Rugby union in Morocco
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Morocco
is a significant, and popular, sport.
i nations, Moroccan rugby tended to look to Europe for inspiration, rather than to the rest of Africa.
The game became more firmly established in the 1950s, partly through the efforts of Mohammed Benjaloun, who would become president of the Moroccan Olympic Committee.
The link with France has proven to be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, many successful Moroccan players go on to play in the French Leagues, on the other, some Moroccans who should be playing for Morocco, have ended up playing for France
, or refusing Moroccan caps in case they are ineligible for this. An example of this is, Abdelatif Benazzi
, a forward who played for the French club of Agen
and won his first cap for France in 1990, playing 77 games after that. Benazzi was supposed to play for Morocco, and arguably his absence cost them promotion to the next round of 1995 Rugby World Cup
qualifiers, and allowed the Ivory Coast to get through.
For a while, Morocco originally came under European rugby auspices, but is now integrated into the African structure.
Morocco is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby
(CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis
, Tunisia
. Rugby officials from Tunisia
, Senegal
, Ivory Coast
, Tanzania
, Kenya
, the Seychelles
and Madagascar
also attended.
Notable Moroccan players include:
traditionally sees neighbours Spain
as their rivals. Morocco played its first international in 1931 against them. After playing several games, they would not play another international until 1967, when they joined the European Nations Cup
and FIRA. Morocco made the first division in 1983 but was beaten easily by France
and Romania
. After falling down the rankings, Morocco left the European series and joined the African Cup competition and won it in 2003 and 2005.
Their sevens side
is regularly plays in the top circuit, doing very well in Hong Kong
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
is a significant, and popular, sport.
Governing body
The Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation was formed in 1916, joined the IRFB in 1988.History
Rugby came to Morocco in the early 20th century, mainly by the French who occupied the country. As a result, Moroccan rugby was tied to the fortunes of France during the two world wars, with many Moroccan players going away to fight. Like many other MaghrebMaghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
i nations, Moroccan rugby tended to look to Europe for inspiration, rather than to the rest of Africa.
The game became more firmly established in the 1950s, partly through the efforts of Mohammed Benjaloun, who would become president of the Moroccan Olympic Committee.
The link with France has proven to be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, many successful Moroccan players go on to play in the French Leagues, on the other, some Moroccans who should be playing for Morocco, have ended up playing for France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, or refusing Moroccan caps in case they are ineligible for this. An example of this is, Abdelatif Benazzi
Abdelatif Benazzi
Abdelatif Benazzi is a French-Moroccan rugby union footballer who represented both Morocco and France. He played as a lock or back row forward....
, a forward who played for the French club of Agen
Agen
Agen is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Aquitaine in south-western France. It lies on the river Garonne southeast of Bordeaux. It is the capital of the department.-Economy:The town has a higher level of unemployment than the national average...
and won his first cap for France in 1990, playing 77 games after that. Benazzi was supposed to play for Morocco, and arguably his absence cost them promotion to the next round of 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
qualifiers, and allowed the Ivory Coast to get through.
For a while, Morocco originally came under European rugby auspices, but is now integrated into the African structure.
Morocco is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby
Confederation of African Rugby
The Confederation of African Rugby is governing body for rugby union within Africa. The Confederation currently has 37 member nations and is responsible for running various rugby tournaments within Africa, especially the Africa Cup, and CAR Super 16.-History:The Confederation was officially...
(CAR), which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Rugby officials from Tunisia
Rugby union in Tunisia
Rugby union in Tunisia is a significant sport. They are currently ranked 35th in the world, with 15,057 registered players , and 72 clubs.-Governing body:...
, Senegal
Rugby union in Senegal
Rugby union in Senegal is a moderately popular sport. They are currently ranked 55th by the IRB.-History:Senegal is a founder member of the Confederation of African Rugby , which was launched officially in January 1986, in Tunis, Tunisia...
, Ivory Coast
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire, also known as "the Ivory Coast", is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top flight league and the national rugby union team....
, Tanzania
Rugby union in Tanzania
-Governing body:The governing body is the Tanzania Rugby Union, which is an associate member of the IRB.Originally the Tanzanian Rugby Football Union was incorporated into the Rugby Football Union of East Africa in 1956...
, Kenya
Rugby union in Kenya
Rugby union is a popular sport in Kenya, in particular due to the success of the Kenyan Sevens Team in the rugby sevens format, and tournaments such as the Safari Sevens, which has been growing yearly, and now includes numerous international teams....
, the Seychelles
Rugby union in the Seychelles
-Governing body:The governing body is a member of the Confederation of African Rugby but not of the International Rugby Board.-History:Rugby was first introduced to the Seychelles when it was a British colony...
and Madagascar
Rugby union in Madagascar
Rugby union in Madagascar is a popular team sport. Madagascar is ranked 43rd worldwide by the International Rugby Board , and boasts over 22,540 registered players and more than 410 rugby clubs...
also attended.
Notable Moroccan players include:
- Abdelatif BenazziAbdelatif BenazziAbdelatif Benazzi is a French-Moroccan rugby union footballer who represented both Morocco and France. He played as a lock or back row forward....
- Said Boucha
- Abdellatif BoutatyAbdellatif BoutatyAbdellatif Boutaty is a Moroccan rugby union footballer. He plays as a lock.-Career:Boutaty played at the Moroccan amateur team of COC, in Casablanca, moving then to Vallée du Girou, in Toulouse, France. He then was assigned to his first major team, Stade Toulousain...
- Rachid Karmouchi
- Djalil NarjissiDjalil NarjissiDjalil Narjissi is a Moroccan rugby union footballer who currently plays in the Top 14, for Agen, France. He joined Agen in 2004, having previously played for Castres. Narjissi also acts as the captain for the Morocco national team....
- Christian CarrereChristian CarrèreChristian Carrère, born on July 27, 1943 in Tarbes, France, is a former rugby union player. He played for the French Rugby team as a flanker.- Club :* Stadoceste Tarbais* RC Toulonnais...
, captain of
National team
MoroccoMorocco national rugby union team
The Morocco national rugby union team are a national sporting side, representing Morocco in rugby union. The team is also known as the Atlas Lions. Morocco is governed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Rugby. Morocco competes in the Africa Cup annually. The team has won the competition in 2003...
traditionally sees neighbours Spain
Spain national rugby union team
The Spain national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Spain, representing them at rugby union. Spain have been playing rugby since the late 1920s, playing their first international against Italy in 1929. They have qualified for one Rugby World Cup, in 1999 where they were pooled with...
as their rivals. Morocco played its first international in 1931 against them. After playing several games, they would not play another international until 1967, when they joined the European Nations Cup
European Nations Cup (rugby union)
The European Nations Cup is the European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations. The Championship is split into 7 divisions with 5 or 6 teams in each. The divisions play on a two-year cycle with the teams playing each other both home and away...
and FIRA. Morocco made the first division in 1983 but was beaten easily by France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
and Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
. After falling down the rankings, Morocco left the European series and joined the African Cup competition and won it in 2003 and 2005.
Their sevens side
Morocco national rugby union team (sevens)
The Morocco national rugby union sevens is a national sevens side. They have competed in the Hong Kong Sevens.-Hong Kong Sevens:...
is regularly plays in the top circuit, doing very well in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
.