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Getting to the Start Line

#RebuildRugby it seemed very appropriate when we came up with the idea travelling from moldova to Italy back in July and it turns out it truly matches the hopes and dreams of Ukrainian Rugby.

The journey from the Moldovan Capital is one I have made several times before - interestingly although I work with a number of Moldovans on my referee team, I had never visited Moldova or Ukraine until after the Russians invaded Ukraine in 2022, clearly I had been missing out. This time was a new experience- travelling by coach.

I'm told that the border crossing used to be a simple and straightforward process; each time I've crossed, it has taken at least 45 minutes but settling into some work on the bus whilst the obviously hightened checks are carried out is a simple way to pass the time.

This area of Europe was experiencing a good deal of rain to welcome in the start of autumn and it did not abate when we arrived in Odesa. Being greeted by our great friend Bogdan soon brightened the sky as he ran over to meet me. Bogdan is a former National Team Player from Odesa, an area as it turns out provides far more top class players that the size of the City might suggest.

As the rain continued it didn't stop Bogdan from showing me the beaches on the edge of the Black Sea and across the bay to the port of Odesa.

Meeting with the President of the Regional Rugby Authority in Odesa was a revelation. Oleg is a charming man with a long history both playing and supporting rugby in Ukraine from an administration perspective. His vision for growing rugby in Odesa and Ukraine is a committed focus on youth; a real foundation for the future and one that given their current playing numbers will see the sort of success in the future that they had in the past.

The success enjoyed by the Men and the second place by the women's team last weekend in the Rugby Europe Beach Rugby Championship was clearly a source of pride for everybody "This is what Ukraine can achieve" I was told. He is right of course, look at their past performance in the 7s World Cup and the World Series.

It was great to learn that Oleg was also a Deputy in the Odesa Council and knows the Mayor of Nova Dolyna well, he tells me that the Mayor is very keen to develop his town with an exciting new project and will be very receptive to our ideas to #RebuildRugby starting with Rugby Club Avangard.

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