Limassol Crusaders

Last updated
Limassol Crusaders
Limassol Crusaders Logo.png
Full nameLimassol Crusaders Rugby Football Club
Nickname(s)Crusaders
Founded2003;20 years ago (2003)
Location Limassol, Cyprus
Ground(s)AEK Achileas Stadium (Capacity: 2,000)
ChairmanArtemis Papageorgiou
PresidentNicholas Mastoroudes
Coach(es)Rick Wadmore
Captain(s)Constantinos Constantinides
League(s) Cyprus Rugby Federation League
Official website
limassolcrusadersrfc.com

The Limassol Crusaders are an independent rugby union club based in Limassol, Cyprus. They were the 2nd independent rugby club to be formed in Cyprus, after the Paphos Tigers. They were established in late 2003. [1]

Contents

History

The club was formed, and initial membership recruited, by word of mouth after the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Temporary training facilities were used initially, including a spell at the Elias Beach Resort Hotel, until the club finally leased the AEK Achileas Stadium in 2004, with the club joining the Joint Services Rugby Football Union and competing formally starting with the 2004/05 season. When the Cyprus Rugby Federation formed its own league, Limassol Crusaders joined it.

When, in 2006, Cyprus formed a national squad, five Crusaders were members of the team that won their inaugural game against Greece. [2]

In 2013, the Crusaders moved to a new stadium in the Mesa Geitonia area of Limassol. The new stadium has a higher capacity, better drainage and conforms better to IRB safety regulations. In 2016, the club moved back to the historical stadium next to Katholiki Technical School after closing the contract with the previous venue.

Results

League

SeasonLeagueFinal Position
2004/05JSRFU League6th
2005/06JSRFU League6th
2006/07JSRFU League6th
2007/08JSRFU League5th
2008/09JSRFU League6th
2009/10JSRFU League3rd
2010/11JSRFU League5th
2011/12CRF League4th
2012/13CRF League5th
2013/14CRF League3rd
2014/15CRF League3rd
2015/16CRF League3rd
2016/17CRF League2nd
2017/18CRF League3rd
2018/19CRF LeagueUnfinished

Tournaments

YearTournamentFinal Position
2009Aya Nik 15s4th
2010Aya Nik 15s3rd
2011Aya Nik 15s3rd
2012Aya Nik 15s3rd
2013Cyprus Beach Rugby [3] Runner-up
2013Aya Nik 15s5th
2015Warsaw Rugby FestivalCup Winner

Tours

YearTeamLocationResultYearTeamLocationResult
2006 Maastricht University Flag of the Netherlands.svg Limassol Techniki School Flag of Cyprus.svg Won2015Honey Badgers IRFU flag.svg Flag of Poland.svg Warsaw - AWF a Flag of Poland.svg Drawn
2009 Beit Jala Lions Flag of Palestine.svg Limassol Techniki School Flag of Cyprus.svg Won2015Old Actonians Flag of England.svg Warsaw - AWF a Flag of Poland.svg Lost
2009Cairo Rugby Flag of Egypt.svg Cairo Flag of Egypt.svg Won2015Cani Sciolti Flag of Italy.svg Warsaw - AWF a Flag of Poland.svg Lost
2012 Warwick University Flag of England.svg Limassol Techniki School Flag of Cyprus.svg Lost2015 Abbeyfeale IRFU flag.svg Warsaw - AWF a Flag of Poland.svg Lost
2013Leigh RFC Flag of England.svg Limassol Techniki School Flag of Cyprus.svg Won2015Warsaw Frogs (White) Flag of Poland.svg Warsaw - AWF a Flag of Poland.svg Won
2013URAG Flag of Italy.svg Rome Campo Tre Fontane Flag of Italy.svg Won2015 Aberdeen Grammar Flag of Scotland.svg Warsaw - AWF a Flag of Poland.svg Won
2013 Rugby Roma Flag of Italy.svg Rome Campo Tre Fontane Flag of Italy.svg Lost2015Camberley Rugby Vets Flag of England.svg Limassol Techniki School Flag of Cyprus.svg Won
2013 The World Flag of the Bahamas.svg Limassol - Mesa Geitonia Flag of Cyprus.svg Won2016Cirencester RFC Flag of England.svg Limassol Techniki School Flag of Cyprus.svg Lost
2014 HMS Diamond Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Limassol - Mesa Geitonia Flag of Cyprus.svg Won2016Brussels Celtic Barbarians Flag of Belgium (civil).svg VUB Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Lost
2014 Courbet Flag of France.svg Limassol - Mesa Geitonia Flag of Cyprus.svg Won2017Arlechinii Bucuresti Flag of Romania.svg Stadionul Florea Dumitrache Flag of Romania.svg Lost
2015Les Zozos Flag of France.svg Warsaw - AWF a Flag of Poland.svg Won2018Kiev Rebels Flag of Ukraine.svg Spartak Stadium Flag of Ukraine.svg Lost
2018Jamhour Black Lions Flag of Lebanon.svg Limassol Techniki School Flag of Cyprus.svg Lost

a Match played in the 2015 Warsaw Rugby Festival.

Current squad

2015/16Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Michael Quain Hooker Flag of England.svg England
Gregoire Pilorge Hooker Flag of France.svg France
Artemis Papageorgiou Hooker Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Antonio Fiorillo Prop Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Ilie Lucian Prop Flag of Romania.svg Romania
Lee Gilmour Prop Flag of England.svg England
Fraser Nelson Lock Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
Andrew Spring Lock Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Panayiotis Jacovides Lock Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Scott Lennox Lock Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Neofytos Christou Lock Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Dan McFarlane Flanker Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Laurent Rabiega Flanker Flag of France.svg France
Constantinos Constantinides Number 8 Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
PlayerPositionUnion
Jonathan Davies Scrum-half Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales
Conor O'Driscoll Fly-half IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Solomone Tuipulotu Centre Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Alexi Toufexis Centre Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland
Marc-antoine Fallet Centre Flag of France.svg France
Patrice Malraux Wing Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon
George Savvides Wing Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
Reginald Sherekete Centre Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe

Internationally capped players

Internationally capped former players


Captains

Youth rugby

As well as the senior team, the Crusaders also encourage youth rugby. The Crusader Colts is open to boys and girls aged 13 and older [4] and the Minicru is open to children aged 6 and older. [5]

Veterans rugby

In November 2016 the Limassol Crusaders for the first time fulfil a Veterans squad as opposition for the Camberley Rugby Vets on tour in Cyprus. The team has been unofficially called "the Commandarias".

Related Research Articles

References

  1. "Limassol Crusaders". Limassol Crusaders Website.
  2. "Limassol Crusaders". Limassol Crusaders Website.
  3. "CRF Beach 2013". CRF.
  4. "Crusaders Colts". Crusaders Colts Website. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29.
  5. "MiniCrusaders". MiniCrusaders Website. Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2010-03-01.