Rugby Expats take the game to local communities

Rugby Expats take the game to local communities -

 

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How a conversation in a pub, with Christmas carols background, led to orphan girls taking the rough-old-fashioned rugby.

We've all heard these clichés about rugby. The hooligan game played by gentlemen - a teammate shows its value by getting stuck in the field and bowl outside. There is a male camaraderie in rugby you do not find in other sports, "mateship" built on tall tales to be bathed in the sordid parts of the city and is chained naked to a lamp post at 4 morning.

The bawdy songs and tour gossip are legendary and legion with perhaps a tinge of Hans Christian Anderson added for good measure, but the image of rugby like to present is one of a group of friends having a good time, like friends usually do -with many hoarse, cheerful, chummy jokes.

It is also a key element in Jurassic Park game in its terminology. Scrums and rucks are par for the course, while the hookers, five-eighths and flankers have their own defined role in the field; Hard as it may seem to a novice. And while US players need shoulder pads, helmets and high-fives to try to look hard, rugby players only need a few strategically placed Tupperware, a toothless smile and a gum shield to deal with opponents .

Enter a group of orphan girls, waifs from disadvantaged backgrounds, united by the indefatigable Mike Hilliard, the gentleman behind the Foundation Mama Sayang in West Java and given a new home and new skills.

Now on a particular Christmas, it turns out that Mike had taken her daughters to a drinking establishment reputable to do some Christmas carols. As often happens, he fell to talk with one of the regulars, Stephen Barber, and Mike was the way he was opining time her daughters had something else to do with their time. Boys in his care played cricket and Australian football -. Maybe it was time for the girls to get to work

Stephen Barber was interested. Heavily involved in the development of rugby in Indonesia, Barber immediately suggested that girls take the game and he said a lot of the environment we inhabit that Mike did not even bat an eyelid. Orphaned girls play rugger? Why not?

The plan formulated over a couple of cold beers, amid a wave of good feeling festive mood, sounding even better in the cold light of day and in a few weeks' training began.

"In early 2013, David Nye helped me lead the girls, and the company of his father Britmindo organized training clothing, backpacks, boots and bags for girls of the Foundation Mama Sayang. this was definitely a great way to get things underway. intercultural School Jakarta (formerly JIS) has also given us access to the fields to form what was appreciated by all stakeholders, including girls, "Barber picks up the story.

"For the most part since the program started I coached the girls on my own, get help from David, Peter and Klestov lately Aaron Meadows," Barber continued .

Within months, the team, which also featured foreign girls and other Indonesian players, was ready to take on the world, towards Bali to compete with their peers from around the region in a tournament of seven a side. The girls played against teams from Malaysia, Australia and others from Indonesia. MVP While they are not champions of their spirited efforts do not go unnoticed by those present and one of the girls MS, Dharma, was elected the tournament.

With many girls who come from homes in need and carrying their own disturbing life experiences, Barber held to explain the speed with which they have adapted to the game.

most girls MS Orphanage come from very difficult backgrounds, including neglect and in some cases of abuse.

Unlike them, I was lucky to grow up in a family care and love, so I think I like Mike and Jev, who have daily care and responsibility for these young ladies across the rugby can teach them what it feels like to be a part of the family that cares about each of them as individuals and collectively as a group.

"I have observed over the last two years, how Rugby them has changed through the core values ​​of the game, like the camaraderie, teamwork, respect and solidarity. As all know, rugby is a tough sport, but one thing that sticks in my mind is how these girls do not mind a little rough and dry. After all this reflects where life has taken them far and how each of them is determined to make things better for themselves and their friends, "said Barber.

It is not only orphans Mama Sayang who benefit from the supply side rugby. as Barber, Scott Biggs is actively involved in promoting the game in Indonesia through its role Komodos Jakarta. at the beginning of the current season, the Komodos decided to engage more with the local community near their base Jagorawi Golf Club and sponsor a number of lads to take the game.

"one of our coaches, Agus Djamhoer, agreed to take the role of their coach. We now have 16 local boys of kampung (Karangaan region) train as part of our regular junior rugby training every Saturday morning at 9 o'clock, "recalled Biggs.

Bapak Daud, the local RT ( Rukun Tetangga ) who arranged for the boys (all under 12) to join Komodos, is becoming a personality in his own right. Get off at Jagorawi early on a Saturday morning and you can see the mark sir locations or move the goal posts. The club was so impressed by his zeal and commitment, they gave him a Komodo shirt he wears with pride.

There are big plans for the young. "The 'big picture' is to grow and develop the skills of rugby levels of these boys and have finally join us as part of the regular team on one of our junior rugby circuit in Singapore or KL and to try to establish some local young age group tournaments. Jakarta program Komodos junior rugby will consider these in the next season, 2015-2016. Passports etc. always cause problems, but it would be great for those guys to go around and see the rugby is played elsewhere in Southeast Asia, "said Biggs, looking to the future

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Factfile

http://www.mamasayang.org/

http://rugbyindonesia.or.id/

 

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