Martin Kafka (rugby union)

Martin Kafka (born 25 July 1978 in Říčany) is a former Czech rugby player and the current coach of the Czech Republic. His great-grandfather was a cousin of the famous writer Franz Kafka and his grandfather Erich Kafka was a footballer playing for DFC Prague.

This article is about the Czech rugby union player. For other uses, see Martin Kafka.
Martin Kafka
Date of birth (1978-07-25) July 25, 1978
Place of birthŘíčany, Czechoslovakia
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
UniversityCharles University in Prague
Notable relative(s)Franz Kafka (great-uncle)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, centre[1]
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1985-1998
1999-2001
2001-2003		 Říčany
Valencia
La Moraleja Alcobendas		 ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005–2006		 Castres
Racing Métro
Sanix		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2000?-2006 Czech Republic 37? (136?)
Coaching career
Years Team
2007- Czech Republic

Early years

Kafka started playing rugby at the age of seven at his hometown club. In 1997 he went to study at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at the Charles University in Prague, with the intention of becoming a Physical Education teacher.

Rugby career

He went to Spain in 1999, playing for Valencia, who were then in the Spanish Second Division (División de Honor B).

In 2001 he joined La Moraleja Alcobendas, which boasted international players such as the Souto brothers, Carlos and Sergio. His two seasons at the club was a particularly successful part of his career, with him leading the club to victory against Overmach Parma in the European Challenge Cup in 2002 and finishing up as top scorer in the Spanish First Division (División de Honor) in both 2002 and 2003. In 2003 he played for Castres in France, and Racing Métro the following year before rounding out his playing career at Japanese Top League side Sanix.

International

He won at least 37 caps[2] for the Czech Republic from 2000 to 2006, scoring at least 136 points in the process before assuming the coach's mantle in 2007.

Honours

References
  1. He won at least one cap at inside centre, against Portugal in 2004.
  2. Český národní tým Accounts of some Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia matches. According to these statistics, he had already played at least 12 internationals before his given debut, with his first match being given as against Poland in 2000.
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