong of outdoor sports in its capacity to spread goodwill between East and West. Over the last 30 or 40 years it has spread through Eastern Europe, establishing itself strongly in RumaniaRugby union in RomaniaRugby union is a fairly popular team sport played in Romania with a tradition of more than 90 years. Romania's men's national team was 18th in the IRB World Rankings as of July 2011. -Governing body:...
and Yugoslavia, HungaryRugby union in HungaryRugby union in Hungary is a minor but growing sport.-Governing body:The Hungarian union was founded in 1990, and affiliated to the IRB in 1991.-History:...
and into the USSR. The fact that a Russian team [sic] has finally played a full-scale, if unofficial Test match against speaks for itself.
- "Rugby tours between countries on either side of the Iron CurtainIron CurtainThe concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
have generated considerable political interest among the governments concerned, and the results can be quite astonishing. The recent n tour of New Zealand, for instance, germinated other contacts between the two countries and was partly instrumental in the establishment of new trade agreements which otherwise might not have begun."
Chris Laidlaw writing of the open secret of shamateurism in Soviet sport said:
- "So far as the East Europeans and the RussiansRugby union in RussiaRugby union in Russia is a growing sport. Russia is ranked 19th worldwide by the International Rugby Board , having over one hundred clubs and close to 20,000 players nationally. Russia has a professional domestic competition.-Governing body:...
are concerned, who knows where the incentives lie? In such societies rugby, like many other sports before it, is becoming an expression of national achievement and therefore the subject of careful nurturing. Yet, is the risk of the double standard, so evident in the athletic arena, permeating the East Europeans' approach to rugby so great as to justify the exclusion of the Communist world indefinitely from regular rugby competition?"
Yugoslavia affiliated to 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 , and played in the 1988 World Cup qualification.
Due to the links between many Yugoslav (mostly Croat) and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
families, the side also toured there.
Break up of Yugoslavia
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
, Dr Giancarlo Tizanini was a major driving force in Austrian rugby
Rugby union in Austria
Rugby union in Austria is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 79th in the International Rugby Board's world rankings, which ranks only the top ninety-five countries....
. Before his death in 1994, he tried hard to establish a Central European
equivalent of the Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
between 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:...
, 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...
, Croatia
Croatia national rugby union team
The Croatia national rugby union team are the national rugby union team of Croatia. They are governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.- Internationals :...
,
Slovenia
Slovenia national rugby union team
The Slovenia national rugby union team represents Slovenia at rugby union. They are governed by the Rugby Zveza Slovenije, and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-Current squad:Slovenia...
and Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina national rugby union team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national rugby union team represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in international rugby union. The nation have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup...
.
Popularity
Rugby union was a moderately popular sport in YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(a name which Serbia retained long after the disintegration of that state). Although rugby union in Croatia
Rugby union in Croatia
Rugby union in Croatia is a minor sport. , they are ranked fiftieth in the International Rugby Board's world rankings,.-Governing body:The Croatian Rugby Union was founded in 1962 , became a full national body in 1992 and joined the IRB in 1994.-Yugoslav period:Rugby union in pre-independence...
was the main centre for the sport in the former Yugoslavia, there was still quite a bit of rugby played in Serbia. The Rugby Championship of Yugoslavia
Rugby Championship of Yugoslavia
The Rugby Championship of Yugoslavia was the highest level of rugby union competition in the federation of Yugoslavia. The league lasted until 1991, when several successor leagues were formed:*Croatian Rugby Championship- Results :-Wins by club :...
ran from 1957-1991. Partisan Beograd, a Belgrade team, won the second, third, and fourth title, as well as the final one in 1991 and Dinamo Pančevo won the first ever championship played in 1957, and won again in 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1979. Dinamo Pančevo won and the firs ever Cup at the same year.
National team
The SFR Yugoslavia side was, strictly speaking, a multinational side, consisting as it did of representatives of all the various nations within the SFR Yugoslavia.See also
- Rugby union in BosniaRugby union in Bosnia and HerzegovinaRugby union in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a minor sport. They are currently ranked eighty-eighth in the International Rugby Board's world rankings, despite the lack of recognition as an official sport by the government.-Yugoslav period:...
- Bosnia and Herzegovina national rugby union teamBosnia and Herzegovina national rugby union teamThe Bosnia and Herzegovina national rugby union team represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in international rugby union. The nation have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup...
- Bosnia and Herzegovina women's national rugby union teamBosnia and Herzegovina women's national rugby union teamThe Bosnia and Herzegovina women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing them at rugby union...
- Bosnia and Herzegovina national rugby union team
- Rugby union in CroatiaRugby union in CroatiaRugby union in Croatia is a minor sport. , they are ranked fiftieth in the International Rugby Board's world rankings,.-Governing body:The Croatian Rugby Union was founded in 1962 , became a full national body in 1992 and joined the IRB in 1994.-Yugoslav period:Rugby union in pre-independence...
- Croatia national rugby union teamCroatia national rugby union teamThe Croatia national rugby union team are the national rugby union team of Croatia. They are governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.- Internationals :...
- Croatia national rugby union team
- Rugby union in SerbiaRugby union in SerbiaRugby union in Serbia is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 59th by the IRB. -History:Rugby union was a moderately popular sport in Yugoslavia...
- Serbia national rugby union teamSerbia national rugby union teamThe Serbia national rugby union team represents Serbia in international rugby union. Serbia are considered a tier three nation by the International Rugby Board , and have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup...
- Serbia women's national rugby union teamSerbia women's national rugby union teamThe Serbia women's national rugby union team represents Serbia at rugby union. The side first played in 2007.-Results summary:-Results:...
- Serbia national rugby union team
- Rugby union in SloveniaRugby union in SloveniaRugby union in Slovenia is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 43rd by the IRB.-Yugoslav period:Rugby union was a moderately popular sport in Yugoslavia...
- Slovenia national rugby union teamSlovenia national rugby union teamThe Slovenia national rugby union team represents Slovenia at rugby union. They are governed by the Rugby Zveza Slovenije, and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.-Current squad:Slovenia...
- Slovenia national rugby union team
Sources
- Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1 86200 013 3)
- Cotton, Fran (Ed.) (1984) The Book of Rugby Disasters & Bizarre Records. Compiled by Chris Rhys. London. Century Publishing. ISBN 0-7126-0911-3
- Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream PublishingMainstream PublishingMainstream Publishing is a publishing company in Edinburgh, Scotland, founded in 1978. It is associated with the Random House Group, who bought Mainstream in 2005....
, EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, 2007, ISBN 9781845962555)
See also
- RK NadaRK NadaRK Nada is a rugby union club from Split, Croatia. It participates in the Croatian Rugby Championship, the Croatian Rugby Cup and the Regional Rugby Championship...
- RK Zagreb (rugby union)RK Zagreb (rugby union)RK Zagreb is a rugby union club from Zagreb, Croatia. It participates in the Croatian Rugby Championship, the Croatian Rugby Cup and the Interleague...