LAHORE, Pakistan, 14 January 2005 — Pakistan completed its first ever rugby national championship yesterday amid hopes that the sport will get a boost in the country over the next few years.
“It is a proud moment for us,” Aamir Raza, secretary of the Rugby Union of Pakistan, told AFP after six teams played in the weeklong championship.
“We hope that after getting International Rugby Board (IRB) affiliation on the basis of holding a national event, the sport will flourish in the country.”
Raza said around 500 players were registered in populous Punjab province. “We hope to expand the base in the next few years.”
A local club visited Hong Kong to take part in the Asian championship in October last year, during which Pakistan played its first international against Sri Lanka, losing 75-3.
“We have awareness of the sport in leading schools which we think can be a good base to promote the sport,” Raza said, adding that he would also seek government support for the game.
Raza said international tours would be arranged for the national team in the near future to earn credibility at the international level.
A tour to India next year is also being negotiated, he said.
