Cyprus-Forum.com

by **Cap** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:42 pm

Cyprus have met IRB criteria. Red tape and politics are preventing them from competing.
A horrible injustice.

Every vote counts.

http://www.change.org/petitions/cyprus- ... e_petition

by **Cap** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:08 pm

Moufflons Muffled?
Posted on April 13, 2013
Cyprus defeated Bulgaria 79-10 on 16th March this year and increased their winning run to a record breaking 18 games, stretching back to November 2008.

That would make for an incredible achievement on its own, but consider the fact that the first independent rugby club in Cyprus was only set up in 2003, and they played their first International on March 24th 2007.

The ‘Moufflons’ have won 22 of their 23 matches, scoring 1014 points and 116 tries along the way and only allowing 157 points against. They don’t receive hefty government funding and are reliant on players sacrificing time and money in order to play for the side. Football is the dominant sport there, so recognition has not come easily.

In December 2012, the official 2015 Rugby World Cup website specifically highlighted the unbeaten run as an example of how the game is growing and stated:

“If Cyprus can go on and win (FIRA-AER European Nations Cup )Division 2C then a series of play-off rounds will stand between them and the Répechage – and the chance to compete on the biggest stage of all at England 2015”

The IRB were of course aware that the story of a textbook ‘underdog’ team like Cyprus ending up in a pool with England, Wales and Australia in 2015 would capture the imagination of many .

However just a few months later in April 2013, Cyprus were told they wouldn’t be eligible to enter the qualifying stages for the tournament as they haven’t yet secured full membership.

Steps to IRB full membership (via wikipedia)

A Union must apply to become an associate member of its Regional Union
After all membership criteria are met, including one year as an associate member, the Union is admitted to the Regional Union as a full member
After completion of stages 1 and 2, and two years as a full member of a Regional Union, the Union may then apply to become an Associate member of the IRB. As an associate member, the union can participate in IRB funded tournaments but not the Rugby World Cup
Following two years of associate membership of the IRB, the union may then apply to become a Full Member
Interestingly there appears to be exceptions to those rules.

In November 2012, the IRB announced that Greece (Hellenic Federation of Rugby) would be granted full membership on a probationary basis with the comments that:

“Despite not meeting all membership criteria owing to the certain unique circumstances in Greece, special dispensation was given for a 12-month probationary period. This was granted to allow the Union every possible opportunity to bolster domestic competition and development programmes”

It is also the case that the UAE (United Arab Emirates Rugby Association) were fast-tracked to full membership from May 2012 to December 2012. Now the main reason for this was that the Arabian Gulf RFU has been disbanded and the UAE was described as:

“a well-structured organisation with full-time administrators. It has 1,300 adult licensed players and a further 4,600 underage players. At domestic level, UAERF runs a seven-team annual domestic 15-a-side premiership and an eight-team conference competition.”

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset’s comments when welcoming the UAE as a full member included:

“These are very exciting times for our sport with unprecedented growth and interest around the world. Today’s announcement certainly underlines Rugby’s ability to reach out to new communities and countries in every region”

Now Cyprus cannot boast the same structure that the UAE have and indeed have only recently met the criteria required to become an association member by having 4 clubs.

However compare their playing results – UAE have lost 12 of 15 games, scoring just 17 tries and 184 points and conceding 888. They were beaten 3-106 by Japan in May 2012 and 3-94 by Belgium in December of last year.

Greece have been beaten in all 3 meetings, with 144 points scored and 21 conceded.

Head Coach Paul Shanks and his side surely deserve the chance to try and qualify for the World Cup after their endeavours and it isn’t a stretch to say that the ‘unique circumstances’ that allowed Greece to obtain a probationary membership are going to be pretty similar to those currently effecting Cyprus.

Terms like ‘growing the global family’ and ‘taking tournaments to new territories’ feature heavily in IRB reports. That rugby is now played at the University in Nicosia, and TAG in Cyprus schools is down to the success of the Cyprus team.

Given their remarkable success on the field and their attempts to grow the game what would be the problem with rewarding that with a probationary membership to allow entry into the qualification knockout stages? If not, why was their specific story promoted by the IRB in the first place?

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by **Cap** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:09 pm

The IRB is clearly corrupt.

by **Get Real!** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 11:34 pm

A Union must apply to become an associate member of its Regional Union
After all membership criteria are met, including one year as an associate member, the Union is admitted to the Regional Union as a full member
After completion of stages 1 and 2, and two years as a full member of a Regional Union, the Union may then apply to become an Associate member of the IRB. As an associate member, the union can participate in IRB funded tournaments but not the Rugby World Cup
Following two years of associate membership of the IRB, the union may then apply to become a Full Member
Interestingly there appears to be exceptions to those rules.

Sounds like syndicate wars. Rugby must be suffering because of this.

by **Cap** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:48 pm

Over a thousand signatures and counting.
Thanks for the support everyone.

Some great comments in the comment section.
When people see an injustice, the IRB should expect this kind of reaction.

They underestimated the consequences of their unfair decision, probably thinking the outrage would be limited within the boundaries of CY.
But alas, it's becoming an international issue throughout the rugby community.
I guess people just don't like to see others being treated unjustly.
The IRB have only themselves to blame, they've tarnished their own reputation to a large degree.
And I think I speak for many when I say that they run their organization like a corrupt African dictatorship.

by **Mik** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:55 pm

Will sign, its a bloody injustice, all the messing about from the IRB, getting as bad as FIFA. It isn't Sepp Blatters Brother running it now? DONE only 274 more to go.... Shared it on FB.