MOITA Rugby Clube da Bairrada(Portugal)

Around 1975, after someone had attended and participated in a game of rugby,  enthusiastic with the rules had the idea: Why not  create a rugby team in Moita?.

Then he only had to transmit the idea and the enthusiasm to 3 or 4 colleagues and there it was-Rugby in the village appeared (still as sketch, symbolizing not more than a desire), but the base was launched.

With the support of the General Division of Sports, whose aims were to foment and to support the Youthful Sport, mainly the new modalities, had arranged the first booklets of rules, the first posters of rugby and mainly the first oval balls.

As they did not have proper field, in the beginning, the trainings took place in culture fields that were not used for growing crops and in a playground of one of the primary schools of the Village.

The first junior team was created and the first games started in following year. Simultaneous, the Nucleus of Rugby of Moat (N.R.M.) was created, functioning as a small organized colectivity. It was necessary to use to the neighbour football fields to have the rugby games and to rent a pavilion, which was vague at the time, for its headquarters. They were managing to make some money at the small bar,  that was installed at the headquarters.

Three years later the Game Park of Moita was built, for the Rugby and Football teams, that finally allowed the accomplishment of the rugby games.

Some of the team elements participated in training courses for monitors, refrees and later, trainers of the modality, which contributed for the development of this sport in the Village.

The senior team was formed in 1978 (already rugby of 15) with some elements of the existing teams (still juniors) and some others, that had joined in the project with the same enthusiasm of the previous. The team was soon enrolled in the 2nd Regional Division Championship, in its qualification phase for the National Championship and the Cup of Portugal. At this time they already counted many games, and as many defeats. But in no time, they started to obtain some victories and the team was starting to improve.

By then, and with a much better and stronger team, they could dream with the 1st National Division.

They finally achieved this aim at the season of 88/89, after a long period, not only of hard work and dedication, but also, due to their militant spirit and  homogeneous group, that practised rugby at a competitive level, equalling the good  Portuguese teams. In such a way, that, for the 1st time at the 1st division, they classified in 1^st place of group B and in 7th in the national level.

During some years, international interchanges with Spanish and French teams were organized, and also private games with English, Welsh, and Belgium teams.

Later on, the ambitious project of the construction of a grassed field arises and in spite of the huge investment the City Hall of Anadia gave great support to it. What was first a dream, became reality by 1997.

After the proper field, a proper club was created, under the name: Moita-Rugby Club of the Bairrada, which also possess its own headquarters with excellent conditions. (Recreation room, Bar with esplanade, Conference rooms and conviviality and a small house, with 2 rooms.

Nowadays, the team takes part in the 2nd division of the National Championship and has  active “schools of rugby” for many kids initiating the practise of the modality. It also has in activity the Veterans (older athletes) that regularly  participate in national and international matches.

 

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