Torrevieja’s rugby youth squad represent Alicante

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!


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

: Facebook | del.icio.us | Digg