SYRIA: RUGBY UNION- Damascus rugby tournament aims to raise the sport's profile in Syria

Record ID: 279310

  • Title: SYRIA: RUGBY UNION- Damascus rugby tournament aims to raise the sport's profile in Syria
  • Date: 22nd October 2007
  • Summary: SYRIAN TEAM CARRYING THEIR COACH AFTER WINNING TOURNAMENT VARIOUS OF SYRIAN PLAYERS COLLECTING TOURNAMENT CUP
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEPWGJZWCRK1WBYZZY4G2OF91Z
  • Story Text: The French Embassy in Damascus holds a rugby tournament featuring teams from Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon in a bid to raise the profile of the sport in Syria and the rest of the region.
    With the 2007 Rugby World Cup being staged in France, the French Embassy in Damascus set up a small rugby tournament on Saturday (October 20) featuring teams from Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon in an attempt to boost the profile of the sport in the Middle East.
    Claudio Scappaticci, the organiser of the one-day tournament, said he hoped the event in Damascus would create new interest in rugby in the region.

    "It's an important world event and so it would be great if this tournament in Damascus would make people come and discover the sport of Rugby," he said.
    Playing to an empty sports arena, the four teams battled it out until Syria's Zenobians team came out on top as the tournament's winners.

    "I wish we had an audience to cheer for us instead of just the players themselves," said Syrian Rugby Player Samer Tabbab about the lack of attendees.
    South Africa defeated defending champions England on Saturday at Paris' Stade de France to claim the Rugby World Cup for the second time.
    Rugby is a virtually unknown sport in the Middle East.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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