Rugby: Cable & Wireless Island Nations Cup |03 October 2023

The Cable & Wireless Island Nations Cup final standings (Photo: Contributed)

Undefeated Sharks clinch the second cup

• Successful year for the Seychelles Rugby Union

Having collected 10 wins in as many matches for a maximum 30 points, Sharks are the winners of the second Cable & Wireless Island Nations Cup organised by the Seychelles Rugby Union and they registered a 49-17 win over Marlins in their last league match on Saturday at Stad Popiler.

Other than running the league, 2023 has, so far, been a successful year for the Seychelles Rugby Union (SRU) in terms of youth development programme, networking, as well as taking part in and giving a helping hand to the local community.

Initially launched last year, the Nations Cup started as a four-team league with Seyboks (made up South African expatriates), Seychelles (made up of locals), Madagascar(made up of Malagasy expatriates), and the International Barbarians (featuring all other nationalities presently residing, or working in Seychelles).

Following a post-mortem of the 2022 season, the SRU decided to mix the teams this season, thus making the competition a friendlier one, and also giving more players the opportunity to take part in a more sociable environment, rather than being limited to representing their country of origin.

In total, the Sharks have scored 411 points and conceded only 124, for a nett 287.

The Flying Foxes have concluded the league as runners-up, collecting 21 points from seven wins and three defeats in 10 matches played, scoring 372 points and conceding 242 for a nett 130.

Third overall in the league are Snappers who have collected 15 points from five wins and five defeats. They scored 285 points and conceded 372 for a nett -87.

Marlins concluded the league in fourth place on 12 points after collecting four wins and six defeats out of their 10 league matches played.

They have scored 234 point and conceded 314 for a nett-80.

Fifth overall in the league are Black Parrots who have collected a total six points from two wins and eight defeats, having scored 245 points, while conceding 359 for a net -114.

Also on six points from two victories and two losses, Pirates concluded the league in sixth and last position, based on their inferior points difference.

They have scored 195, while conceding 331 for a nett -136 points.

Sharks’ Johannes Hanekom finished as the league’s top scorer with 93 points, followed by Guy Parsley of the Flying Foxes who finished second with 83 points.

Gift Muthami of the Black Parrots is the league’s third top scorer with 78 points, ahead of Hendrik Jan Moska of Snappers and Gael Esparon of Marlins who both scored 74 points.

As part of its mandate to promote and propagate the sport of rugby locally, especially at grassroots level, thus ensuring a healthy future for the sport, the SRU started to partner with local educational institutions, helping them set up, or improve existing school rugby programmes.

Following its presentation to École Française, the SRU handed over equipment to the International School Seychelles, along with other public schools.

The SRU also presented Team Seychelles to the 16th Special Olympics World Games held in Berlin, Germany from June 17 to 25 with additional official kit.

It was chairman of the SRU, Captain Luke Fonseka who handed over the garments to board chairman of the Special Olympics Seychelles Raymonde Onezime, who was the team’s assistant head of delegation at the Games.

In 2023, the SRU also initiated the transition from regular matches into larger showpieces, turning them into family-related activities, an initiative which has been welcomed by the local sports authority.

To get a better insight on the initiative, principal secretary for Youth and Sports Ralph Jean-Louis, along with a delegation from his department and the National Sports Council (NSC) visited South Africa on the invitation of the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, through the SRU.

Labelled as a ‘capacity building’ visit, the trip was the perfect occasion for the local representatives to experience and learn how to successfully transition regular sporting matches into larger showpieces, which in the Seychelles context can encourage growth and boost sports tourism locally.

The trip was made possible through the existing partnership between the SRU and the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union.

Despite the good season, there were, however, some disappointing news, precisely in relation to the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) held in Madagascar from August 25 to September 3, whereby the SRU decided to pull out of the Games.

Captain Fonseka explained that the decision was purely based on a lack of support and understanding, and despite the Games offering an amazing opportunity to grow and increase participation by exposing and educating more Seychellois about rugby, the only solution was to pull out, since it was being insisted that players must hold a Seychelles passport to take part in the IOIG.

He noted that the SRU being the newest and smallest rugby union in the region, the majority of its current players and members are long serving Seychelles residents, or are now residing permanently in Seychelles.

Captain Fonseka further explained that, it is with great disappointment that the decision not to abide by the World Rugby Eligibility Rules, and specifically with point C – “the player has completed sixty consecutive months of residence immediately preceding the time of playing” has been made.

Commenting on the 2023 season,  Captain Fonseka said there were a host of success stories from Hanekom finishing top try scorer with 93 points, to young Esparon, who only took up the sport months ago achieving multiple man-of-the-match awards, finishing the season with an impressive 74 points, while four Seychellois youth players were part of the winning Sharks team .

He added that on September 28, the SRU received confirmation of its membership with the Federation of International Touch Rugby, thus they are looking forward to enter international tournaments next year.

Captain Fonseka also noted that in a bid to bring future success and medals to Seychelles, the SRU has also obtained the services of a full time rugby coach who will look to harness local talents and grow the player numbers by providing free coaching within local schools, with Belonie, English River, Mont Fleuri, Independent School and the International School already confirming their participation. Coaching will commence in mid-October.

Roland Duval