- Rugby union in Bulgaria
Rugby union inBulgaria is a minor sport. Bulgaria is ranked 91st worldwide by theInternational Rugby Board (IRB) as of8 October 2007 . [ [http://www.irb.com/en/World+Rankings/world+rankings+full.htm Official IRB World Rankings] ] There are around 2,500 Bulgarian rugby players. [ [http://www.irb.com/en/Home/MemberUnionHomePage?UnionID=45&Tab=3 Official Bulgaria Playing Numbers] ] Rugby union in Bulgaria is governed by theBulgarian Rugby Federation , which was formed in1962 .Teams
Although Bulgaria as a national side are low in the IRB rankings, Bulgaria has a long rugby tradition, and many of the country's clubs were formed as far back as the 1960s.
The spirit of Bulgarian rugby has been applauded by England rugby great
Will Greenwood : [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/04/19/srwill19.xml article, April 2007] .The main clubs are :
* Valyatzite "The Steamrollers" (
Pernik ) [http://valiacite.com/]
* Mercury (Sofia ) [http://mercuryrc.wordpress.com/]
* National Sports Academy (Sofia) [http://www.nsa.bg/bg/page,1129] [http://nsarugbyclub.hit.bg/]
* Lokomotiv (Sofia) [http://rugbyloko.free.bg/] [http://www.rugbyloko2.free.bg/]
* Levski (Sofia) [http://sitekreator.bg/rk_levski/index.html]
* Varna (Varna ) [http://rugbyvarna.hit.bg/]
* Balkanski Kotki "Balkan Cats" (Berkovitsa ) [http://balkanskikotki.dir.bg/_wm/diary/?df=46&dflid=3]
* Yantra (Gabrovo ) [http://www.play-rugby.org/qntra.html]
* Murphy's Misfits (Sofia) [http://murphysmisfits.org/main_bg.asp] - an expatriates' teamOther clubs include :
:Chimik "Chemical Worker" (
Kostinbrod ):Divi Ihtimanski Kotki "Wild Cats of Ihtiman" (Ihtiman ):Granit (Godech ):Sportist (Svoge ):Krakra (Pernik):Pastra (Petarch ):Vulchedrumski Tigri "Tigers of Vulchedrum" (Vulchedrum /Valchedram):Nadezhda 2001 (Nadezhda, Sofia):Beroe (Stara Zagora ):Botev (Bourgas ):Spartak (Pleven ):Orlite "The Eagles" (Svilengrad ):Chorni RFC (Breznik )External links
* Bulgarian Rugby Portal - http://www.play-rugby.org/
* Bulgarian Rugby Federation - http://www.bfrbg.org/
* Information on Rugby in Bulgaria - http://rugbi.start.bg/References
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