It requires a lot of courage to follow an unconventional sport in India. And it requires double its efforts to reach to the people. So, a heavy-contact sport like Rugby, needs a lot of commitment and passion to get spread in this country.
But a group of passionate players believed in themselves and took up the hard task of promoting Rugby in the grassroot levels of India. They formed the Delhi Rebels Rugby Club in July 2015 under Delhi Rugby Association, not only to play the sport but also to make it popular among the youngsters. With their base at Mehrauli in the South-west of Delhi, the Club has targeted different secondary and senior secondary school to spread the values of solidarity, integrity and sportsmanship through the beautiful game of Rugby.
Currently the Delhi Rebels are working with nine schools- Government Boys Senior Secondary School at Mehrauli, Chhatrapur, Vasant Kunj, Fatehpur, Bhati Mines and Qutub Minar, Government school at Maidan Garhi and two girls school at Aya Nagar and Rohini. The programme that has started a couple of years back has been a successful venture for the Delhi Rebels. The members of the Club has completed around 3000 demonstration programmes in these school with active support from the students and teachers.
Gautam Dagar, the key member of Indian Rugby team is overwhelmed by the response of the school managements towards an unconventional sport like Rugby. “We personally approach school managements with the concept of promoting Rugby among their students and we are fortunate enough to get positive replies. The kids also take part very enthusiastically. They eagerly wait for the Rugby sessions in their schools.”
The main aim for this type of coaching programmes is to find raw and fresh talent from schools. With the motto of ‘Catch them Young’, Rugby units like the Delhi Rebels want more youngsters to play the game. And once the future generation starts playing the game, it will be easier to spread it among the masses.
