Rugby union in Mauritius
Rugby union in Mauritius is a minor but growing sport
Rugby in Mauritius has frequently been haphazard, for example,
Governing body
The governing body is Rugby Union Mauritius
Rugby Union Mauritius consists of approximately 600 licensees including players and officials.
History
Mauritius is a former British colony, and it was introduced there by the British military in the early twentieth century.[2] In a parallel development, a number of wealthier young Mauritians went to British and South African boarding schools during this period, and also picked up the sport there.[2]
In 1928, a group of Franco-Mauritian players set up the first club, the Dodo Club.[2] The game expanded between then and 1975, with more clubs being created. However, the independence of Mauritius in 1968 led to financial difficulties for Mauritian rugby, and it was left to a development programme in the 1990s to revive the game properly.[2]
From 1928 to 1975 rugby was played at senior level between various clubs remembered as the Buffalos, HMS Mauritius, Blue Ducks, Dodo, the Navy, SMF and the Stags.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa was broadcast on Mauritian television, and received a good deal of attention.[2]
The Mauritius Sevens team participates in Indian Ocean tournaments with Réunion and Madagascar.[2]
Success in
The
- "For example, the community maintains several white-only sport and social clubs, like the Dodo Club. The national rugby team is virtually all-white, as the only islanders playing the sport are members of Franco-Mauritian clubs."[3]
Rugby went through a period of decline until in 1998, when the Stags Club was re-created and thus triggered the thought that rugby once again had a place in Mauritian society.
References
- ^ Cotton, p47
- ^ a b c d e f "RUM - Rugby Union Mauritius". Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ^ Still standing: the maintenance of a white elite in Mauritius IIAS NL 45 Archived 22 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Cotton, Fran (Ed.) (1984) The Book of Rugby Disasters & Bizarre Records. Compiled by Chris Rhys. London. Century Publishing. ISBN 0-7126-0911-3