Rugby union in Tunisia
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Tunisia
is a significant sport. They are currently ranked 35th in the world, with 15,057 registered players (3,941 female), and 72 clubs.
, and many of the other North African countries, Tunisian rugby is a legacy of French colonialism after the First World War. Like many other Maghreb
i nations, Tunisian rugby tended to look to Europe for inspiration, rather than to the rest of Africa.
This has proven a mixed blessing, as Tunisian players have the prospect of "promotion" to French professionalism, but also potentially weaken the Tunisian system, and national team
.
Tunisian rugby also suffers from two other problems - the climate, and the fact that Tunisia does not tend to produce "big men".
The Tunisian game made huge strides during the 80s and 90s, thanks to the intelligent leadership and direction of Dr Bouraoui Regaya. In 1989, they entered a national team
into the Hong Kong Sevens
for the first time.
Tunisia's traditional rivals are Morocco, but they tend to be beaten by them. This is partly because Tunisia has around half the number of registered players that Morocco does.
Tunisia is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby
(CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis
. Rugby officials from Morocco
, Senegal
, Ivory Coast
, Tanzania
, Kenya
, the Seychelles
and Madagascar
attended.
since 2004. (Current playing record).
played their first international in 1979.
The national sevens team
has also had some success, beating Australia and Scotland.
Tunisia originally competed in the European Nations Cup
, but has now transferred into the Africa Cup
.
Tunisia's proudest day, perhaps, was when they beat Romania
in Tunis
in 1982.
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 Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
is a significant sport. They are currently ranked 35th in the world, with 15,057 registered players (3,941 female), and 72 clubs.
Governing body
The Fédération Tunisienne de Rugby was founded in 1972, and affiliated to the IRFB in 1988.History
Like rugby union in MoroccoRugby union in Morocco
Rugby union in Morocco is a significant, and popular, sport.-Governing body:The Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation was formed in 1916, joined the IRFB in 1988.-History:...
, and many of the other North African countries, Tunisian rugby is a legacy of French colonialism after the First World War. Like many other Maghreb
Maghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
i nations, Tunisian rugby tended to look to Europe for inspiration, rather than to the rest of Africa.
This has proven a mixed blessing, as Tunisian players have the prospect of "promotion" to French professionalism, but also potentially weaken the Tunisian system, and national team
Tunisia national rugby union team
The Tunisia national rugby union team is the national team of Tunisia, a third tier rugby union nation. They first started competing in 1979 and they competed, unsuccessfully in the African qualification for the 2007 Rugby World Cup....
.
Tunisian rugby also suffers from two other problems - the climate, and the fact that Tunisia does not tend to produce "big men".
The Tunisian game made huge strides during the 80s and 90s, thanks to the intelligent leadership and direction of Dr Bouraoui Regaya. In 1989, they entered a national team
Tunisia national rugby union team (sevens)
The Tunisia national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, and Rugby World Cup Sevens. They have been competing on and off at the Hong Kong Sevens, since 1989, which was their first time there.-Current squad:...
into the Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
for the first time.
Tunisia's traditional rivals are Morocco, but they tend to be beaten by them. This is partly because Tunisia has around half the number of registered players that Morocco does.
Tunisia is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby
Confederation of African Rugby
The Confederation of African Rugby is governing body for rugby union within Africa. The Confederation currently has 37 member nations and is responsible for running various rugby tournaments within Africa, especially the Africa Cup, and CAR Super 16.-History:The Confederation was officially...
(CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. Rugby officials from Morocco
Rugby union in Morocco
Rugby union in Morocco is a significant, and popular, sport.-Governing body:The Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation was formed in 1916, joined the IRFB in 1988.-History:...
, Senegal
Rugby union in Senegal
Rugby union in Senegal is a moderately popular sport. They are currently ranked 55th by the IRB.-History:Senegal is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby , which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis, Tunisia...
, Ivory Coast
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire, also known as "the Ivory Coast", is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top flight league and the national rugby union team....
, Tanzania
Rugby union in Tanzania
-Governing body:The governing body is the Tanzania Rugby Union, which is an associate member of the IRB.Originally the Tanzanian Rugby Football Union was incorporated into the Rugby Football Union of East Africa in 1956...
, Kenya
Rugby union in Kenya
Rugby union is a popular sport in Kenya, in particular due to the success of the Kenyan Sevens Team in the rugby sevens format, and tournaments such as the Safari Sevens, which has been growing yearly, and now includes numerous international teams....
, the Seychelles
Rugby union in the Seychelles
-Governing body:The governing body is a member of the Confederation of African Rugby but not of the International Rugby Board.-History:Rugby was first introduced to the Seychelles when it was a British colony...
and Madagascar
Rugby union in Madagascar
Rugby union in Madagascar is a popular team sport. Madagascar is ranked 43rd worldwide by the International Rugby Board , and boasts over 22,540 registered players and more than 410 rugby clubs...
attended.
Women's rugby
Although Tunisia'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).
National team
The Tunisia national rugby union teamTunisia national rugby union team
The Tunisia national rugby union team is the national team of Tunisia, a third tier rugby union nation. They first started competing in 1979 and they competed, unsuccessfully in the African qualification for the 2007 Rugby World Cup....
played their first international in 1979.
The national sevens team
Tunisia national rugby union team (sevens)
The Tunisia national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, and Rugby World Cup Sevens. They have been competing on and off at the Hong Kong Sevens, since 1989, which was their first time there.-Current squad:...
has also had some success, beating Australia and Scotland.
Tunisia originally competed in the European Nations Cup
European Nations Cup (rugby union)
The European Nations Cup is the European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations. The Championship is split into 7 divisions with 5 or 6 teams in each. The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away...
, but has now transferred into the Africa Cup
Africa Cup
The Africa Cup is an annual rugby union tournament involving African nations, organised by the Confederation of African Rugby . The tournament was first held in 2000, and has since been contested on an annual basis...
.
Tunisia's proudest day, perhaps, was when they beat Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
in 1982.