Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
On the eve of the biggest game of the year AIG Colombia and the national men’s rugby team, Los Tucanes took the passion of rugby to more than 800 children in Medellín schools and to towns in Apartadó, Carepa and Turbo in Antioquia province.
The tour was part of the work being done between AIG Colombia and the Federación Colombiana de Rugby (FECO – Colombian Rugby Federation) to support the teaching of ethics and values to boys and girls and to the youth by practicing rugby. This initiative is specifically seeking to cultivate inherent values of rugby such as discipline, teamwork, persistence, fun and strength, which will assist the youth to acquire tools to help them in building for a better future.
AIG Colombia believes rugby to be a powerful tool for social change, as it is a member of the American International Group, Inc (AIG), which supports the sport in some of the countries which it operates in and is the official sponsor of the All Blacks, the Rugby World Cup 2011 winners and finalists of tomorrow’s World Cup 2015 final against Australia.
AIG Colombia President, Jaime Calvo, stated: “the support of our company to rugby is opening doors for the sport between the children and the Colombian youth, at the same time that we are making a positive difference in the vulnerable communities of the country“.
In regards to the AIG Colombia tour and Los Tucanes, the branch manager of Antioquia AIG Colombia, Jorge Echeverri said that “this is an example of how comprehensive the social responsibility strategy of AIG Colombia is and how it is making a significant contribution to the development of this region“.
FECO President Andrés Roberto Gómez Castaño stated that “the work of the private sector is key to rugby occupying a larger position in the country“.
FECO’s National Project Director, César Arango, referred especially to the important work of the organization to boost rugby in the Antioqueña region that how has 159 groups involved with a total of 5,600 rugby players in the province. “Through its collaboration with AIG Colombia we not only enable rugby to further consolidate in Antioquia and other parts of the country, but we also raise awareness of the style and ethics promoted by this sport“.
Colombia is one of the fastest growing rugby countries in the Americas. The national women’s Rugby Sevens team will compete at the 2016 Olympic Games while the men’s senior team are favorites for next months South American B Championship in Peru.
The rate of growth suggests Colombia has the potential to reach the level of Brazil and Paraguay within five years. The populated country offers significant strategic importance to the future of rugby in the Americas and overtime it is hoped that it can compete in the Americas Rugby Cup.
