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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Sport overview
{{Sport overview
| country = Côte d'Ivoire
| country = Ivory Coast
| sport = rugby union
| sport = rugby union
| image = F5f4f1d0734f015b98b66d455884a9e0.jpg
| image = Ivory Coast rugby union team in 2008.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = The national team.
| caption = The national team.
| union = Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby
| union = Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby
| nickname = Les Elephants
| nickname = The Elephants<br/>({{langx|fr|Les éléphants}})
| first = 1946
| first = 1946
| registered = 5,383 <ref>http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000052/index.html</ref>
| registered = 5,383<ref name="IRB" />
| clubs = 14
| clubs = 14<ref name="IRB" />
| match =
| match =
| national1 = [[Rugby World Cup]]
| national_list = [[Rugby World Cup]]<br>[[Rugby World Cup Sevens]]<br>[[IRB Sevens World Series]]
| national2 = [[Rugby World Cup Sevens]]
| club_list =
| national3 = [[IRB Sevens World Series]]
| countryflag = Ivory Coast
| club1 =
| club2 =
| countryflag = Côte d'Ivoire
}}
}}


'''[[Rugby union]] in [[Côte d'Ivoire]]''', also known as "'''the Ivory Coast'''", is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top flight league and the [[Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team|national rugby union team]].
'''Rugby union in Ivory Coast''' is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top-flight league and the [[Ivory Coast national rugby union team|national rugby union team]].


The sport is popular among school children, but the rugby union playing population in [[Côte d'Ivoire]] is still relatively small with only 14 clubs, but there are also around 5,383 registered players <ref name=IRB>http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000052/index.html IRB retrieved 5th July, 2009</ref>, and the game takes in people from all walks of life.<ref name=Islam>http://wesclark.com/rrr/islamic_rugby.html "Islam and Rugby" on the ''Rugby Readers review'' retrieved 2nd July, 2009</ref> They are currently ranked 45th.<ref name=IRB/>
The sport is popular among school children, but the rugby union playing population in [[Ivory Coast]] is still relatively small with only 14 clubs. There are around 5,383 registered players,<ref name="IRB">{{cite web |url=http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000052/index.html |publisher=International Rugby Board |title=Ivory Coast |accessdate=22 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018163232/http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000052/index.html |archivedate=18 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and the game takes in people from all walks of life.<ref name=Islam>http://wesclark.com/rrr/islamic_rugby.html "Islam and Rugby" on the ''Rugby Readers review'' retrieved 2 July 2009</ref> As of 22 June 2014, the men's national side are ranked 47th in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=IRB World Rankings|date=16 June 2014|accessdate=22 June 2014|url=http://www.irb.com/rankings/sportid=1/ranking/index.html|publisher=International Rugby Board|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623120814/http://www.irb.com/rankings/sportid=1/ranking/index.html|archivedate=23 June 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


==Governing body==
==Governing body==
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire is administered by the [[Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby]].<ref name=IRB/> It was founded in 1961 and became affiliated to the [[International Rugby Board]] in 1988.<ref name=Islam/><ref name=Completerugby>Bath p69</ref>
Rugby union in the Ivory Coast is administered by the [[Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby]].<ref name=IRB/> It was founded in 1961 and became affiliated to the [[International Rugby Board]] in 1988.<ref name=Islam/><ref name=Completerugby>Bath p 69.</ref>


==History==
==History==
As with many other minor rugby nations, the sport is mainly played in and around the former capital [[Abidjan]].<ref name=Completerugby/>
The sport is mainly played in and around the former capital [[Abidjan]].<ref name=Completerugby/>


The first recorded game in the Ivory Coast was just after the Second World War, in 1946, when Mme Andre Benois organised a match between two teams of expatriates.<ref name=Richards1>Richards, Chapter 9 ''From Muller to Mias'', p164</ref> They used an improvised ball, made from the inner tube of a tyre.<ref name=Richards1/>
The first recorded game in the Ivory Coast was just after the Second World War, in 1946, when Mme Andre Benois organised a match between two teams of expatriates.<ref name=Richards1>Richards, Chapter 9 ''From Muller to Mias'', p 164.</ref> They used an improvised ball made from the inner tube of a tyre.<ref name=Richards1/>


The game was further developed by French schoolmasters working in the country.<ref name=Richards2>Richards, Chapter 13 ''Resisting the Inevitable'', p 237</ref>
The game was further developed by French schoolmasters working in the country.<ref name=Richards2>Richards, Chapter 13 ''Resisting the Inevitable'', p 237.</ref>


As a former French colony, the country has tended to come under the French sphere of influence, and many top players, including [[Max Brito]] played in France.<ref name=Completerugby/> Although the origins of Ivorian rugby go back to the 1960s and earlier, real growth came about when the paid French official Jean-François Turon managed to get the game adopted by [[Abidjan University]] at the turn of the 1980s, but it is François Dali who is seen as the father of Ivorian rugby, and his son, [[Athanase Dali]], was the national captain during the 1990s.<ref name=Completerugby/>
As a former French colony, the country has tended to come under the French sphere of influence, and many top players, including [[Max Brito]] played in France.<ref name=Completerugby/> Although the origins of Ivorian rugby go back to the 1960s and earlier, real growth came about when the paid French official Jean-François Turon managed to get the game adopted by [[Abidjan University]] at the turn of the 1980s, but it is François Dali who is seen as the father of Ivorian rugby, and his son, [[Athanase Dali]], was the national captain during the 1990s.<ref name=Completerugby/>


Ivorienne delegates were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the [[International Rugby Board|International Rugby Football Board]] in 1986.<ref name=Starmer-Smith2>Starmer-Smith, p186</ref>
Ivorian delegates were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the [[International Rugby Board|International Rugby Football Board]] in 1986.<ref name=Starmer-Smith2>Starmer-Smith, p186</ref>


⚫
Ivory Coast is a founding member of the [[Confederation of African Rugby]] (CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in [[Tunis]], [[Tunisia]]. Rugby officials from [[Rugby union in Tunisia|Tunisia]], [[Rugby union in Morocco|Morocco]], [[Rugby union in Senegal|Senegal]], [[Rugby union in Tanzania|Tanzania]], [[Rugby union in Kenya|Kenya]], [[Rugby union in the Seychelles|the Seychelles]] and [[Rugby union in Madagascar|Madagascar]] also attended.<ref>http://carugby.com/history/ History of the CAR, retrieved 24 June 2009</ref>
The [[Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team]] is a relatively recent creation. It was not even in existence when the first (invitation only) [[1987 Rugby World Cup|Rugby World Cup]] was played in 1987. They played their first international in 1990 against [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team|Zimbabwe]].<ref name=Completerugby/>


⚫
==National team==
Côte d'Ivoire went into the World Cup optimistic, with coach Claude Ezoua saying: "''We want to prove to the world that there is more to African rugby than just South Africa.''"<ref name=Richards2/>
⚫
The [[Ivory Coast national rugby union team]], nicknamed ‘The Elephants’ ({{langx|fr|Les éléphants}}), is a third-tier [[rugby union]] side representing the Ivory Coast. The national team is a relatively recent creation. It was not even in existence when the first (invitation only) [[1987 Rugby World Cup|Rugby World Cup]] was played in 1987. They played their first international in 1990 against [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team|Zimbabwe]].<ref name=Completerugby/> Their presence at the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]] wasn't particularly memorable, with an 89–0 loss to Scotland in the opening match, a worthy performance to France in their 54–18 loss, in a game where the Ivorians managed to score two tries, and a 29–11 final defeat by Tonga. The Ivory Coast came close to qualifying for the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]], but were eliminated by Namibia.


===1995 World Cup===
⚫
Despite [[Namibia national rugby union team|Namibia]] and [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team|Zimbabwe]] having qualified for the RWC at different times, both of these countries were firmly within the South African orbit, had players who spoke English and/or Afrikaans, who were mostly white. Namibia had previously been a colony of South Africa, as South West Africa, and Zimbabwe had provided SA with a number of players such as [[Ray Mordt]]. Côte d'Ivoire, on the other hand, was in [[West Africa]], not [[Southern Africa]], and was French speaking not Anglophone. Moreover, none of its players were white, whose success has been seen by many as a positive sign that black Africa was emerging as a force in world rugby.<ref name=Completerugby/>
⚫
The Ivory Coast's first—and thus far only—appearance at the [[Rugby World Cup]] was in [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]]. Namibia, a [[South West Africa|former South African territory]], had narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Cup because they had rested a number of key players in the qualifying rounds.<ref name=Richards2/> Ivory Coast slipped past them, as well as past Zimbabwe and the third African favourite [[Morocco national rugby union team|Morocco]].<ref name=Richards2/>


⚫
Ivory Coast went into the World Cup optimistic, with coach Claude Ezoua quoted as saying: "We want to prove to the world that there is more to African rugby than just South Africa."<ref name=Richards2/> Although [[Namibia national rugby union team|Namibia]] and [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team|Zimbabwe]] had qualified for the RWC at different times, both of these countries were firmly within the South African orbit, and had mostly white players who spoke English and/or Afrikaans.<ref>Namibia had previously been a territory of South Africa ([[South West Africa]]), while Zimbabwe had provided South Africa with a number of players such as [[Ray Mordt]].</ref> The Ivory Coast, on the other hand, was in [[West Africa]] and was French- rather than English-speaking. Moreover, as none of its players was white, their success has been seen by many as a positive sign that black Africa was emerging as a force in world rugby.<ref name=Completerugby/>
⚫
Namibia, a South African former territory, narrowly missed out on qualifying for the RWC, because they had rested a number of key players in the qualifying rounds.<ref name=Richards2/> Côte d'Ivoire slipped past them, Zimbabwe, and the third African favourite, [[Morocco national rugby union team|Morocco]].<ref name=Richards2/>


The composition of the World Cup squad also revealed interesting things about Ivorian rugby. 25 out of 26 were Ivorian born (with the exception of [[Max Brito]], who was born in [[Senegal]]),<ref name=Richards2/> half the squad was based and played in France,<ref name=Richards2/> and many of the players were originally from [[Abidjan]]'s harbour district.<ref name=Richards2/> At this point, 8/10 of the country's senior clubs were based in the capital.<ref name=Richards2/> As an incentive, many of them had been paid the equivalent of £1.25 to turn up to training.<ref name=Richards2/>
The composition of the World Cup squad also revealed interesting things about Ivorian rugby. 25 out of 26 were Ivorian-born (the exception being [[Max Brito]], who was born in [[Senegal]]);<ref name=Richards2/> half the squad was based and played in France;<ref name=Richards2/> and many of the players were originally from [[Abidjan]]'s harbour district.<ref name=Richards2/> At this point, eight of the country's ten senior clubs were based in the capital.<ref name=Richards2/> As an incentive, many of them had been paid the equivalent of £1.25 to turn up to training.<ref name=Richards2/>


Once in the World Cup, the Ivory Coast's fortunes waned. Captain [[Athanase Dali]] was injured playing against [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] who won 89-0, and fearless tackler [[Max Brito]] suffered a spinal injury when he went for a Tongan.<ref name=Richards3>Richards, Chapter 13 ''Resisting the Inevitable'', p 241</ref>
Once in the World Cup, the Ivory Coast's fortunes waned. Captain [[Athanase Dali]] was injured playing against [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] who won 89–0, and fearless tackler [[Max Brito]] suffered a spinal injury when he went for a Tongan.<ref name=Richards3>Richards, Chapter 13 ''Resisting the Inevitable'', p 241</ref>


===Since 1995===
⚫
Côte d'Ivoire is a founder member of the [[Confederation of African Rugby]] (CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in [[Tunis]], [[Tunisia]]. Rugby officials from [[Rugby union in Tunisia|Tunisia]], [[Rugby union in Morocco|Morocco]], [[Rugby union in Senegal|Senegal]], [[Rugby union in Tanzania|Tanzania]], [[Rugby union in Kenya|Kenya]], [[Rugby union in the Seychelles|the Seychelles]] and [[Rugby union in Madagascar|Madagascar]] also attended.<ref>http://carugby.com/history/ History of the CAR, retrieved 24th June, 2009</ref>
Ivory Coast compete for the [[Africa Cup]], but have never ranked high in the competition for it. As the result of its 2013 Africa Cup performance, in which ''Les Éléphants'' defeated Zambia, Mauritius and Morocco, Ivory Coast were promoted from Division 1C to Division 1B of the competition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Résultat des compétitions CAR 2013|url=http://www.confederation-africaine-rugby.com/images/comptitions%20car%20%202013.pdf|accessdate=22 June 2014|date=2 Oct 2013|author=Confederation of African Rugby}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.confederation-africaine-rugby.com/index.php/en/home/2-uncategorised/853-africa-cup-1c-day-3|author=Janick Barthès|title=Africa Cup 1C Day 3|publisher=Confederation of African Rugby|date=29 June 2013|accessdate=22 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024132226/http://www.confederation-africaine-rugby.com/index.php/en/home/2-uncategorised/853-africa-cup-1c-day-3|archivedate=24 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

⚫
==National team==
⚫
The [[Côte d'Ivoire national rugby union team]], nicknamed "Les éléphants," [[French language|French]] for "The [[elephant]]s", is a third tier [[rugby union]] side representing Côte d'Ivoire. Their presence at the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]] wasn't particularly memorable, with a 89-0 loss to Scotland in the opening match, a worthy performance to France in their 54-18 loss, in a game where the Ivorians managed to score two tries, and a 29-11 and final defeat to Tonga. Ivory Coast came close to qualify for the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]], but was eliminated by Namibia.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 61: Line 59:


==References==
==References==
* Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-86200-013-1)
* Bath, Richard (ed., 1997). ''The Complete Book of Rugby''. Seven Oaks Ltd. {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}}.
* Richards, Huw ''A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union'' ([[Mainstream Publishing]], [[Edinburgh]], 2007, ISBN 978-1-84596-255-5)
* Richards, Huw (2007). ''A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union''. [[Edinburgh]]: [[Mainstream Publishing]]. {{ISBN|978-1-84596-255-5}}.
* [[Nigel Starmer-Smith|Starmer-Smith, Nigel]] (ed) ''Rugby - A Way of Life, An Illustrated History of Rugby'' (Lennard Books, 1986 ISBN 0-7126-2662-X)
* [[Nigel Starmer-Smith|Starmer-Smith, Nigel]] (ed., 1986). ''Rugby - A Way of Life, An Illustrated History of Rugby''. Lennard Books. {{ISBN|0-7126-2662-X}}.
<references/>
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000052/index.html IRB Côte d'Ivoire page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930115121/http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000052/index.html The Ivory Coast at the IRB website]
* [http://carugby.com/ CAR]
* [http://carugby.com/ CAR]
* [http://wesclark.com/rrr/islamic_rugby.html "Islam and Rugby" on the ''Rugby Readers review'']
* [http://wesclark.com/rrr/islamic_rugby.html "Islam and Rugby" on the ''Rugby Readers review'']


{{Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire}}
{{Rugby union in the Ivory Coast}}
{{Rugby union in}}
{{Africa topic|Rugby union in}}
{{Africa topic|Rugby union in}}


[[Category:Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire|*]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Ivory Coast| ]]
[[Category:Sport in Côte d'Ivoire]]

Latest revision as of 15:17, 24 October 2024

Rugby union in Ivory Coast
The national team.
CountryIvory Coast
Governing bodyFédération Ivoirienne de Rugby
National team(s)Ivory Coast
Nickname(s)The Elephants
(French: Les éléphants)
First played1946
Registered players5,383[1]
Clubs14[1]
National competitions

Rugby union in Ivory Coast is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top-flight league and the national rugby union team.

The sport is popular among school children, but the rugby union playing population in Ivory Coast is still relatively small with only 14 clubs. There are around 5,383 registered players,[1] and the game takes in people from all walks of life.[2] As of 22 June 2014, the men's national side are ranked 47th in the world.[3]

Governing body

[edit]

Rugby union in the Ivory Coast is administered by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby.[1] It was founded in 1961 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988.[2][4]

History

[edit]

The sport is mainly played in and around the former capital Abidjan.[4]

The first recorded game in the Ivory Coast was just after the Second World War, in 1946, when Mme Andre Benois organised a match between two teams of expatriates.[5] They used an improvised ball made from the inner tube of a tyre.[5]

The game was further developed by French schoolmasters working in the country.[6]

As a former French colony, the country has tended to come under the French sphere of influence, and many top players, including Max Brito played in France.[4] Although the origins of Ivorian rugby go back to the 1960s and earlier, real growth came about when the paid French official Jean-François Turon managed to get the game adopted by Abidjan University at the turn of the 1980s, but it is François Dali who is seen as the father of Ivorian rugby, and his son, Athanase Dali, was the national captain during the 1990s.[4]

Ivorian delegates were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board in 1986.[7]

Ivory Coast is a founding member of the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis, Tunisia. Rugby officials from Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, Kenya, the Seychelles and Madagascar also attended.[8]

National team

[edit]

The Ivory Coast national rugby union team, nicknamed ‘The Elephants’ (French: Les éléphants), is a third-tier rugby union side representing the Ivory Coast. The national team is a relatively recent creation. It was not even in existence when the first (invitation only) Rugby World Cup was played in 1987. They played their first international in 1990 against Zimbabwe.[4] Their presence at the 1995 Rugby World Cup wasn't particularly memorable, with an 89–0 loss to Scotland in the opening match, a worthy performance to France in their 54–18 loss, in a game where the Ivorians managed to score two tries, and a 29–11 final defeat by Tonga. The Ivory Coast came close to qualifying for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but were eliminated by Namibia.

1995 World Cup

[edit]

The Ivory Coast's first—and thus far only—appearance at the Rugby World Cup was in 1995. Namibia, a former South African territory, had narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Cup because they had rested a number of key players in the qualifying rounds.[6] Ivory Coast slipped past them, as well as past Zimbabwe and the third African favourite Morocco.[6]

Ivory Coast went into the World Cup optimistic, with coach Claude Ezoua quoted as saying: "We want to prove to the world that there is more to African rugby than just South Africa."[6] Although Namibia and Zimbabwe had qualified for the RWC at different times, both of these countries were firmly within the South African orbit, and had mostly white players who spoke English and/or Afrikaans.[9] The Ivory Coast, on the other hand, was in West Africa and was French- rather than English-speaking. Moreover, as none of its players was white, their success has been seen by many as a positive sign that black Africa was emerging as a force in world rugby.[4]

The composition of the World Cup squad also revealed interesting things about Ivorian rugby. 25 out of 26 were Ivorian-born (the exception being Max Brito, who was born in Senegal);[6] half the squad was based and played in France;[6] and many of the players were originally from Abidjan's harbour district.[6] At this point, eight of the country's ten senior clubs were based in the capital.[6] As an incentive, many of them had been paid the equivalent of £1.25 to turn up to training.[6]

Once in the World Cup, the Ivory Coast's fortunes waned. Captain Athanase Dali was injured playing against Scotland who won 89–0, and fearless tackler Max Brito suffered a spinal injury when he went for a Tongan.[10]

Since 1995

[edit]

Ivory Coast compete for the Africa Cup, but have never ranked high in the competition for it. As the result of its 2013 Africa Cup performance, in which Les Éléphants defeated Zambia, Mauritius and Morocco, Ivory Coast were promoted from Division 1C to Division 1B of the competition.[11][12]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Bath, Richard (ed., 1997). The Complete Book of Rugby. Seven Oaks Ltd. ISBN 1-86200-013-1.
  • Richards, Huw (2007). A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-255-5.
  • Starmer-Smith, Nigel (ed., 1986). Rugby - A Way of Life, An Illustrated History of Rugby. Lennard Books. ISBN 0-7126-2662-X.
  1. ^ a b c d "Ivory Coast". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b http://wesclark.com/rrr/islamic_rugby.html "Islam and Rugby" on the Rugby Readers review retrieved 2 July 2009
  3. ^ "IRB World Rankings". International Rugby Board. 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Bath p 69.
  5. ^ a b Richards, Chapter 9 From Muller to Mias, p 164.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Richards, Chapter 13 Resisting the Inevitable, p 237.
  7. ^ Starmer-Smith, p186
  8. ^ http://carugby.com/history/ History of the CAR, retrieved 24 June 2009
  9. ^ Namibia had previously been a territory of South Africa (South West Africa), while Zimbabwe had provided South Africa with a number of players such as Ray Mordt.
  10. ^ Richards, Chapter 13 Resisting the Inevitable, p 241
  11. ^ Confederation of African Rugby (2 October 2013). "Résultat des compétitions CAR 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  12. ^ Janick Barthès (29 June 2013). "Africa Cup 1C Day 3". Confederation of African Rugby. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
[edit]
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