Andorra Rugby Fan Club

NEW FIXTURES

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:46:41 +0200

With silence all that seems to be coming out of Andorra at present, the new mens 15 a side fixtures have been announced

10th October 2009 Away Lithuania
29th November 2009 Home Serbia
3rd April 2010 Away Armenia
8th May 2010 Home Switzerland

Realistically two home wins is the best that can be achieved. I have a strange feeling we will see two wins but one will be away.

Time will tell...

Comments

IT'S UP TO YOU

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:16:18 +0200

Do you want the Andorra Fan Club to continue?

You decide - email graeme.douglas4@btinternet.com

Comments

THE END OF THE AFC???

Thu, 21 May 2009 18:36:07 +0200

Andorran rugby appears in disarray - no 15s on the horizon, poor results and less than full squads, pulling out of the sevens - and the only bright note is that the womens VII are playing this year

My messages to the FAR have gone unnoticed and without their input this may be the end

I will review this in the middle of June

Comments

SEVENS WITHDRAWAL

Tue, 05 May 2009 12:01:21 +0200

So what is going on? From the FIRA home page i have just stumbled across the following

A new change has been done to the schedule of the European Sevens Championship 2009. Andorra, which should have played the second (Athens) and third (Split) stages of the competition will not take part in the competition. They will be substituted by Cyprus.

No email bulletin has been received about this and the announcement is undated.

Is this a further sign of the disarray in Andorran rugby or is there another reason?

As soon as we hear it will be posted here

Right now we do not know of ANY Andorra fixtures in mens, womens, 15s or 7s. How depressing.

Comments

A LITTLE BIT OF POLITICS

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:19:07 +0200

Things are so quiet we have had to switch to politics (for this post only)

Andorran elections were held on the 26th April and the previous opposition (Social Democratic Party) led by Jaume Bartemeu have won the elction with 45.03% of the vote.

Please note the Andorra Fan Club has no political bias - if we knew the other parties involved we would post their details too!!!

Sevens coming at the end of May for the men, still no news on the second half of the ENC campaign

Comments

QUIET, TOO QUIET

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:09:05 +0200

Sadly it's all a little quiet on the Andorran rugby front

You'll just have to put up with it!!!

Comments

L'AQUILA

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:47:26 +0200

Our condolences to the people of L'Aquila - rumour has it one of their props has been killed. Of course all deaths are a tragedy, it just makes it more pertinent when one is from our rugby family.

Good luck to them all

Comments

MATCH REPORTS

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:28:35 +0100

Here's a couple of reports

http://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/view.php?ID=10793

http://www.elperiodicdandorra.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=16&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=597299&idseccio_PK=254&h=

And if you don't want to read them, the scoring summary was

7 - 0 TRY Fajol, CONV Fité
10 - 0 PEN Fité
17 - 0 TRY Benjamín Taurinyà, CONV Fité
17 - 3 PEN Ancelin
------ Halftime
17 - 10 TRY Laurent, CONV Ancelin
24 - 10 TRY Gispert, CONV Fité
31 - 10 TRY Alieu CONV Fité
36 - 10 TRY Benjamín Taurinyà

Comments

WHAT A RESULT

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:55:02 +0100

No, not Ireland winning the grand slam

Andorra 36-10 Armenia

The high flying Armenians were made to look very ordinary and frankly looked like they ran out of ideas and steam. This is the biggest win since game 62 in April 2005

More soon, once we've stopped celebrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments

TEAM NEWS

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:26:40 +0100

There are two injury doubts for Andorra following the Swiss game: Marc Gispert and Franck Mitjana, but four other players who were missing may be available this time: Iosif Txelidze, Óscar Cabanes, Màxim Taurinyà & Fajon.

Comments

MORE REPORTS

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:56:17 +0100

If you can stand it, here's another report from the Swiss mact, in German

http://www.20min.ch/news/bern/story/25741522

Comments

BREAKDOWN

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:45:23 +0100

No match card yet.

6-14 at half time. All the points for Andorra were penalties, Switzerland scored three tries (1 converted) and 5 penalties. Both sides had a yellow card

Comments

MATCH REPORTS

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:39:59 +0100

http://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/view.php?ID=10710

http://www.elperiodicdandorra.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=16&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=595286&idseccio_PK=254

Both of these are in Catalan but most web based translators should have no problem

EDITED 19/03 as second link wasn't correct

Comments

BAD NEWS

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:05:25 +0100

Sorry sports fans

Andorra lost 9-32 to Switzerland

Team is believed to be

Vilasetrú, Martínez, Cellone, Roger Font, Mitjana, Ambor, Paul Alieu, Kirikàixvili; Garcia, Magallón, Luján, Roger Fité, Benjamí Taurinyà, Garriga & Gispert.

Bench: Jaume Rifà, Ortega, Gerard Giménez, Anthony Gaulin, Robert Giménez

No more news just now - we're all still in shock

Comments

TEAM NEWS JUST IN

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:35:40 +0100

To play Switzerland - a must win game

Paquet
Jaume Rifa, Peter Ambor, Xavier Vialsetru, Didac Martinez, David Kirikashvili, Ritchie Ortega, Marcos Cellone, Roger Font, Franck Mitjana, Paul Alieu
Tres-Quarts
Jonathan Garcia, Roger Fite, Marc Gispert, Josep Magallon, anthony Gaulin, Robert Gimenez, Gerard Gimenez, Benjami Taurinya, Guillem Garriga, Brice Lujan

This away match is not shown on Andorran TV - if anyone knows a web based TV link, please email me

BEST OF LUCK TO THE TEAM!!!

Comments

STILL NO TEAM NEWS

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:47:02 +0100

No team news for the game against Switzerland

I know recent plans were to give things a shake after recent poor results but let's hope they haven't shaken too hard

Comments

TEAM NEWS?

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:18:35 +0100

We're really hopeful we will get some news of the squad for Switzerland some time this week.

Let's hope all the behind the scenes dust has settled and the focus will be fully on beating the Swiss.

More soon.....

Comments

NEXT GAME

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:56:55 +0100

Next up is Switzerland, 14th March, away. Lookout for some build up news to come for this important game (after the first two defeats). Hopefully sooner than later!!!

Comments

SENIOR SQUAD MEETS

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:51:49 +0100

I have resorted to Google translation so hopefully this is fairly accurate

The following was received via email from FAR

The Andorran Rugby Federation has called for senior players from selection for tomorrow Tuesday at 20hrs in the meeting room of the House of the sport. (that's 27th January)

This meeting is convened to find points of agreement and build bridges of communication between the senior players and the federation, which unfortunately has been given to understand that we are publicly available.

The FAR has never closed roads in respectful dialogue and good for our sport. The federation has always been open to dialogue and improve the performance and the level of rugby in our country, with all the sections from the school rugby team to senior.

So what's it all about? Sounds like the FAR is taking some positive steps to help get matters back on track - first the new personal training regime now a team get together to bash out the kinks. Now all we need to see are the results...

Comments

TWO ATTEND EDUCATOR COURSE

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:23:51 +0100

From FIRA-AER

IRB/FIRA-AER Educator Course

On 20-22 January an IRB/FIRA-AER Educator Course was organized in cooperation with the FIR (Italian Rugby Union) near Rome in Italy.

There were 19 delegates from Italy and 2 from the Andorran Rugby Federation. Those that were successful on the course can deliver IRB/FIRA-AER Level 1 and 2 Coach or Match Officials Courses.

The main aim of the course was to train FIR Educators to help support the newly developed IRB/FIRA-AER Training & Education Support "TES" adoption scheme in Europe.

Many thanks must go to FIR for their support in organizing this course as well as the course Trainers; Mark Harrington (IR, Michel Arpaillange (IRB/FIRA-AER), Douglas Langley (IRB/FIRA-AER), Francesco Ascione (FIR), Nick Scott (RFU) & Simon Jones.

Comments

IN TWO THREE

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:11:16 +0100

Following recent results, where fitness has been seen as a factor, the FAR will be appointing a trainer to assess the players and no doubt come up with some horrible schedules

He is

Sam Manrique

He has worked with Lavaur, Gaillac and Colomiers and has worked personally with David Attoub of Stade Toulousain

Given the relative success of the sevens team, the forwards may be in for a hard time. Rather them than me!!!

Comments

WOMENS SEVENS ANNOUNCED

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:59:16 +0100

FIRA have announced their schedule

Andorra will take part in the middle competiton (the A comp)

4th and 5th July 2009 at Bruges, Belgium. They will battle with Finland, Romania, Israel, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Malta, Latvia, Croatia, Belgium, Austria, and Lithuania

Comments

CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:39:19 +0100

Well it's that time again!

The Andorra Fan Club is taking a break - quite easy as there is little going on in the world of rugby, let alone the world of Andorran rugby! Don't expect anything for at least a month (unless it's massive!)

It's been a good year for mens sevens (4th and 6th in the qualifiers, only missing the final because of the presence of Ireland and Wales, 17th in the qualifying overall and effectively 20th in Europe) and womens sevens (3rd in the qualifier meaning a place in the final, coming 13th overall (AMAZING!)) but not so good for fifteens (couldn't beat Malta by enough to stay up and then lost the first two games).

Here's to more rugby in 2009, more sevens success and a return to fifteens form.

Keep the emails coming - I will always reply if I have something to say (and normally do!)

Comments

FIRA SEVENS

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:30:10 +0100

The mens schedule has been announced but I wouldn't book your tickets yet as last year there were a number of enforced changes, some quite late on.

Second tournament is 23rd and 24th May at Athens - France, Spain, Georgia, ANDORRA, Bosnia Herzogovina, Greece, Bulgaria, Monaco, Serbia, Hungary

Third tournament is 30th and 31st May at Split - Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, ANDORRA, Croatia, Bosnia Herzogovina, Serbia, Switzerland, Luxembourg

So the odds?

For Athens, Andorra have never beaten France, Spain, Georgia (one game) or Bulgaria (includes a draw) and have never lost to Bosnia Herzogovina, Greece (one game), Monaco (one game), Serbia or Hungary. Fifth seems very reasonable.

For Split, Andorra have never beaten France, Germany, have lost to Italy 6 out of 7, have beaten Croatia 2 out of 5, have beaten Belgium 6 out of 7, and have never lost to Bosnia Herzogovina, Serbia, Switzerland or Luxembourg. Fifth seems very reasonable and fourth is a possible.

Comments

UNWANTED FAN

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:55:10 +0100

Sadly as many of you know we have attracted an "anti-fan".

This presence has been in the form of numerous "comments" of a vaguely offensive nature. These have come from a number of user IDs. Also I have received a number of strange, brief, poorly constructed insults by email.

A number of you have asked what's this all about? Well this person appears to be a serial forum batterer - they go on to various rugby fora, express their contradictory and aggressive opinions which then descend into accusations of "racism". According to this person, having a different view, or indeed challenging their bizarre comments, is "racist". That, obviously, isn't correct and I can only guess such an emotive term is used to provoke further reaction and to draw attention.

This person seems to have assumed that the Andorra Fan Club had something to do with their recent expulsion from the FIRA forum. Aside from reporting an abusive post, no such thing had been done and I was actually quite enjoying destroying the ridiculous content of their posts.

However, since then this person has done us all a service as I have been able to alert numerous fora of the IP addresses and email addresses that this person has used thus further protecting the community and causing this person more inconvenience.

I have reported this person where I can and as prompted by some of you will pass these details to the police should they continue in such a disgusting way. Fortunately being childish beyond the call of duty isn't an offence or else this person would already be in the stocks.

All comments that are made by this person will be deleted. All details of their ID I can find will be passed on. All emails received will be spammed out and deleted. Further offensive content will be reported.

As you have all said when you have emailed me, the Andorra Fan Club has a higher purpose than one idiot toy thrower and will continue long after they have grown bored of their efforts.

Hopefully this clears it all up for those of you that have asked - this will be the last mention of it.

Comments

MORE DETAILS FROM SERBIA

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:55:19 +0100

The match sheet has been seen and here are some details about the team and scoring sequence

1 Vilasetru, 2 Matinez, 3 Tchelidze, 4 Font, 5 Castelon, 6 Ambor, 7 Cellone, 8 Cabanes

9 Gaulin, 10 Fite, 11 Giminezi, 12 Kirikashvili, 13 Sarti, 14 Lujan, 15 Gispert

16 Ortega, 17 Rifa, 18 Tcha-Torey, 19 -----, 20 Coma, 21 Cerqueda, 22 Banesta

Manager Vives, Coach Cerqueda

Weather Clear, Pitch "Very Good"

The sequence (note Serbia 10 was wearing 24)

23 - Serbia 4 YC

25 - Serbia try by 11

35 - Serbia 8 YC

38 - Andorra 12 YC

38 - Serbia pen by 24

HT 8-0 to Serbia

43 - Serbia try by 13, converted by 24

47 - Serbia 18 on for 3

56 - Andorra pen try, converted by 10

58 - Andorra 18 on for 5

60 - Serbia pen by 24

64 - Andorra 22 on for 12

69 - Serbia try by 15, converted by 24

70 - Andorra 16 on for 3

72 - Andorra 20 on for 7

75 - Serbia try by 24, converted by 15

75 - Serbia 17 on for 6

78 - Andorra 21 on for 2

FT 32-7 to Serbia

Comments

ANOTHER DEFEAT

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:49:21 +0100

Another disppointing result with Serbia winning easily 32-7

8-0 HT, 32-7 FT

4 tries, 3 conversions, 2 penalties, to 1 try, 1 conversion

2 YC Serbia, 1 YC Andorra

No idea yet about timings/sequence. It appeared that Andorra went into the game short of a full squad.

I know many of us don't have a lot of time for IRB rankings but this result will mean a large change according to an IRB preview of the game

Andorra go from 64 to 70

Serbia go from 72 to 67

Comments

INJURIES

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:22:40 +0100

Taurinyà, Magallón, Jonathan Garcia, Lucas, Paul Alieu and Carmona are all injured for the game with Serbia.

It isn't clear who will replace them and there are obviously some real regulars going to be missing!!!

Comments

TRIMMED AND AMENDED SQUAD FOR SERBIA

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:09:02 +0100

Further from the FAR

David Martinez, Roger Font, Xavier Vilasetru, Joan Castellon, Jaume Rifa, Oscar Cabanes, Ricard Ortega, Waki Tchatokey, David Kirikashvili, Peter Ambor, Marcos Cellone, Josef Chelidze, Robert Gimenez, Emmanuel sarti-Gardes, Brice Lujan, Roger Fite, Marc Gispert, Anthony Gaulin

There appear to be some backs missing but this is what has been sent. hopefully some more information will come through soon.

Comments

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO BE A FAN

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:33:15 +0100

Sadly the fan club appears to have attracted some unwanted attention.

It needs to be pointed out that visiting the pages and then adding a comment that no-one wants to read them is a little silly and of course contradictory. And puerile.

I'm sure the poster will remember the last word despite their cunning disguise.

Thanks to all of you with your kind words of support over this issue. The page views prove you still want to visit us so keep them coming.

And if you are really wanting to insult us then please do it via graeme.douglas4@btinternet.com as that mail is checked more regularly than the blog based one

Comments