Mumbai: Rugby in India is all set for a big
stride forward given if few key factors are addressed, says
Indian Rugby Football Union's Development Manager Greg Davey.
"The key to our success is funding and in getting
dedicated grounds we can use alongside sports like soccer and
field hockey," New Zealand-born Davey told reporters here.
Davey, who has been in India for the last three years,
has seen interest and participation in the game grow
multi-fold.
But he has also been frustrated by the lack of proper
grounds for the players to play the game without fear of
injuring themselves.
"The sport is growing quickly in India. It has grown
from 20 city centres last year to 39 this year and from over
300 schools to 400 schools," he noted.
In Mumbai itself there has been growing interest in the
schools with 40 of them being represented in this year's
inter-schools meet as compared to 8 two years ago, Davey said.
"The number of age group teams, under 16 and 20, too
has tripled. Rugby is being played in 21 states. But there are
only four grounds for 18,000 players," he bemoaned.
Davey said in places like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and
Orissa too there's visible interest because the game, at the
international level, is being televised by sports channels.
"Rugby in India can be the fourth best international team
sport after cricket, football and hockey," said Davey, who is
among the 29-member staff with the IRFU.
"All we want are grounds for rugby, if not of full size
but at least half the size. In some places, the Sports
Authority of India are coming on board. But the cost of hiring
the grounds otherwise is excessive. Some ask us Rs 3,000 per
hour of use," he said.
As yet another example of the growing interest in India,
he said when the rugby body held a clinic in Nanded in
Maharashtra, 1000 children had turned up.
Davey said as much as 80 per cent of the schools who
have introduced the game are government-funded. Whereas there
were no tournaments for under 16 two years ago, there are five
currently.
"We have two divisions at the national level for
15-a-side and two for the 7s. It bodes well for the future. At
present there are club competitions in Bengal, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi," he noted.
"Size-wise the Indian players are getting closer to the
players from other countries but skill-wise they have a long
way to go," Davey said.
The official said it was understandable simply because
a rugby player in England plays a lot many more games than his
Indian counterpart.
Davey said the progress shown by the juniors was
encouraging and has impressed the two referees from England
officiating in the ongoing 76th All India and South Asia
tournament.
"They are of the opinion when watching matches between
the younger people and the older players that the juniors have
better technique."
He wished the 15-a-side tournament in progress at the
Bombay Gymkhana is held during the Christmas period when the
temperature is a lot more conducive than during the monsoon
season.
According to him, 15-a-side tournaments form the base for
building up a good team for the 7s which is the format that's
to be played in the CWG next year and expected to be included
in the Olympic Games programme next month.
"The 15-a-side game is like a cricket Test match. It's
the training ground to identify the 7s players. In South
Africa, the Currie Cup 15-a-side tournament is used to pick
the team of 7s," Davey pointed out.
He said the game's rules and coaching manuals have
been translated into Hindi and Tamil and translation in
Bengali was next in line.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 13:28