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The Goa Rugby unveiled the official Men’s and
Women’s team and jersery for the 10TH All India National Touch Rugby Championships
2016 held at Chattisgarh. |
PANJIM: The Goa Rugby unveiled the official Men’s and
Women’s team and jersery for the 10TH All India National Touch Rugby
Championships 2016 at a glittering ceremony held in a city hotel at Panjim on
Thursday.
All India National Touch Rugby Championships will be held
from December 27th , 28th and 29th at Raipur, Chattisgarh.
The event is organised by Federation of International Touch,
Touch Rugby Federation of India and Chattisgarh Touch.
The Goa squad on
their debut will have an opportunity of
being selected for the Indian Team for the Youth World Cup 2018 to be held in
Malaysia and World Cup 2019 to be held in Malaysia.
For Anish Quenim, President of Goa Rugby
& Goa Touch, the main objective was to create a new breed of young
ruggers; to promote a rugby culture and to give rugby its due as a sport to
Goa. The first step was to get the youngsters familiar with the rules of the
game through the Touch Rugby' format the kind where touch or tug at the shirt
replaces a full-blooded tackle, thus exercising focus on the technical aspect
of the game.
“The Touch Rugby talent that Goa has is awesome. But we have
not been able to put a label to that talent. But now we look forward to doing
that at Raipur, by giving in our best and hopefully emerge winners,” said Anish.
The sport was introduced in Goa just 3 years ago and now has
over 5000 players of all ages, boys, girls and youth in over 100 schools,
communities and clubs throughout the State.
“ A team of 15 Men and 15 Women will be heading for the
nationals. We have support staff of two managers, one for each team. We also
have two coaches accompanying the Men’s and Women’s team. The total Goa Touch
Rugby squad will be of 34,” informed Anish.
Belinda Trotter who is an Ex Wales International player and
Manager of the Wales international team is the coach for women’s rugby in Goa.
David Trotter and Belinda Trotter are two coaches who have been helping in developing
the sport in Goa.
David Trotter who has been a rugby player for the past 30
years heads the coaching and other activities related to Men’s development and
Belinda an international rugby player with 26 caps heads the Women’s coaching
activities in the State.
“Goa has an excellent
chance to secure a Trophy in this Tournament, and also the Indian National
Coaches will be selecting Youth players to join Team India in preparation for
the Youth Touch World Cup in 2018. This is a perfect chance to put Team Goa
players firmly on the Touch Rugby World Map,” said Anish.
The grand ceremony began with the welcome address by
President of Goa Rugby, Anish Quenim followed by Kaniel Dsouza, Vice President who
highlighted their notable moments in their journey with Goa Rugby. The Goa Rugby also launched the official
website GoaRugby.com.
"Playing sport doesn't just build character, it reveals
it. At Project Goa Amche we believe that the children of today are not just our
future, but the bridge to correct the past and better the present. Sport
doesn't require a script, nor a dialect, it is the most silent form of
communication, but yet the loudest," said Anish in his launch message on
the GoaRugby website.
The owners of the 4 Club franchises, Mr Duarteson Noronha, Crazy Pirates (North
Goa), Mr Brandan Crasto, CrocoTRYles (South Goa), Mr Aaron D'mello, Saints
(East Goa) and Mr Tej Shirodkar, TRYmates (West Goa) thanked the parents and
club officials for the unconditional support.
CrocoTRYles has 11 players representing Team
Goa followed by Crazy Pirates with 10 players, TRYmates 8 and Saints has 2
players in the national squad.
The Goa Women’s Touch Rugby squad come from diverse
backgrounds, but they stand united in their love for the game and the desire to
rise above sexist stereotyping.
For the sportspersons in Goa, the rugby ball has meant
little more than an odd-shaped, oblong piece of leather, while the sport itself
has been perceived as dangerous. But these Goa Touch Rugby brave hearts proved
their critics wrong.
Chrisha Lobo, captain of the Goa Women’s Touch Rugby squad
was optimistic about the team measuring up to the challenge ahead. Chrisha,
student of St Xaviers Collge, Mapusa is studying B.Com in the second year. But
she managed to balance her studies and touch rugby training.
“I travel from Calangute to Miramar to train. I do not see
why more girls should not actively participate in Touch Rugby. The sport is
perceived wrongly, it’s not contact. But in touch rugby we girls are advised to
keep our hands outstretched while taking a touch,” informed Chrisha.
While some girls found an outlet to their brimming talent in
a sport that is a test of mind as well as matter, others gave vent to their
rage, as they get the freedom to knock down an enemy and stop at nothing but a
try. Some others savour the long-due justice of matching shoulders with boys
and competing on a level-playing field with them.
Just like other sports, in rugby too a lot depended on
support coming from various quarters like the government, sponsors and most
importantly parents.
Andrea Crizzle, mother of Claudia was visibly pleased with
her daughters achievement in Touch Rugby.
“ We are happy for her. She will be representing Goa, which
is a top honour. It’s a mixed feelings as she is leaving for Raipur,
Chattisgarh on Christmas eve,” said Andrea.
Players will be travelling by train from Goa to Raipur on
Christmas morning and will arrive back on New Year’s Eve. A sport that is so
popular in England and Europe is now finding acceptance in Goa as well.
Claudia has her mother’s blessing and best wishes. Andrea
was active in sports during her academics and hence understands what commitment
and being a team player means in any sport discipline.
Sheetal Gaude, Sheevani ‘s mother, was a former national
Kho-Kho team player and she too encouraged her daughter to take to Touch Rugby
which is relatively a new sport in Goa and India.
The unveiling of the Goa Team, (Men’s
& Women’s team) was done at the hands of their families and Captains Ms
Chrisha Lobo and Mr Nauman Shaikh. The parents from various backgrounds were
beaming with pride as they displayed the Team jersey along side their child.
The next big step for Goa Rugby is to lift the All India
National Touch Rugby Championships trophy to fulfil many dreams, and fuel the
future ambitions of young players.
Goa Rugby is an Association backed by
Sports Authority of Goa, Goa Olympics Association, Directorate of Sports and
Youth Affairs, Touch Rugby Federation of India, Federation of International
Touch, Bishop Gore Rugby and Middle East Touch.
The GoaAmche Project by Goa Rugby &
Goa Touch is powered by hospitality partners BanquetSPORTS, merchandise
partners QRAB, Education partners Goa Psychology Association. Television
partners RDX Goa and media partners Goa Network7.