| Rugby union in Andorra | |
|---|---|
| Country | Andorra |
| Governing body | Andorran Rugby Federation |
| National team(s) | Andorra |
| First played | 1960s |
| Registered players | 213 [1] |
| Clubs | 2 |
National competitions | |
Rugby union in Andorra is considered the second most popular sport in Andorra and has increased in popularity rapidly over the last decade and the national team has had a growing success on the international stage.
In 2010, there were 213 registered players, and 2 clubs. [2]
As of August 2015 there are 192 members of which 22 are women and 172 are seniors, whilst there only being one referee and 15 coaches.
The Andorran Rugby Federation was founded in 1986, and became affiliated to the IRFB (as it was then) in 1991.
Andorran rugby is around sixty years old, having been introduced in the 1960s. [3]
Because it is surrounded by some of the main rugby playing heartlands of France and Spain - Provence, Catalonia (and Roussillon) and the Basque Country - Andorrans have had a long exposure to the sport through the media.
Also, three other factors have come to have an influence in recent years -
Returning students have been a major factor in the growth of Andorran rugby. [3]
One of the most prominent advocates of rugby in Andorra has been the radio personality and teacher, Anick Musolas. [3] Musolas was raised in La Rochelle, in France, and her father was rugby-mad. [3]
Andorra managed to reach the Spanish Cup Final in 1966, but was later kicked out. [3] It now plays in the French fourth division. [3]
Notable Andorra-based players have included the no. 8 Toni Castillo and scrum halves Alonso Ricart and Roger Font, as well as locally based foreign players such as Jimmy Jordan, a Scottish winger from Kilmarnock, and the Argentine fly-half Gustavo Tumosa, who previously played for Rosario. [3]
Andorra's traditional rivals are Luxembourg, who have a similar set up. Andorra was to give Luxembourg their first international victory, 10–6. [4]
In 1997, there were only three clubs, one being made up of ski-instructors who were locally based, but who came from all over the world. [3]
The main club in the country is VPC Andorra XV, that currently plays in the lower French leagues.
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. Rugby is simply based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field called a pitch. The field has H-shaped goalposts at both ends.
World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international rugby competitions, such as the World Rugby Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the World Under 20 Championship, and the Pacific Nations Cup.
The Andorra national rugby union team, nicknamed Els Isards represent Andorra in international rugby union competitions. They play most of their home games in Andorra la Vella, the country's capital, though have had some matches in Foix, which is in France.
Rugby union is a growing team sport in Spain. As of 2019, there were 37,241 registered rugby union players in Spain, playing for 332 clubs in various divisions. The sport's governing body in Spain, the Spanish Rugby Federation, was founded in 1923. It joined the International Rugby Board in 1988, and is also a member of Rugby Europe.
The Luxembourg national rugby union team is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual Rugby Europe Championship Conference 2 North 2017–18 Rugby Europe Conference. Since 1996 Luxembourg also competes in the sevens circuits in Europe Luxembourg national rugby sevens team.
Rugby union in Georgia is a popular team sport. Rugby union is considered one of the most popular sports in Georgia.
Rugby union in Uruguay is considered a popular sport. The Uruguay national team, commonly known as Los Teros, have been playing international rugby since the late 1940s and have made appearances in four Rugby World Cups: 1999, 2003, 2015 and 2019.
Rugby union in Bulgaria is a minor but growing sport. Bulgaria is ranked 90th worldwide by the International Rugby Board (IRB) as of 8 October 2007. There are 3,026 Bulgarian rugby players.
Papua New Guinea is a tier three rugby union playing nation. They began playing international rugby union in 1965 and have yet to make the Rugby World Cup. Teams from Papua New Guinea have competed in the Commonwealth games.
Rugby union in Belgium is a growing sport. The national governing body for rugby union in Belgium is the Belgian Rugby Federation. The national team plays in the European Nations Cup, and as of October 2014, they were ranked thirtieth in the World Rugby Rankings.
Rugby union in Madagascar is a popular team sport. As of September 2018, Madagascar is ranked 50th worldwide by World Rugby (WR), and boasts over 22,540 registered players and more than 410 rugby clubs. Although Madagascar lacks a professional competition, as it is one of the poorest countries in the world, it does possess a national club competition that is extensively covered in the national print media, as well as having matches televised. Rugby is considered the national sport of Madagascar.
Rugby union is a popular sport since its introduction by British military personnel in the 19th Century.
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Rugby union in Luxembourg is a minor but growing sport.
Rugby union in Lithuania is a minor but growing sport.
Rugby union in Paraguay is a secondary sport. With 4,355 registered players and twenty clubs, the country currently ranks 37th worldwide and 4th in South America.
Rugby union in Sweden is a minor but growing sport. The Swedish Rugby Union was founded in 1932, and joined the IRB in 1988.
Rugby union in Mexico is a minor but growing sport. Rugby union has a stronger following in Mexico with French communities. The Mexican Rugby Federation is the body directing rugby union in Mexico. It has the responsibility of organising and developing rugby in the country.
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Rugby Europe is the administrative body for rugby union in Europe. It was formed in 1999 to promote, develop, organise, and administer the game of rugby in Europe under the authority of World Rugby. However, it is not responsible for the organisation of the Six Nations Championship or the competitions run by European Professional Club Rugby.
