Rugby union in Montenegro

Rugby union in Montenegro
Governing body Montenegrin Rugby Union
Clubs 5

Rugby union in Montenegro is a minor but growing sport. The game has only recently been developed in the country since it's independence in 2006. The governing body is the Montenegrin Rugby Union which was accepted as a member of Rugby Europe (previously FIRA-AER) at the 2014 convention held in Split, Croatia.[1] It is not yet affiliated with World Rugby but is applying for membership.

History

Traditionally, international rugby matches were played as FR Yugoslavia until 2003, and then as Serbia and Montenegro from 2003 to 2006.

In 2011, the Porto Montenegro company started playing organised touch rugby games.[2] Participation numbers grew and the players progressed to rugby sevens. By 2013 there were four rugby clubs in Montenegro.[2] A regional league began in 2014 and fixtures were also arranged with other teams around the former Yugoslavian countries.[3]

Rugby has competition from other popular sports such as water-polo, soccer, handball and mixed martial arts in Montenegro. Due to the small population of the country, rugby 7's is the preferred version of the game as fewer players are required. An official international 7s squad was named and sent to Greece for the ENC Division B competition in 2014.[4][5]

Clubs

As of 2014, the following clubs participate in the national league:

Two more clubs (Kotor and Herceg Novi) are attempting to join. The first club was Tivat. The biggest rivalry in the league is currently between the clubs Lovćen and Tivat.[6]

National teams

Montenegro's national teams are known as the Wolves (Vukovi). The country's first international rugby sevens matches were played in 2014 at the ENC Division B championship in Greece. The first match was against the favorites Switzerland, with the game ending with a final score of 15-36 to Switzerland.[7] where they managed to win the bowl.

The Montenegro national 15-a-side team first played in April 2014 when the country hosted the European Nations Cup Division 3 Competition. On 10th April 2015 The Wolves played the First International Match in the country's history, winning a thrilling encounter 29 - 27 against Estonia in Bar. In the Final Montenegro lost 31 - 3 against Slovakia in Budva.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Montenegro becomes a member of European Rugby. vijesti.me, Retrieved 23.6.2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rugby in Montenegro. Rugby Europe, 2013. Retrieved 26.10.2014
  3. ↑ "Hartlepool expat helping to make rugby the fastest-growing sport in Montenegro". Hartlepool Mail. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Thessaloniki to host Division B European Rugby Championship. Retrieved 26.10.2014
  5. ↑ Milović selected for Montenegro. vijesti.me. Retrieved 13.5.2014
  6. ↑ History. Montenegro Rugby.
  7. ↑ Results Division B - South (Greece). Rugby Europe, 2014. Retrieved 31.05.2014

External links