Zakynthos Informer Zakynthos Informer
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This is a not so popular sport, however if you learn to play properly it is great entertainment for whoever is watching. The reason rugby, with Zakynthos not even knowing the existence of this strange sport, for many years, where physical contact plays an important role.
But this is about to change, since the creation of the Zante Athletic Club , the first rugby team from the island, has taken shape. The lack of sports facilities doesn’t discourage those who love rugby, so the team, in a short time, already participates in competitions, while the aim is help to make the Greek Rugby League happen. Note that there is a male and female section, while the aim is to create academies.
Panayiotis Varypatis explained a little more about this saying: “I have been occupied with rugby for around seven years. It’s my first time on the island, as well as having experience in the sport, from matches and coaching seminars.
Along with my job, I brought rugby to the island. We began at the end of September, timidly, with 8 people the first workout and then began to spread and we proceeded. Our first ambitions are to have a rugby team, male, female and then academies, thus to spread throughout the island and a new sport played. We make our first steps timidly. We have already made a trip to Patras, in November. We were 12 people men and women. We played a friendly and we had a first meeting with Patras. This was in a friendly and getting to know context. Soon competitions and tournaments will start, more recognized by the federation, where we come under handball, because there are not enough teams to create a federation. We have handed a statute and are waiting for its approval and we intend, 31/3, to participate in the tournament of Panathinaikos at the ‘Leoforos’ (how ground is referred to). Near goal is 3/03 to go to play against Pylos. The Zakynthians first approximation is i’m gonna get hit,who is coming and where will we play. With great patience and will me and the guys tried. We explained that it is played worldwide from age 5, even veterans 50-60 years old play”.
Mr. Varypatis also explained the idea of the clubs’ emblem, which is a turtle with the sign of a rugby ball. “The idea of Zante Athletic Club was because we wanted to not only just commit to rugby but give the opportunity if a child wants to open a section later. The starting point is rugby. It will be perfected. We wanted the emblem to be clear as it represents our team, Zakynthos, in events throughout Greece we wanted to show that we are from the island so we chose the turtle and in the shell we put the rugby ball and also added the name of the island so that it is clearly visible”.
A few days ago the Athletic Club of Zakynthos also cut its New Years cake, in a warm atmosphere in a towns’ cafe and the target was set for the team to make many steps forward soon. Finally, on 22nd February our newspaper published the associations recognition that is advancing forward.
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