by Rod Hughes

The name of this sports section qualifies the stories as being “soccer mostly” but occasionally we have the opportunity to write about other games. In this case, the Weekend section of the weekly The Tico Times and this covers a recent game of under-14-years-old rugby played by Franco-Costa Rican School and St. Anthony School of Moravia.

Other sports are played in Costa Rica–the young tennis players in the hemisphere play the Coffee Cup tourney (that name is too clever by half!), motocross is big, basketball between town teams sometimes win enough to go to a regional tourney and periodically cars race on the twisty course at La Guacima. One attempt was made to interest youth in American football a few years ago but it did not catch on, possibly because of the expensive body armor needed. Cricket is seldom seen here, despite its popularity in Caribbean nations.

Rugby is played mostly in Britain and the ex-colonies of the old British Empire but it could catch on here because no more equipment is needed than for soccer. (All that Amercian padding is considered sissy by rugby players, despite superficial similarities between American football and rugby.)

The Saturday opened, according to writer John Loveday, with an intramural game between teams of 7-9 year olds from Franco-Costa Rican School. Then came the clash between the under 14 year olds from the two schools, played with verve and enthusiasm. Loveday notes that the greatest enthusiasm was from some parents who lustily cheered, some running along the sidelines, shouting encouragement. Oh, yes–the score. It all ended in a 12-12 draw.

The country has a Rugby Association founder by Joseph Armesto in 2003. A San Jose Rugby was founded this year but quickly merged with the Association to become the Federation of Rugby. The Association already had joined the South American Rugby Confederation and competed in matches outside the country.

It’s not a game for the faint-hearted but well may catch on here.