Rugby union
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. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...
in
Andorra
, image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg
, symbol_type = Coat of arms
, national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...
is considered the second most popular sport in
Andorra
, image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg
, symbol_type = Coat of arms
, national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...
and has increased in popularity rapidly over the last decade and the
national team
A national sports team (commonly known as a national team or a national side) is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in an international sport.
The term is most commonly associated with team sports, for exa ...
has had a growing success on the international stage.
In 2010, there were 213 registered players, and 2 clubs.
fédération andorrane
, sur irb.com, consulté le 9 mai 2009.
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.
Governing body
The Andorran Rugby Federation was founded in 1986, and became affiliated to the IRFB (as it was then) in 1991.
History
Andorran rugby is around sixty years old, having been introduced in the 1960s.[Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ) p62]
Because it is surrounded by some of the main rugby playing heartlands of France and Spain - Provence
Provence (, , , , ; oc, Provença or ''Prouvènço'' , ) is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bor ...
, Catalonia
Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy.
Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the nort ...
(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 -
# A large influx of tourists, especially skiers.
# Andorra's status as a tax haven has brought with it many tax exiles from rugby playing countries
# Andorra's small size has meant that young people tend to study outside the country, and become interested in rugby at foreign universities.
Returning students have been a major factor in the growth of Andorran rugby.[
One of the most prominent advocates of rugby in Andorra has been the radio personality and teacher, Anick Musolas.][ Musolas was
raised in ]La Rochelle
La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle''; oc, La Rochèla ) is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. Wi ...
, in France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
, and her father was rugby-mad.[
Andorra managed to reach the Spanish Cup Final in 1966, but was later kicked out.][ It now plays in the French fourth division.][
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.][
Andorra's traditional rivals are ]Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
, who have a similar set up. Andorra was to give Luxembourg their first international
victory, 10–6.[Bath p70]
Clubs
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.[
The main club in the country is VPC Andorra XV, that currently plays in the lower French leagues.
]
See also
* Andorra national rugby union team
, image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg
, symbol_type = Coat of arms
, national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...
References
External links
IRB Andorra page
F.A.R. official page
{{Rugby union in Europe