The International Rugby Board (IRB) Vision is: Rugby – a sport for all, true to its values and at the recent round of the 2013-14 Jakarta Schools Rugby Competition, this vision was clear for all to see. For the very first time in Indonesian Rugby history this tournament saw both boys and girls playing in a joint tournament on the fields of the British International School (BIS) on Saturday December 7. Tournament organiser Jamie Johnston commented that “Rugby is so different from all the other football codes and that it is the uniqueness of the Game that it breeds values into children and youth”, a comment which was not lost on all those in attendance.
The participating schools in the boys’ competition included BIS, the Jakarta International School (JIS), Sekolah Pelita Harapan (SPH), Lycee International Francais (LIF), New Zealand International School (NZIS) and Global Jaya International School (GJIS). The girls’ competition was made up of players from the Mama Sayang Orphanage and others who attend weekly Rugby training sessions organised by Indonesian Rugby, plus some young ladies from the Jakarta Komodos’ Junior Rugby Club.
Previous tournaments which are also part of the 2013-14 Jakarta Schools Rugby Competition (JAKSRUC) were played at JIS and SPH. Indonesian Rugby is very supportive of JAKSRUC having founded the competition in late 2009, as it provides a fantastic opportunity for young players to experience for the first time the spirit and camaraderie of playing competitive Rugby. It is hoped that many of these youths will get a ‘taste for Rugby’ and pull on their boots for many years to come.
Results from the Saturday December 7 JAKSRUC were as follows:
U18 Cup Final (1st /2nd ): LIF NZIS Runners Up
U18 Plate Final (3rd /4th ): JIS JV SPH Runners Up
U18 Bowl Final (5th /6th ): BIS GJIS Runners Up
U15 Final: JIS GJIS/SPH Barbarians Runners Up
Girls Final: Whites Blues Runners up
Sporting Spirit Award: SPH
The next round of JAKSRUC will be played at GJIS, Bintaro on Saturday January 18, 2014. If you are interested in seeing some great schools Rugby action then please head out to GJIS for an 8am start.
To supplement the Jakarta Schools Rugby Program in 2014, Indonesian Rugby will be rolling out the IRB’s ‘Get Into Rugby’ development programme which aims to grow the Game of Rugby across the world in partnership with the IRB’s Regional Associations including the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) and introduce people globally to Rugby and the values of Integrity, Respect, Solidarity, Passion and Discipline which inspire millions of people to play the Game of Rugby. If you or your school are interested in becoming involved in the ‘Get Into Rugby’ development program please contact Indonesian Rugby’s Administrator, Peter Klestov – peter.klestov@gmail.com.