Limassol Crusaders
The Limassol Crusaders are an independent rugby union club based in Limassol, Cyprus. They were the 2nd independent rugby club to be formed in Cyprus, after the Paphos Tigers. They were established in late 2003.[1]
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| Full name | Limassol Crusaders Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Crusaders |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Location | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Ground(s) | AEK Achileas Stadium (Capacity: 2,000) |
| Chairman | Artemis Papageorgiou |
| President | Nicholas Mastoroudes |
| Coach(es) | Rick Wadmore |
| Captain(s) | Constantinos Constantinides |
| League(s) | Cyprus Rugby Federation League |
| Official website | |
| limassolcrusadersrfc | |
History
The club was formed, and initial membership recruited, by word of mouth after the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Temporary training facilities were used initially, including a spell at the Elias Beach Resort Hotel, until the club finally leased the AEK Achileas Stadium in 2004, with the club joining the Joint Services Rugby Football Union and competing formally starting with the 2004/05 season. When the Cyprus Rugby Federation formed its own league, Limassol Crusaders joined it.
When, in 2006, Cyprus formed a national squad, five Crusaders were members of the team that won their inaugural game against Greece.[2]
In 2013, the Crusaders moved to a new stadium in the Mesa Geitonia area of Limassol. The new stadium has a higher capacity, better drainage and conforms better to IRB safety regulations. In 2016, the club moved back to the historical stadium next to Katholiki Technical School after closing the contract with the previous venue.
Results
League
| Season | League | Final Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004/05 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2005/06 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2006/07 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2007/08 | JSRFU League | 5th |
| 2008/09 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2009/10 | JSRFU League | 3rd |
| 2010/11 | JSRFU League | 5th |
| 2011/12 | CRF League | 4th |
| 2012/13 | CRF League | 5th |
| 2013/14 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2014/15 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2015/16 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2016/17 | CRF League | 2nd |
| 2017/18 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2018/19 | CRF League | Unfinished |
Tournaments
| Year | Tournament | Final Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Aya Nik 15s | 4th |
| 2010 | Aya Nik 15s | 3rd |
| 2011 | Aya Nik 15s | 3rd |
| 2012 | Aya Nik 15s | 3rd |
| 2013 | Cyprus Beach Rugby[3] | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Aya Nik 15s | 5th |
| 2015 | Warsaw Rugby Festival | Cup Winner |
Tours
| Year | Team | Location | Result | Year | Team | Location | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Maastricht University  | Limassol Techniki School  | Won | 2015 | Honey Badgers   | Warsaw - AWF a | Drawn | |
| 2009 | Beit Jala Lions  | Limassol Techniki School | Won | 2015 | Old Actonians  | Warsaw - AWF a | Lost | |
| 2009 | Cairo Rugby  | Cairo | Won | 2015 | Cani Sciolti  | Warsaw - AWF a | Lost | |
| 2012 | Warwick University | Limassol Techniki School | Lost | 2015 | Abbeyfeale | Warsaw - AWF a | Lost | |
| 2013 | Leigh RFC | Limassol Techniki School | Won | 2015 | Warsaw Frogs (White) | Warsaw - AWF a | Won | |
| 2013 | URAG | Rome Campo Tre Fontane | Won | 2015 | Aberdeen Grammar  | Warsaw - AWF a | Won | |
| 2013 | Rugby Roma | Rome Campo Tre Fontane | Lost | 2015 | Camberley Rugby Vets | Limassol Techniki School | Won | |
| 2013 | The World  | Limassol - Mesa Geitonia | Won | 2016 | Cirencester RFC | Limassol Techniki School | Lost | |
| 2014 | HMS Diamond  | Limassol - Mesa Geitonia | Won | 2016 | Brussels Celtic Barbarians .svg.png.webp){kind=small} | VUB | Lost | |
| 2014 | Courbet  | Limassol - Mesa Geitonia | Won | 2017 | Arlechinii Bucuresti  | Stadionul Florea Dumitrache | Lost | |
| 2015 | Les Zozos | Warsaw - AWF a | Won | 2018 | Kiev Rebels  | Spartak Stadium | Lost | |
| 2018 | Jamhour Black Lions  | Limassol Techniki School | Lost |
a Match played in the 2015 Warsaw Rugby Festival.
Current squad
2015/16 Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
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Internationally capped players
- Andrew Spring
- Panayiotis Jacovides
- Scott Lennox
- Dan McFarlane
- Constantinos Constantinides
- Artemis Papageorgiou
- Solomone Tuipulotu
Internationally capped former players
- Marco Mladenovic
- Fidias Efthimiou
- Kiki Vatikiotis
- Dimitri Maratheftis
- George Stylianou
- Dervis Devren
- Nathan Pring
- Greg Loucaides
- Chris Christofi
- Kostas Christou
- Peter Hunter
- Panayiotis Loizides
- Will Booth
- Stevie Awah
- Andy Webster
Captains
- 2004/05 Zeno Nicolaou
- 2005/06 Zeno Nicolaou
- 2006/07 Chris Snaith
- 2007/08 Andrew Spring
- 2008/09
Darryl Davies - 2009/10 Greg Loucaides
- 2010/11 Andrew Spring - Marko Mladenovic
- 2011/12 Fraser Nelson
- 2012/13 Fraser Nelson
- 2013/14 Constantinos Constantinides
- 2014/15 Constantinos Constantinides
- 2015/16 Constantinos Constantinides
- 2016/17 Constantinos Constantinides
- 2017/18 Constantinos Constantinides
- 2018/19 Constantinos Constantinides
Youth rugby
As well as the senior team, the Crusaders also encourage youth rugby. The Crusader Colts is open to boys and girls aged 13 and older[4] and the Minicru is open to children aged 6 and older.[5]
Veterans rugby
In November 2016 the Limassol Crusaders for the first time fulfil a Veterans squad as opposition for the Camberley Rugby Vets on tour in Cyprus. The team has been unofficially called "the Commandarias".
References
- "Limassol Crusaders". Limassol Crusaders Website.
- "Limassol Crusaders". Limassol Crusaders Website.
- "CRF Beach 2013". CRF.
- "Crusaders Colts". Crusaders Colts Website. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29.
- "MiniCrusaders". MiniCrusaders Website. Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2010-03-01.