{"id":7394,"date":"2024-10-30T01:10:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T23:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rugby.org.il\/a-new-addition-to-the-mens-league\/"},"modified":"2024-11-10T11:05:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T09:05:43","slug":"a-new-addition-to-the-mens-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rugby.org.il\/en\/a-new-addition-to-the-mens-league\/","title":{"rendered":"New Addition to the Men\u2019s League: “We\u2019re Bringing Our Energy”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The team was officially established only three years ago and has nearly 50 athletes, a third of whom come from 12 different countries. They already have their own song, won an international cup for inclusive teams, and are led by one of the league\u2019s most experienced coaches. Orlando Arellano, president of Tel Aviv\u2019s IBEX team: ‘We\u2019ve had an incredible journey so far, and we\u2019re ready to play in the league.’<\/p>\n\n

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At the Tel Aviv Sportek, you can encounter quite a few sports, but if there\u2019s one sport that steals the show, at least twice a week, it\u2019s rugby.<\/p>\n\n

The new addition to the Men\u2019s League joins with the highest number of registered players. \u201cWord about us has spread all over Tel Aviv,\u201d laughs Arellano (39), president of IBEX, Israel\u2019s first inclusive team. \u201cWe started three years ago with eight trainees, and now we\u2019re almost 50 people\u2014it\u2019s crazy.\u201d \n \n<\/p>\n\n

IBEX is remarkable in every way\u2014a third of its members come from 12 different countries, including the USA, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, and France. They already have their own song, traditions they\u2019ve adopted, and even an international trophy won at the BINHAM CUP tournament in Rome.<\/p>\n\n

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IBEX is amazing in every way\u2014a third of its members come from 12 different countries, from the USA to Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, and France. They already have their own song, adopted traditions, and even an international trophy won at the BINHAM CUP tournament in Rome.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Matthew Winard (40), the team\u2019s vice president, shares: “In the first two years, we knew we weren\u2019t ready. In the third year, we were ready, but then the war broke out. We\u2019re excited and thrilled to start in the league; we\u2019ve trained very hard. For some of us, it\u2019s the first time in a rugby league, so people don\u2019t know what to expect, but I think with our training on and off the field, we\u2019re ready.”<\/p>\n\n

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In May this year, the team flew to Rome to compete in an international rugby tournament for inclusive teams. This competition is held every two years, and this time, it was relatively close to Israel. Team IBEX was ranked at level 3, competed against similarly ranked teams, and won against all of them. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t happen often that a team arrives for the first time and wins a trophy,\u201d Matthew says proudly. \u201cIt was a pleasant surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Ahead of their first league game on November 2, which coincidentally is a derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Orlando shares: “We\u2019re the new kids on the block. Many of us are excited, but some are a bit apprehensive\u2014it might be somewhat intimidating. We try to keep everything positive, embrace the values of rugby, and bring that to our community. We\u2019ve had an incredible journey so far, and we\u2019re ready to play in the league.”<\/p>\n\n

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“We\u2019re the new kids on the block. Many of us are excited, though some feel a bit nervous\u2014it can be somewhat intimidating. We\u2019re doing our best to keep everything positive, embrace the values of rugby, and bring that to our community. We\u2019re coming into the league with our own energy.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

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o ensure the best possible integration into the league, the team brought on Jeremy Shauder, one of the most experienced rugby professionals in the country. \u201cJeremy is amazing; he\u2019s more than just a coach to us,\u201d emphasizes Orlando. \u201cWe really love him\u2014he\u2019s a significant part of our team, a mentor. He came with us to Rome and led us to victory.\u201d \n \n<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe went through an incredible process, much of it thanks to Jeremy and the experience he brought with him\u2014not only as a coach but also as a referee who knows the rules and tactics inside out. We grew a lot because of him as a club that represents something. One of the biggest compliments we received from him was when he said that if he could go back in time, he\u2019d be happy to play on a team like ours because of our approach.\u201d Jeremy returns the praise: \u201cTwo years ago, I came to one of their practices, and I saw enthusiasm and positive energy on the field, and I loved it. I immediately said I wanted to take on this role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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“Jeremy (Shauder) is amazing; he\u2019s more than just a coach to us,” emphasizes Orlando. “We really love him\u2014he\u2019s a significant part of our team, a mentor. We\u2019ve grown a lot because of him.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

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Orlando reflects: “It\u2019s about the community here. People are searching for themselves; some know what it feels like not to fit in, and they wanted a place to express themselves. Rugby offers that space to meet their needs. You can come in with no prior knowledge and train with rugby players\u2014it\u2019s pretty wild. Some came with experience in handball, water polo, and judo, while others had played rugby before. We tried to create a positive, family-like community with rugby values, and it\u2019s magical. After practice, we go out for burgers and beers; we have many shared social events.”<\/p>\n\n

Orlando and Matthew immigrated to Israel from the U.S. Matthew played rugby on an amateur team in New York, while for Orlando, it was an entirely new sport. In fact, many of the players on the team joined with no rugby background, and some had never participated in sports before.<\/p>\n\n

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Matthew adds: \u201cMost of my friends are from the team. We have parties, and we created our own song. For the new recruits (rookies), we have an initiation ceremony, and for those who stay, there\u2019s a crowning ceremony. We\u2019re coming into the league with our own energy.\u201d \n \n<\/p>\n\n

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“Many of the players on the team came in with no rugby background; some had never been involved in sports at all. Orlando recalls: ‘It\u2019s connected to the community here. People are searching for themselves; some know what it feels like not to fit in, and they wanted a place to express themselves. Rugby is that kind of place that meets their needs. It\u2019s magical.'”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n