Rugby union in Solomon Islands
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Sport overview
| country = Solomon Islands
| sport = rugby union
| image =
| imagesize = 300px
| caption =
| union = Solomon Islands Rugby Union
| nickname =
| first =
| registered = 3,068
| clubs = 24
| match =
| national_list = Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup Sevens
IRB Sevens World Series
| club_list =
| countryflag = Solomon Islands
}}
Rugby union is a popular sport in Solomon Islands.{{cite book |title=South Pacific and Micronesia |publisher=Lonely Planet |year=2006 |page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetsout00geer/page/53 53] |isbn=1-74104-304-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetsout00geer/page/53 }} The national team have competed in various international competitions. They are currently ranked 69th by the IRB, with 3068 registered players and 24 clubs.{{cite web|title=International Rugby Board - World Rankings|url=http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810042746/http://www.irb.com/rankings/full.html|archive-date=10 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}
Governing body
The governing body is the Solomon Islands Rugby Union.{{cite web |url=http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000092/index.html |title=International Rugby Board - ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES |access-date=2011-09-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915192317/http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000092/index.html |archive-date=15 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }} retrieved 3 July 2009
History
Rugby union continues to be a popular sport in Solomon Islands despite aggressive occasional overtures from rugby league. Despite large amounts of money and advertising, Solomon Islanders remained loyal to rugby union, and rugby league in the islands underwent a ten-year hibernation.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/RLP/Nations/SolomonIslands.htm|title=Solomon Islands Rugby League Planet|publisher=Rugby League Planet|date=2009-06-18|access-date=2009-06-18}} These efforts have now been compounded by Rupert Murdoch backed television, but still without little return from the vast amounts of money spent.
Delegates from Solomon Islands were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board in 1986.Starmer-Smith, p186
Like many Pacific archipelagos, rugby sevens is the preferred code, and there are regular competitions.{{Cite web|url=http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9985&Itemid=42|title = Home}}
There is also a successful schools competition.{{Cite web|url=http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9060&Itemid=42|title = Home}}
==National team==
The Solomon Islands national rugby union team played their first international at 18 August 1969, losing to Papua New Guinea by 23-5. Their next game, three days later, with Fiji show their record loss of 113-13. Both games were part of the 3rd South Pacific Games. Since then they have played in only a small number of internationals. Their first win came in 1983, in a 19-12 win over Niue, for the 7th South Pacific Games.
See also
{{Portal|Sports}}
References
- Cotton, Fran (Ed.) (1984) The Book of Rugby Disasters & Bizarre Records. Compiled by Chris Rhys. London. Century Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7126-0911-3}}
- Starmer-Smith, Nigel (ed) Rugby - A Way of Life, An Illustrated History of Rugby (Lennard Books, 1986 {{ISBN|0-7126-2662-X}})
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110925013022/http://www.irb.com/unions/union%3D11000062/index.html IRB page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090105172154/http://www.oceaniarugby.com/member_unions/foru_member_union_solomon_islands.html Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions, Solomon Islands page]
- [http://www.solomontimes.com/topic.aspx?show=13 Solomon Times, rugby pages]
- [http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9980&Itemid=42 Hammerhead nailed Marist]
- [http://www.pacificnationsrugby.com/teams-Solomon-Islands.aspxOceania nations, Solomon Islands]
- [http://www.cookislandsnews.com/2009/June/Wed10/minigames.htm#2 Two days of rugby union sevens]
{{Rugby union outside WC}}
{{Oceania in topic|Rugby union in}}