ASdTorrevieja Information - tourist guide: Torrevieja’s rugby youth squad represent Alicante

Torrevieja’s rugby youth squad represent Alicante
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Keith Nicol on 15 March, 2010 10:14:00

Two of Torrevieja’s minor sports have been in the news recently; and rightly
so.

Last month, Torrevieja Cricket Club played their inaugural outdoor game while
this week Rugby took centre stage. A few weeks ago, members from Torrevieja
Rugby Club took the preverbal ‘bull by the horns’ and visited Torrevieja’s
schools explaining what Rugby was all about and inviting anyone interested to
come and try it for themselves. The result was that from initial youth groups of
around 50 players, another 20 or more youngsters joined up and are now showing
an interest and training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings on the makeshift sand
pitches in Torrevieja. However, with the new 3,000 seat rugby and football field
near completion, one can see that these numbers will swell with the move to
these excellent facilities. Of the seventy or so now training, over a third are
from the ‘fairer sex’ and if this weekend’s games are anything to judge
by, they give as good as they get on the rugby field!
On the same day that Ireland edged a step closer to winning the Triple Crown,
players of Alevin and Benjamin ages from Torrevieja, Rojales and Elche where
chosen to represent Alicante Select against strong opposition from Valencia,
North, South and Centre, in a ‘fun’ tournament held in Gandia. The Alicante
team were always going to be up against it as they were missing key players from
the La Villa club but they more than held their own against the Valencia teams,
mixed in with a few surprises.
For some reason, the various bodies of Spanish sport have yet to work together
and pick ages to correspond to the ‘names’ groups are given. Thus for
Benjamin’s; in football you must be born in 2000 or earlier, for Athletics
2001 and for Rugby 1999! Confused! Such was the first surprise for the
Alevin’s (under 13) as their opposition consisted of a very experienced
Valencian under 15-team, who wanted to play 15-a-side on a full field, which
they had never done before! No surprisingly they lost but on returning to more
comfortable half pitch and 8-a-side, they won their remaining games.
The surprise for the Benjamin’s was that they were under the impression that
the games would be ‘two handed touch’ rugby. However, it turned out to be a
local version of full tackle replacing the ‘touch’ aspect, which many of the
squad had never experienced before, more akin to one tackle rugby league than
union! But, they still managed to win one, draw one and lose one, with nobody
getting hurt and everybody enjoying a great day of sport. The other confusing
aspect was that the referees had not consulted each other before the tournament
started and both played to different rules and interpretations, which led to
some interesting decisions and scratching of heads among the players, coaches
and spectators!
Torrevieja will soon be home to one of the best rugby facilities in Valencia and
that looks good for the future of the sport in the region. If you would like
more information about any aspect of the game in Torrevieja please contact:
Jorge on 605 494 382 (refering Torrevieja.com) or just come down any Tuesday or
Thursday evening between 1720 and 1845 on the sand pitches, behind the
Athletic’s track and close the Pacha Disco. All ages, from 6 to 66, and from
both sexes are more than welcome.
Keith Nicol