02
CROATIA 7
Croatian national men’s 7s team with great
games last year, won the transition to
the highest rank of the competition and they are now in the company of the best teams
of the Old Continent. Croatia will play
against Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy,
Spain, Portugal, Germany... This is the
first time that the Croatian rugby team is
placed in the highest competitive group
of European rugby.
The historical success of Croatian rugby
is even more significant due to the fact
that our players are amateurs who spend
their time and money to be able to play
in jerseys covered with red and white
squares, but also due to the fact that
Croatian rugby has much fewer players
and resources than the countries we left
behind.
The Croatian national team is made of
mostly local players, born and bred in our
clubs (RK Nada Split, RK Sinj, HARK Mladost
Zagreb, RK Zagreb, RK Makarska Riviera,
RK Novi Zagreb...), but also players of
Croatian origin born in the countries where
rugby is much more developed. For many
years, there has been a strong connection
between Croatian rugby and the Croatian
immigrant community in New Zealand.
More than a few players of Croatian origin
from New Zealand played for Croatia (in the
1990s, even former All Blacks: Frano Botica
and Matthew Cooper). Current coach
Anthony Po.a is also from New Zealand,
as were many coaches who led Croatia
before him. Players of Croatian origin from
Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Samoa,
Great Britain, France, Italy also played (or
are playing) for Croatia... Love for Croatia
and love for rugby is what unites them!
