2023 was a complex year for Rugby Israel.
Budget & financing
As we were trying to recover from the impact of COVID-19, which significantly affected participation and further still youth participation, we were confronted with additional challenges.
In 2022 we were not allocated a budget by the Ministry of Sports, and later, in the absence of a state budget, support was significantly delayed. Fortunately, with the change in the national sports support model, our budget increased to 1.9 million shekels – distributed roughly 35% to the union and 65% to the clubs.
Looking ahead, we expect further budget growth due to increased player registration during 2022-2023. However, the war may result in overall budget cuts.
Team and personnel
Bonnie Manor-Gotfrid was appointed CEO in late 2022 and hit the ground running with a dynamic approach. Her responsibilities include administration, liaising with the Sports ministry, training programs, competition management, training camps and national teams activity.
Some of Bony’s initiatives included:
- Appointing South African/German coach Mike Poppmeier as club development consultant.
- Organizing comprehensive coaching clinic in South Africa, taking place this summer.
- Promoting tag rugby at schools.
- Encouraging the creation of new clubs.
- Creating social media platforms with a more youthful approach.
Coaching
IRU provided training for coaches, referees, and officials in various areas. Notably, a two-day seminar with Cecil Afrika, a prominent South African sevens player, was held in January 2023, attracting some sixty participants.
National teams and achievements
The men’s 15s rugby team won their preliminary group and advanced to a playoff round, where the Czech Republic proved too strong. Due to changes in Rugby Europe schedule, Israel will compete with Cyprus and Malta in the upcoming seasons.
The men and women sevens national teams participated in the Trophy series tournaments of Rugby Europe in Croatia and Hungary, which is the European second tier. The women finishing 9th and the men finishing 10th in their respective competitions. Our U18 team competed in the Championship (top) division and were eventually demoted to the Trophy division.
Clubs, leagues & teams
During the 2022-2023 we ran a full women’s (7s), youth (7s) and men’s (15s and three 7s tournaments) seasons. The women’s league expanded to eight teams, welcoming new teams from Be’er Sheva and Hadarim.
Despite some teams lacking sufficient player squads, 8-9 teams participated in each youth league, with occasional collaborations between teams to field joint teams for tournaments.
Developing the Sport
Significant investment in effort and funds led to important outcomes. Rugby gained recognition within the Ministry of Education, and it became part of the “Gefen Plan” (Blue and Green tracks), providing access to funding that was previously unavailable. Several clubs have already started activities within the plan and others are in the process. Oren Beck leads the project, providing assistance to clubs in need.
IRU continues to sponsor sports training for soldier athletes. In the last three years more than ten new coaches have begun work with various clubs. Additionally, IRU subsidizes the cost of training courses for coaches. A coaching course for ten participants was started in December 2023 at the Wingate Institute. IRU continues to provide subsidized equipment to clubs for the development of the sport.
Tel-Aviv Heat
Tel Aviv Heat successfully represented Israel in the Rugby Europe SuperCup, despite a challenging season without home games due to the ongoing conflict. Under the guidance of national coach Kevin Musikanth, the team reached the final but was defeated by the Georgian Black-Lions in Tbilisi.
Three Israeli players participated in games and additional ones further trained with the team throughout the season. The goal is to increase the number of Israeli players in the future.
10-Year Plan – Not a Myth
With the success of Tel Aviv Heat and the support of contributors and investors, 
the dream of Israel qualifying for the World Cup and the Olympics has emerged. The Pathway program is expected to run in 2024, including a regional league with international teams in Israel during April-May.
Summary
All around it was a year full of activity and action. In lieu of Oct 7th and the war following hundreds of our players and management were drafted to the front and the leagues start was delayed. We already managed to hold some women and junior 7s tournaments in hope for our players to safely return from the front for us to have full activity in the months to come.
Rugby is more often spoken about in the Israeli sports world and we keep a constant dialogue with the ministry (including 2 meetings with the minister, his CEO and more), Elite Sports Unit, NOC Israel, Athena, School Sports Authority and Maccabi and Hapoel centers.
Let us then hope for a better 2024 and to soon meet on the rugby pitch.
Yours in rugby,
Offer Fabian
IRU President
