More than 10,000 rugby balls will be distributed across the country to bring people closer to the sport and “see that there is another ball out there,” federation president Carlos Amado da Silva told Lusa on Tuesday.
The balls will be distributed before the 2023 World Cup in France, a competition in which the Portuguese team will participate for the second time in its history, “in a kind of ‘roadshow'”, promoted by the Portuguese Rugby Federation (FPR) to take the sport to different regions of the country.
“The aim is to decentralize rugby and make it known to as many people as possible through involvement in local communities. This will help make the sport better known to everyone”explains Amado da Silva.
The balls were donated by one of the team’s sponsors and the FPR plans to expand the initiative “after the World Cup” through regional “schools, clubs and associations”, “even if that means another 10,000 are being found”.
“We need to increase the number of clubs and practitioners”justified the chairman of the FPR.
In a statement sent to agency Lusa, the organization says it currently has “about 50 registered clubs and 7,000 federated athletes”.
The first location to receive the FPR ‘roadshow’ will be Lousada, on June 24, on the occasion of the World Children’s Exhibition, followed by Arcos de Valdevez (25), Viana do Castelo (26), Viseu (July 11). and Leiria (July 12).
The Algarve will host events in Tavira (August 7), Portimão (August 9) and Loulé (August 10), taking advantage of the presence of the Portuguese team for a World Cup preparation match against the USA, scheduled for the 12th of the same month, at the Algarve Stadium.
The FPR is also in touch to get the support of “municipalities and schools” to take the initiative across the country.
“We intend to cultivate and inspire and unite a fan base of this modality through rugby, attract more athletes and give more support to our teams’ participation in international competitions”concluded Amado da Silva.
Those visiting the FPR space at the various locations will then have the opportunity to participate in recreational activities and games that teach “some passes and basic rules” of rugby, a sport that “promotes values” such as “solidarity, respect and integrity”. “. , but also “very inclusive”, as “everyone has a place within the field”.
The initiative kicks off two days before the 38 players called up for France’s 2023 World Cup begin preparations for the match, on Monday, at the National Stadium’s High Performance Rugby Center in Oeiras.
Portugal will participate in the Rugby World Cup for the second time in its history, in France in September and October.
The ‘Wolves’ play in Group C of the competition against Wales (September 16), Georgia (September 23), Australia (October 1) and Fiji (October 8).
Source: DN
