ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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Rugby at XV in Greece is a fairly recent phenomenon in the country. Unknown to many of the Greek population. He is often confused with American football. The number of licensees is estimated at about 200 despite the lack of data. Rugby is introduced by foreigners temporarily settling in the port of Athens in Piraeus during manoeuvres with their ship.

The first rugby club in XV dates back to 1982, the Greek federation was established in 2001 and the rugby championship in XV for the 2005-2006 season.
The national championship has been organised since 2005 by the Greek Rugby XV Federation (EOP in Greek for Ελληνιικ No club is professional. The country has about 10 rugby clubs in XV on its territory, a figure that has not changed since 2004.

The Greek rugby team has competed in the European Rugby Nations Championship in XV since then and its integration into the FIRA-AER in hen 3. Since joining the Board in 2012, she has competed in World Cup 2015 qualifications.

History

Origin
The history of Greek rugby is born with foreign players traveling and arriving at the port of Athens-The Piraeus. Regularly of British origin, they were the first to bring the oval balloon to Greek territory in the 1980s. Coming from the British navy or army, they will during their stay begin to sensitize the first Greeks in the capital to this sport still unknown in the country.

Rugby in Greece is a very recent history, dating back to the early 1980s with the first Spartans Athens club.

Rugby is often confused with American football known to Greek emigrants in the United States.

Then it is Greeks who go abroad for studies who bring this sport back during their vacation or stay in the family. Some Greek students discover this sport in Bulgaria and keep contact with Sofia universities for matches.

The first club
The first club created for rugby in XV was founded in 1982, it is the Spartan club of Athens.

In 2001, the first Court of Justice in Athens granted legal status to the (HRU or EPO in Greek).

The Spartans club is emblematic with its rugby jerseys using Greek figures only and not Arabic numerals. Players hold the numbers A, Β, I, Φ, Φ, Φ, Τ, No other team uses this number system.

The oldest rugby team in the country regularly has good results in rugby at seven, which is not the case in the national championship with fifteen players.

In 2004, a federation
In 2004, the (HFR) was created and recognised by the Hellenic General Secretariat of Sports. It is headed by the Evangelios Stamos, which is still its president in 2013.

Before Greek rugby is recognized in national and international bodies, this sport also begins to be practiced in G