{"id":7740,"date":"2024-11-28T14:55:55","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T12:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rugby.org.il\/?p=7740"},"modified":"2024-12-02T18:46:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T16:46:58","slug":"tel-aviv-heat-the-breakthrough-of-israeli-rugby-on-the-international-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rugby.org.il\/en\/tel-aviv-heat-the-breakthrough-of-israeli-rugby-on-the-international-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Tel Aviv Heat: The Breakthrough of Israeli Rugby on the International Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

has already become a recognized name in the global rugby world. The team has reached the European Super Cup final twice in a row, was invited to participate in a prestigious tournament in South Africa only to be \u201cuninvited\u201d at the last minute due to political pressures, won an exhibition match against a top professional English premiership\u00a0team, and will compete in a major international Sevens tournament at the end of the month. \u201cIt might sound crazy, but our goal is to compete for a spot to play in 2031 Rugby World Cup in the USA,\u201d says Heat\u2019s Chairman Adi Raz. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

The creation of Tel Aviv Heat, Israel\u2019s only professional rugby team, happened almost by chance, fuelled by Israeli audacity and perfect timing.<\/strong> Yet, none of this diminishes the team\u2019s extraordinary success within just one year of its founding. Despite Israel\u2019s global rugby ranking in the 60s, Tel Aviv Heat managed to reach the European Super Cup final twice in a row.<\/p>\n\n

Right after the COVID-19 pandemic, Rugby Europe set out to form a European competition to allow the countries ranked 7\u201314 to develop their talent and play high level rugby just below national team level. \n \n<\/p>\n\n

Everything was set, but one country failed to field a team due to internal issues, leading to a bid for a replacement team. Eighteen countries applied, all with stronger rugby infrastructure than Israel, but Israel won the bid.<\/p>\n\n

Kevin Musikanth, head coach of Israel\u2019s national team, recalls, \u201cWe had audacity. It was like a miracle, a dream. Without dreams, you can\u2019t progress. If you don\u2019t look up, you won\u2019t see the stars or know they exist. Tel Aviv Heat shows it\u2019s possible. The league gave our players the chance to play at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Adi Raz, chairman of Tel Aviv Heat, adds, \u201cI think one reason we succeeded was Israel\u2019s global reputation for overcoming COVID-19, and we aligned perfectly with the league\u2019s goal of developing players and future national teams. \nI suppose they thought that if we could overcome the pandemic, we could also form a strong team and even host games in Israel.\u201d Days before submitting the bid, Adi had been disconnected from the rugby world for almost 20 years, until Yonatan Kaplan, chairman of the Rugby Union\u2019s technical committee, and then Chairman of the IRU, Offer Fabian called him to action. The rest is history.<\/p>\n\n

Few believed Israel would beat 17 other nations in the bid for the prestigious league. The team had no name, no staff, no home field, no budget, and even the player roster wasn\u2019t finalized. But according to Adi, their advantage was the Israeli mindset: \u201cWe have an optimistic, problem-solving approach. In 1948, we had nothing and built a country,\u201d he says with a smile.<\/p>\n\n

\n
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\n

Few believed Israel would beat 17 other nations in the bid for the prestigious league. The team had no name, no staff, no home field, no budget, and even the player roster wasn\u2019t finalized. But according to Adi, their advantage was the Israeli mindset: \u201cWe have an optimistic, problem-solving approach. In 1948, we had nothing and built a country,\u201d he says with a smile.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

The team quickly secured a home field, players, and funding from abroad. \u201cWe brought in CEO Pete Sickle, who, along with Kevin Musikanth, led a successful fundraising campaign in Ireland, the UK, the US, South Africa, and Australia,\u201d Adi explains. \u201cSupporters of rugby and Israel, supported with the funds to make it happen. At the same time, we had to build a team from scratch, find a home field for matches, and organize international travel. It was challenging, but good people made it possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Normally, a new team enters a league modestly, without high expectations\u2014especially when competing against stronger teams. But Tel Aviv Heat quickly proved they were no ordinary team. After a year of adjustments, the team surprised many by reaching the European Super Cup final. The achievement was even more significant because the games were broadcast on Israel\u2019s Sport 5 Channel, giving rugby unprecedented exposure in Israel.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Alita Mor – National Teams Physiotherapist | Guy Gorfil – Chairman of the Development Committee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\n

Normally, a new team enters a league modestly, without high expectations\u2014especially when competing against stronger teams. But Tel Aviv Heat quickly proved they were no ordinary team. After a year of adjustments, the team surprised many by reaching the European Super Cup final.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Adi adds, \u201cWe had the opportunity to be part of a high-level Israeli project while developing Israeli players.\u201d That year, two significant events stood out. First, the team was invited to play a friendly match in England against Saracens, one of the strongest Premiership teams. Although England\u2019s national players didn\u2019t participate, Tel Aviv Heat winning that match, marked a pivotal moment for the team.<\/p>\n\n

The second event was less positive. Following their success in the European league, the team was invited to the prestigious Mzansi Challenge in South Africa in 2023. However, two weeks before the tournament, the team received a letter cancelling their participation due to BDS pressures. In retrospect, this setback ultimately benefited Israel and the team.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThis angered enough good people who said, \u2018If you don\u2019t want us, fine\u2014we\u2019ll create our own tournament\u201d Adi recalls. The result was the establishment of the Regional League, funded by supporters who believed Israel should rely on itself. \u201cDuring the recent war, the only foreign sports team to visit Israel was RC Armia from Georgia\u2019s top league, even as rockets were being fired. That was no small gesture,\u201d Adi shares<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
At the regional league match, Kevin and Adi with Bonnie, the CEO, and Carl, the Israel Rugby representative in Australia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\n

Regarding the cancellation of the team\u2019s participation in the South African tournament due to BDS pressures, Adi said: \u201cThis angered enough good people who said, \u2018If you don\u2019t want us, fine\u2014we\u2019ll create our own tournament\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

In the past year, Tel Aviv Heat did not participate in the European league due to the war but was invited to compete in tournaments in rugby-strong nations like Georgia and Romania. The team is also set to play in a major international sevens tournament. \u201cThis tournament is held alongside the World Sevens Series for national teams, giving us a global platform. We\u2019ll face 11 teams from around the world, and our players will have the chance to watch games featuring the world\u2019s top teams. It\u2019s a huge event,\u201d says Adi excitedly.<\/p>\n\n

What was the purpose of creating a team to play abroad alongside the Israeli national team?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe idea was, and still is, to serve as a tool for developing Israel\u2019s future national team,\u201d Adi explains. \u201cWe\u2019re like a locomotive, pulling players to a level they wouldn\u2019t normally experience.\u201d The Heat roster includes Israeli players, foreign players on a pathway to be eligible for the Israel national and marquee players to provide extra strength and mentorship for the younger players. Adi mentions that the first pathway player to become eligible can join the national team as of January 2025, with more to follow.<\/p>\n\n

Young players abroad typically play 15\u201316 matches a year, compared to just a few in Israel in the past. \u201cThree or four years ago, we had only 2\u20133 Israelis capable of physically handling a full match at the Heat\u2019s level. Now, we have 8\u201310. Between the European league, the Israeli league, the national team, and the regional league, we now reach 14\u201315 matches a year. This strengthens players both physically and mentally,\u201d Adi explains.<\/p>\n\n

Kevin agrees and adds: \u201cThere are many talented players in Israel. While we live in a country where it\u2019s challenging to focus solely on rugby, we\u2019ve created a space where players can become professionals and focus on the sport at an intense pace. If we stay focused on rugby and have a supportive and growing community, I believe we have a chance to play at the highest level. A dream is just a dream unless there are others who share it and help turn it into reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

What are your goals for the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Adi: \u201cWe\u2019re heading in the right direction. You need to dream big. The goal is for Israel to compete in the Rugby World Cup in 2031\u2014or at least 2035. It might sound far-fetched, given our ranking, but we must turn dreams into reality. You can\u2019t focus on what\u2019s been; you must focus on what can be. I believe we will succeed. That\u2019s why I\u2019m involved\u2014otherwise, I wouldn\u2019t have come back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Kevin draws on international examples to show what\u2019s possible. \u201cIn 1995, South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup. Until then, rugby was a sport for white players, but Nelson Mandela proved that players from all cultures could unite..\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Since then, South Africa has won the World Cup four times. Another example is Japan, which had an undeveloped rugby scene until 30 years ago. Now they\u2019ve defeated world champions and even hosted the World Cup. If anyone doubts whether a country where rugby isn\u2019t well-developed can succeed, look at Japan<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

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