Rugby union in Colombia
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Colombia
is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 53rd by the IRB
, with 2,942 registered players and 35 clubs.
. In the 1990s, the game spread to the locals.
In Colombia, rugby is not well supported by the government or media, as football (soccer) has a stronger tradition in the country. The Colombian rugby team is called Los Tucanes.
The game is mainly centred in Bogotá, but there is also a presence in Medellin
, and four other Colombian cities.
In Bogotá, rugby was pushed by a few players, Alfonso Castafaletti and Hywel Jones in the early nineties and then in early 2000s Andrew Wright, Nick Reeves and Andres Tejada who is currently coaching the team with Juan Roman. Hans Rausch was instrumental in helping the game develop in Medellin
.
In 2006, a Colombian team toured Europe for the first time, visiting Anglesey
in Wales
Since the first origins of rugby in Colombia in 1986, rugby has grown especially in the beginning of the 1990s when the sport was not only being played by French and British expats but also by locals.
In Bogotá, rugby was pushed by a few players Alfonso Castafaletti and Hywel Jones in the early nineties and then in early 2000s Andrew Wright, Nick Reeves y Andres Tejada who is currently coaching the team with Juan Roman.
since 2004. (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...
in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 53rd by 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...
, with 2,942 registered players and 35 clubs.
History
Rugby was first introduced into Colombia from the southern parts of South America, but really started going in 1986, when British and French expats played on Sundays in BogotáBogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
. In the 1990s, the game spread to the locals.
In Colombia, rugby is not well supported by the government or media, as football (soccer) has a stronger tradition in the country. The Colombian rugby team is called Los Tucanes.
The game is mainly centred in Bogotá, but there is also a presence in Medellin
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
, and four other Colombian cities.
In Bogotá, rugby was pushed by a few players, Alfonso Castafaletti and Hywel Jones in the early nineties and then in early 2000s Andrew Wright, Nick Reeves and Andres Tejada who is currently coaching the team with Juan Roman. Hans Rausch was instrumental in helping the game develop in Medellin
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
.
In 2006, a Colombian team toured Europe for the first time, visiting Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Since the first origins of rugby in Colombia in 1986, rugby has grown especially in the beginning of the 1990s when the sport was not only being played by French and British expats but also by locals.
In Bogotá, rugby was pushed by a few players Alfonso Castafaletti and Hywel Jones in the early nineties and then in early 2000s Andrew Wright, Nick Reeves y Andres Tejada who is currently coaching the team with Juan Roman.
Women's rugby
Although Colombia'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 2004. (Current playing record).
External links
- Colombia on IRB.com Federacion Colombiana de Rugby F.C.R.
- Colombia on RugbyData.com Archives du Rugby: Colombie