Rosy days ahead for rugby in India

PANAJI: Indian women’s rugby had potential to get among the top ten in the world and eventually into Olympics and faster than the men.
That was the prognosis of Greg Davey, the New Zealander who is development officer of Rugby India. He was making a presentation to a group of over a hundred sports journalists from 16 states in India gathered here for the Sports Journalists Federation of India convention on Saturday at the Riviera.Davey came to to India in 2006 and has been living here since 2008 to promote the programme under the auspices of the International Rugby Union.
He has worked in 30 countries and with the All Blacks, as the world class New Zealand team are called. He said a lot of the players were kabaddi players and had an attitude that augured well for rugby. The women had taken part in five tournaments in 2010 and impressed one and all and would take part in the Asian Games. A women’s team in the top ten and a men’s team in the top 50 was the aim of Rugby India. They are currently 82 in men’s rankings among 145 nations. He said where fitness was concerned rugby players of the country would top the charts vis-a-vis other sportsfolk. The Army had embraced rugby because its promotes strategy and tactics.
As far as Goa was concerned Davey said he was working on a 7s event on a yearly basis that would attract the foreigners who throng to the holiday destination. He said tickets for the Commonwealth Games rugby event had been sold out. "The rugby event of the Delhi Commonwealth Games would be the strongest by way of participation as nine of the top 12 of the world would be there, better than any sport.’’
He said the men had risen from 16th to 8th in Asia in a year’s time which was a quantum leap. "They have not been outplayed in any event. They can beat China whom they meet in a 15s event in June in Delhi.’’
He said India is the second oldest country to play rugby after England, the first match being played in 1866 at Bombay Sappers army unit. England and Scotland competed for the Calcutta Cup. Bombay Gymkhana and Calcutta and Cricket Football Club have been the pioneers in India.
He said a good way to beat the problems of dedicated grounds of rugby was to for a multi-sport pitch costing about Rs 4 crore that China has gone for. One could play hockey, football, cricket and rugby on it.