Cyprus Rugby Union - North Cyprus Pumas RFC

Friday, 19 October 2007 05:39

North Cyprus Pumas Squad - Pre 2006

 North Cyprus Pumas Squad - Pre 2006

Gau Pumas were founded in October 2003 by Law Student Mustafa Riza. Mustafa had played rugby in the UK for Redruth before returning to the TRNC for his studies in Local Law. Seven of his friends were encouraged to join him and at first he was assisted in coaching by Derek Dowey a lecturer at the GAU.

December 2003 Peter Heydon was invited to assist in coaching the squad.

 DSCF0098.jpg

    (Puma's coach, Peter Heydon supervising training at the Alsancak stadium October 2007) 

In the second season 2004/05 the squad gave a demonstration game at Girne’s 20 Temmuz Stadyumu to promote the game. In this season other ex-pats joined the coaching staff.

These were Richard Bradley, Keith Alexander, Eddie Smith and Peter Oliver. 

rugby training cyprus
rugby training cyprus

rugby training cyprus  

Third season 2005/06 saw the club finally take part in genuine fixtures against UN side The Stormers (Royal Artillery) and The Stags, another services side from across the border.  The season was finally finished off with a fixture against UK touring side Sidcup RUFC Kent who came on invitation from the club.  In this season Barry Lambert joined the coaching staff. In December 2005 the Puma's moved to Alsancak Stadium from the University Campus.

 
  Fourth season 2006/07 saw a further 4 fixtures involving Inter University Match against METU, The Ottomans from Istanbul on 2 occasions and finishing off the season playing UN side The Scorpions (Royal Transport Reg).


  The current club chairman is Naci Hoscan who has worked extremely hard to promote Rugby in Cyprus and through his determination & drive is now responsible for the creation of the first Rugby Union league in Turkey. It is now, the Season for 2007 - 2008 that we will start to play regular fixtures in the first Turkish league. 

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