Postcard from Bishkek

The sports columns of the popular newspaper Vecherniye Bishkek, (“Evening Bishkek”), once carried the headline “The Incomprehensible Game” –  Rugby Football.

It may well be that the game with it’s complex and complicated system of laws, scoring, scrums, lineouts, tries, penalties and the host of technicalities, (such having to pass the ball backwards while trying to run forward), may well be beyond the comprehension of the average “man in the street”, (and the differences between Rugby Union and Rugby League would confuse them even more – yet alone any of the other games descendants from William Webb Ellis’ actions on the Public School playing field, but a fast free flowing game is attractive and there are a number of aficionados in the country.

The former Soviet Union used to field a fairly strong team – mainly drawn from members of the armed services.  It proved to be popular in the Republic of Georgia and they formed their own Union in 1964 – which was recognized by the International Rugby Board, (IRB – the governing body of Rugby Union), in 1988 and formerly becoming members in 1992. The have given a good account of themselves in matches – winning the European Nations Cup in 2001 – and are seen as “rising stars” in the Rugby world.

Although there Rugby Federation (the IRB still refer to it as a “Union”) in Kyrgyzstan, the game in both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is basically supported by the Union in Kazakhstan – which is another team showing promise of great things to come.

The IRB has no statistics about the number of teams or players in the country – but apparently there is one that competes in the Kazakh Open Competition.  In August, there is usually a festival held in the grounds of the Physical Culture Institute in Bishkek.  Games are organized at different levels, for children, youths, women and men.  There is a women’s team that has apparently appeared at the world championship in Hong Kong.

The main strength of Rugby Football in Kyrgyzstan, however, is to found in the ranks of the Kyrgyz Police force.  There are competitions in which teams of the different oblasts and recruits compete, and the strongest team is apparently from the Osh region.  The Head of the service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, (MVD), considers the game as ideal for his men as, apart from the emphasis on physical fitness, he see such benefits from the game as character building, teamwork and discipline.

It is even possible to buy the Kyrgyz national rugby shirt on the web – that is, unless you are in Kyrgyzstan.  Apparently it is one of the countries from which they wont accept orders over the internet.