From international achievements to a clear vision ahead – Technical Director Kevin Musikanth reflects on a complex season, speaks about trying to grow through adversity, and calls on our rugby community to believe in the values of rugby and our journey.
What were the key milestones of the past season, and what do you consider the most significant achievement – professionally or in terms of values?
Unfortunately, due to the war, we were unable to participate as originally planned. This has been the second year that our rugby program has been affected. It’s disappointing, and our players have been frustrated all around. We only managed three tournaments: • The women’s team in France, who in their preparatory tournament finished in the top half of a tough competition. • The men at the Lit Sevens, who reached the final and earned a silver medal in a high-level preparatory tournament. • The U18 boys, who were very unlucky not to reach the final and be promoted to the Championship, but still secured a very respectable third place for the second year in a row in the challenging Trophy division. The players remain positive, and we hope for a better season in 2025-2026, which will also include the rescheduled Maccabiah Games.
On the 15s front, we stumbled against Andorra but beat Malta for the first time ever – a team ranked 22 places above us in the world. This was a terrific achievement. We also capped Thomas Berman and Nemani Buliruarua, which shows the success of our pathway program. This system will bring more exceptional players in the coming season who will gain eligibility to play for Israel. Huge credit goes to all coaches of all teams, including club coaches, who – despite difficult circumstances – stayed loyal to their teams and objectives and continued to prepare and support their players.
How do you see the impact of the security situation on player development throughout the season – and what surprised you in the way it was handled?
The players want to play. We are sportspeople, and we need to be on the field. Sport brings people closer together, and there are many examples of this. We hope for a safer and more sporting 2026.
This year we saw more young players integrating into the senior teams and national squads – what does that say about the development process and the future of the national teams?
The average age of the team that beat Malta was 26 years – one of the youngest to ever represent Israel. Players are gaining valuable international experience, and the high-level competition in the regional league makes a tremendous difference. Each match is equivalent in intensity and quality to an international fixture. The experience that some players are gaining by playing abroad – Reizel, the Levinsons, and Yishai, for example – is making a big impact on our program.
In which areas do you see a need for reinforcement or change – whether professionally, physically, mentally, or in infrastructure?
We need more competition across the board. Every time we compete, our program grows – whether in junior levels, the women’s program, or both sevens and fifteens. The more we play, the better we become. Our local players are improving, and that’s evident in our regional league wins in both 2024 and 2025 – victories against tough top-league Georgian and Romanian opposition.
What is your personal dream or goal for the upcoming season – and what message would you like to share with the teams, players, and staff growing within the rugby system in Israel?
It is an incredible privilege to be involved at the national level. My dream is that everyone with this privilege understands what it means: representing your country is the pinnacle of rugby. It’s about showcasing your talent, leading by example, and creating a platform for future players to aspire to. I believe rugby builds bridges. Too often we take for granted the chance to step on the field and do what we love, while trying to make a difference. Beyond our professional goals of promotion and competition, my message to the rugby community is to take joy in the fact that we are involved in the greatest sport in the world. We have an amazing opportunity to display our talent, make a real impact on our country, and build memories and legacy that will last a lifetime. What that legacy looks like in the years to come depends on our values and our culture toward this beautiful game.
