Rugby union in Lithuania: Difference between revisions
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*[http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=24879] Lithuania dreaming of 2011 Rugby World Cup, AFP story published by rugbyweek.com |
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Revision as of 17:25, 17 March 2010
| Rugby union in Lithuania | |
|---|---|
 Lithuania playing Israel | |
| Country | Lithuania |
| National team(s) | Lithuania |
| First played | Mid 20th Century |
| Registered players | 1852 |
Rugby union in Lithuania is a minor but growing sport.
Governing Body
The Lithuanian Union was founded in 1961, and joined the IRB in 1992, after Lithuanian independence. [1] Although the union was formed in the sixties, it was not considered a proper national union until after the breakup of the USSR.
History
Soviet Era
Rugby union arrived in Lithuania during the post-War Soviet period. Lithuania was never a stronghold of rugby in the USSR - the game was mainly played in Russia and Georgia - but has experienced some growth in the post-independence period.
Lithuania was an independent country between WWI and WWII, but shortly after it was annexed by the USSR, in 1949, rugby union was forbidden in the USSR during the "fight against the cosmopolitanism". The competitions were resumed in 1957, and the Soviet Championship in 1966. In 1975 the Soviet national team played their first match.[2]
Lithuania had its own rugby team in the USSR, but it was not treated as a proper national side.
Post-independence
Like many other minor rugby nations, the game is centred on the capital, Vilnius.[1] The climate of the country also hinders the game, as pitches may be under snow for large parts of the year.[1]
There is some rivalry with neighbours Latvia who beat them in the qualifiers for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, as did Germany.[1]
In the 1990s, there was some promotion of the game by player-coach Vladimiris Nikonous.[1]
The Baltic is not a major rugby playing area at the time of writing, but several neighbouring countries such as Poland, Russia and Sweden can boast thousands of players. The game is also growing fairly fast in the Ukraine. [3] Entry into the European Union will also make it easier for western European sides to tour the country.
See also
- Lithuania national rugby union team
- Lithuania national rugby union team (sevens)
- Soviet Union national rugby union team
References
- ^ a b c d e Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1 86200 013 3) p71
- ^ Rugby union in Russia and USSR Template:Ru icon
- ^ Bath p76
External links
- IRB Lithuania page
- Official webpage
- REGBIS LIETUVOJE
- Template:Fr Archives du Rugby: Lettonie
- [1] Lithuania dreaming of 2011 Rugby World Cup, AFP story published by rugbyweek.com