Tel Aviv - Israeli rugby is beginning to rise in international stature, and on Tuesday Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and SARU president Oregan Hoskins arrived in the country for a week-long visit.
According to the
Haaretz website, De Villiers met with the Israeli national team players preparing for Saturday's international against Austria at the Wingate Institute stadium.
De Villiers conducted a training session on the rugby field at Kibbutz Jezreel, which was followed by a braai.
If Israel, who qualified for the 2C division of the Nations Cup at the beginning of this season and currently ranks 71st in the world, win on Saturday, they will leap to the top of the division prior to the upcoming games in Scandinavia against Denmark on May 7 and Norway on May 14.
In their last game Israel defeated Hungary 23-14 in November - their 12th consecutive victory.
But Israeli rugby's greatest achievement this season was made off the field, when the Israel Olympic Committee decided to actively back the seven-a-side game as a preferred team sport ahead of the game's introduction to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Under the auspices of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and its Chairman Zeev Krengel and the Israeli-South Africa Forum under Wayne Sussman - the two S.A. rugby officials were brought to Israel to visit the country, its holy sites and also to engage with the local rugby players and officials.
SARU President Oregan Hoskins also pledged support for a rugby academy in Israel and said he was not only visiting Israel on behalf of SARU but also with the official blessing of the World Rugby Union of which is an executive member.
Milton Kaplan from Kibbutz Yizreel who organised the afternoon and evening event at the kibbutz described the visit as one of the most significant in Israeli rugby history which included attendence of Israeli Olympic Committee members and players from around the country. Kaplan said the Olympic Committee were impressed with the facilities at the kibbutz which has one of only two full sized rugby pitches in the country.
Under pouring rain and unusually cold weather the Israeli under 18s were given a session by the legendary Peter de Villiers and then he gave a separate coaching session to the Israeli team - due to play Austria on the 9th of April at the Wingate Sports training centre near Netanya (at 15.00). de Villiers was named as the coach of South Africa's national team, the Springboks in January 2008, the first-ever non-white to be appointed to the position. He has since enjoyed such milestone successes as defeating the New Zealand All Blacks in Dunedin, a record victory over the Australian Wallabies that same year, a series victory over the British and Irish Lions and most recently the winning of the 2009 Tri Nations.
The guests and all the players were then treated to a traditional S.African "Braai" (barbeque) at the Kibbutz clubhouse and exchanged gifts. Israeli Rugby Team's captain Nimrod Kaplan received a Springbok rugby jersey from SARU President Oregan Hoskins signed by all the current S.African team players. South Africa's Springboks (known as bokkies) are seeking to defend their world rugby title in New Zealand in October at the World Rugby Cup competition.
Telfed was represented at the event by Chairman Maish Isaacson, Deputy Chairman Dave Bloom and Executive member Barry Kornel.
Maybe this topic was discussed but I just recieved the mail now from a friend. Haven't seen it on the news though. Should Peter not be focusing on the Springbok team?
Thoughts?