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Rugby World Cup: Can India fall in love with rugby? Rugby World Cup: Can India fall in love with rugby?
(about 11 hours later)
On the streets of Kolkata, I carried out a fairly unscientific experiment - showing passers-by a rugby ball and asking if they knew which sport it was used for.On the streets of Kolkata, I carried out a fairly unscientific experiment - showing passers-by a rugby ball and asking if they knew which sport it was used for.
"Hockey?" suggested a teenager uncertainly. "Basketball?" ventured another."Hockey?" suggested a teenager uncertainly. "Basketball?" ventured another.
Most people simply shook their heads. "Sorry," said one middle-aged man, sipping on a glass of tea. "We don't play that game here."Most people simply shook their heads. "Sorry," said one middle-aged man, sipping on a glass of tea. "We don't play that game here."
For fans of rugby union, Kolkata - formerly called Calcutta - is synonymous with the Calcutta Cup - the annual game played between England and Scotland that had its origins here in the 1870s.For fans of rugby union, Kolkata - formerly called Calcutta - is synonymous with the Calcutta Cup - the annual game played between England and Scotland that had its origins here in the 1870s.
The city remains India's rugby capital - and although about 40,000 people nationwide play the game according to the sport's administrators - that lack of recognition is its biggest struggle.The city remains India's rugby capital - and although about 40,000 people nationwide play the game according to the sport's administrators - that lack of recognition is its biggest struggle.
"Rugby is basically not known as a sport," says Noomi Metha, president of the Indian Rugby Football Board - recalling the game's comically-inaccurate portrayal in a local Tamil film - a clip of which is now doing the rounds on the internet. "It was basically gang warfare on a field." "Rugby is basically not known as a sport," says Noomi Mehta, president of the Indian Rugby Football Board - recalling the game's comically-inaccurate portrayal in a local Tamil film - a clip of which is now doing the rounds on the internet. "It was basically gang warfare on a field."
He can see the funny side, but says the lack of understanding is making it hard for the sport to attract the money needed to spread the game and encourage promising players.He can see the funny side, but says the lack of understanding is making it hard for the sport to attract the money needed to spread the game and encourage promising players.
"Getting sponsors is hard. We have had them in the past, but they stay for a year or two years and then they look elsewhere," Mr Metha says. "Getting sponsors is hard. We have had them in the past, but they stay for a year or two years and then they look elsewhere," Mr Mehta says.
A league of their own?A league of their own?
Indian rugby remains fully amateur - with power centred around just two clubs - one in Kolkata and another in Mumbai. Both are members-only establishments - set up way back under British rule.Indian rugby remains fully amateur - with power centred around just two clubs - one in Kolkata and another in Mumbai. Both are members-only establishments - set up way back under British rule.
The welcome is warm and friendly, and the oak-panelled clubhouses and trophy cabinets carry an air of history and tradition - or elitism - depending on your point of view.The welcome is warm and friendly, and the oak-panelled clubhouses and trophy cabinets carry an air of history and tradition - or elitism - depending on your point of view.
But even having basic facilities, like changing rooms, make them the go-to venues for almost all the country's major tournaments.But even having basic facilities, like changing rooms, make them the go-to venues for almost all the country's major tournaments.
Shaking off that stuffy image - and showing more international rugby on Indian television - would be a good way to popularise the game says Mr Metha, who thinks rugby's future lies in India's rural hinterland. Shaking off that stuffy image - and showing more international rugby on Indian television - would be a good way to popularise the game says Mr Mehta, who thinks rugby's future lies in India's rural hinterland.
The Calcutta CupThe Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is the trophy presented to the winner of the England versus Scotland rugby union match which takes place during the annual Six Nations Championship.The Calcutta Cup is the trophy presented to the winner of the England versus Scotland rugby union match which takes place during the annual Six Nations Championship.
After the introduction of rugby to India in 1872, the Calcutta (Rugby) Football Club was set up by former students of Rugby School in January 1873.After the introduction of rugby to India in 1872, the Calcutta (Rugby) Football Club was set up by former students of Rugby School in January 1873.
It joining the Rugby Football Union in 1874, but with the departure of a local British army regiment interest in the sport waned. The members decided to disband and withdrew the club's funds from the bank, which were in Silver Rupees.It joining the Rugby Football Union in 1874, but with the departure of a local British army regiment interest in the sport waned. The members decided to disband and withdrew the club's funds from the bank, which were in Silver Rupees.
These were then melted down and made into a cup which they presented to the RFU in 1878, on the understanding that it should be competed for annually.These were then melted down and made into a cup which they presented to the RFU in 1878, on the understanding that it should be competed for annually.
And like football, hockey, badminton and (Indian sport) kabaddi have already done - Mr Metha says rugby could learn from the success of cricket's Indian Premier League - creating a made-for-television short format tournament with Bollywood owners, music, and razzmatazz that attracts international players by making it financially worth their while. And like football, hockey, badminton and (Indian sport) kabaddi have already done - Mr Mehta says rugby could learn from the success of cricket's Indian Premier League - creating a made-for-television short format tournament with Bollywood owners, music, and razzmatazz that attracts international players by making it financially worth their while.
"You can find sponsors at that level," Mr Metha confidently predicts. "You can find sponsors at that level," Mr Mehta confidently predicts.
'Revival''Revival'
Not that the game is totally devoid of backers. Vehicle specialist Birla Tyres sponsors an annual Kolkata tournament - though the sums involved remain quite small.Not that the game is totally devoid of backers. Vehicle specialist Birla Tyres sponsors an annual Kolkata tournament - though the sums involved remain quite small.
"On the face of it there's no business reason to sponsor the sport of rugby, because it's a very closed circle of people who really watch the sport, play the sport," says Birla Tyre's chief executive Arvind Singh."On the face of it there's no business reason to sponsor the sport of rugby, because it's a very closed circle of people who really watch the sport, play the sport," says Birla Tyre's chief executive Arvind Singh.
"But we didn't want to be just another company that sponsored cricket and were looking for other opportunities."But we didn't want to be just another company that sponsored cricket and were looking for other opportunities.
"The Rugby World Cup gets watched in India - perhaps not as widely as the football or the cricket but it does get watched. Rugby will have a revival and our participation in the sport of rugby means that as the sport revives, our association with it will mean our visibility around rugby arrives and grows.""The Rugby World Cup gets watched in India - perhaps not as widely as the football or the cricket but it does get watched. Rugby will have a revival and our participation in the sport of rugby means that as the sport revives, our association with it will mean our visibility around rugby arrives and grows."
Star seekingStar seeking
Getting more youngsters playing the game is one obvious way to grow rugby's appeal.Getting more youngsters playing the game is one obvious way to grow rugby's appeal.
And in the Wattgung suburb of Kolkata, a slum area and one of the city's best-known red-light districts, I find dozens of boys and girls who are picking up a rugby ball rather than a cricket bat.And in the Wattgung suburb of Kolkata, a slum area and one of the city's best-known red-light districts, I find dozens of boys and girls who are picking up a rugby ball rather than a cricket bat.
Their "pitch" is a yard full of shipping containers, reached by climbing a ladder and shimmying over a wall - but that is no deterrent.Their "pitch" is a yard full of shipping containers, reached by climbing a ladder and shimmying over a wall - but that is no deterrent.
And that enthusiasm is down to schemes like Khelo Rugby - run by another Kolkata club Jungle Crows.And that enthusiasm is down to schemes like Khelo Rugby - run by another Kolkata club Jungle Crows.
"Finding the next Jonah Lomu would be great", says former British diplomat turned project founder Paul Walsh. But this is as much about supporting some of the city's poorest children, helping them stay in school, and steering them away from drugs and prostitution as it is about coaching rugby."Finding the next Jonah Lomu would be great", says former British diplomat turned project founder Paul Walsh. But this is as much about supporting some of the city's poorest children, helping them stay in school, and steering them away from drugs and prostitution as it is about coaching rugby.
Every Saturday morning there are training sessions on a well-cared-for field close to the city centre, with youngsters tackling crash pads, and running through passing drills, often in bare feet.Every Saturday morning there are training sessions on a well-cared-for field close to the city centre, with youngsters tackling crash pads, and running through passing drills, often in bare feet.
But standards are improving - and players regularly go on to play for clubs and even their country (India is currently ranked 74th in the word and 12th in Asia).But standards are improving - and players regularly go on to play for clubs and even their country (India is currently ranked 74th in the word and 12th in Asia).
Money ballMoney ball
All the coaches are volunteers - often graduates of the project themselves - but not surprisingly things are also tight financially at the grassroots.All the coaches are volunteers - often graduates of the project themselves - but not surprisingly things are also tight financially at the grassroots.
"Cricket sucks in all the money, football is very popular, then you go to hockey, kabbadi," says Mr Walsh."Cricket sucks in all the money, football is very popular, then you go to hockey, kabbadi," says Mr Walsh.
"Rugby is at the end of a long line of other sports. And perhaps, it will never be the most popular sport in India, but in a way that's nice as well. The kids love the fact that they play something that perhaps friends at school don't play, so it's special for them.""Rugby is at the end of a long line of other sports. And perhaps, it will never be the most popular sport in India, but in a way that's nice as well. The kids love the fact that they play something that perhaps friends at school don't play, so it's special for them."
The 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan will be the first time the event has been held in Asia.The 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan will be the first time the event has been held in Asia.
And while India has very little chance of reaching the tournament anytime soon, creating a generation of players who have absolutely no trouble recognising a rugby ball is not a bad start.And while India has very little chance of reaching the tournament anytime soon, creating a generation of players who have absolutely no trouble recognising a rugby ball is not a bad start.