Dear All
Contrary to popular belief, Cairo Rugby is not dead ! We are indeed very much alive and still going strong after 30 years !!
As many of you are aware, 2010 was a year of challenges and changes and here is a summary of the main events of 2010:The 17th Cairo Rugby Annual Desert Dinner in June 2010 was a huge success with 1000 attendees under the stars next to the Pyramids and the Sphinx. We rocked until the wee hours of the morning with not many people leaving early. The event will again be held in 2011, On May 13th, and more information will be sent out shortly via both email and on our website
Unfortunately circumstances beyond our control caused the closure of the Cairo Rugby clubhouse in Road 214, Maadi in March 2010. This unscheduled event left us homeless for some months, however, Cairo Rugby has joined with the Maadi BCA where we currently carry out our social activities in the upstairs Sports Bar. Plenty of TV sets on the wall and plenty of Rugby to watch when the matches are on.
The 2010 AGM came up with an 80% change in the Committee with the new Committee still facing some tough challenges ahead. Of course moving premises, increased costs of training and game venues and our membership of the ERFU (Egyptian Rugby Football Union) featured high on the list.
It was unfortunate that the Committee lost the services of our Chairman Alun Davies in the latter part of 2010. Alun, as we all have experienced, found himself tied up in new business challenges which took most of his time and availability away from Egypt, and therefore Cairo Rugby. Alun was a tireless worker for Cairo Rugby for a number of years and will be missed by the Committee, players and members alike.
The start of the playing season rolled around and with no clubhouse (Cairo Rugby had not fully sealed a deal with the BCA) there were many pending questions on membership. We are very pleased to advise that Cairo Rugby for the 2010/2011 season has in excess of 120 Juniors, 45 Seniors including a Ladies team, and about 20 "Old Crocs".
A drive for Sponsors commenced in 2010 and is currently ongoing for all the teams in the playing year, the Desert Dinner and our various tours. We welcome interested sponsors, large and small, and can offer a wide range of benefits, from short logos to complimentary Desert Dinner tickets for our sponsors. If you or your company is interested in sponsoring Cairo Rugby, we would love to talk to you.
All in all Cairo Rugby has come out of the rain into the sunshine through a very difficult year.
So what's in store for 2011?
The BCA
Our arrangement with the BCA is that any Member of Cairo Rugby will be admitted to the BCA as an Associate Member (Blue Card) similar to that of the members of the other branches of the BCA (Mohandaseen & Heliopolis).
An entry fee of 10 LE will be charged at the gate for admission.
Social Events
The 18th Cairo Rugby Annual Desert Dinner at the Giza Pyramids - Friday 13th May 2011
Members Discos at the BCA
The Felucca Regatta
More & More Rugby on the box in the Sports Bar of the Maadi BCA.
Training
Currently the juniors train Thursday nights at Victory College Maadi from 6.00pm to 7.30pm and the Seniors train Tuesday nights at the Olympic Stadium Maadi from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
The Old Crocs train at the BCA during all televised Rugby events !!
Games
Watch for details of Cairo Rugby vs AUC, Cairo Rugby vs The Fijians, Cairo Rugby vs the French Visitors, and a welcome to the lads from a new team at the British University of Cairo.
Also watch this space for the development of 2 new teams in the Cairo area.
Tours
Cairo Rugby Juniors tour to Dubai - February 2011
Cairo Rugby "Old Crocs" tour to Malta - May 2011
Our Websites
www.pitchero.com/clubs/cairorugby
www.pitchero.com/clubs/cairorugbyjuniors
And now for an Introduction to the Committee
Paul McInerney - President & Treasurer
Chris Vickers - Vice President & Old Crocs Representative
Mairead Hoey - General Secretary
Kilian Borsato - Club Captain
Mo Salah - Senior Players Representative
Paul Watson - Junior Players Representative
Anna Papillon - Ladies Players Representative
General Committee Members:
Fabrice Moratinos
Steve Smithinsky
Colin Spence
Karl Wilkinson
Neil Watson
Contact:
cairorugby@yahoo.co.uk