mens
international
Gibraltar will make his competitive debut on Saturday with a home match against Cyprus in the Rugby European Conference division.
After years of campaigning and 14 years after the first friendly match was played, the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union was elected as the 49th member of Rugby Europe back in December.
Just over 100 players have represented the British Overseas Territory in the 21 friendlies they have played so far, but on Saturday the 23 who take to the field will be part of history.
Previously a no-man’s land in international rugby, they are now part of the fabric of Rugby Europe and determined to go it alone, making The Rock’s 40,000 residents proud.
Cyprus are a far cry from the team that once won a world record 24 consecutive matches between 2008-14 and lost their last four Tests.
But history and form aside, Gibraltar head coach Lee Fortey’s insists his main focus is on his own team, rather than worrying too much about the opponents in front of them.
“I watched their video from last year, but you don’t know what to expect. I told the guys we have to take care of ourselves and do what we do right, and if you do that, you’re halfway there.”
“We played Malta a few weeks ago, which was a really good shot for us.”
Disappointingly for Gibraltar, they head into their historic game without their best player, Devonport Services lock Matt Scott. Regular prop Tommy Grimes, of Keynsham RFC, is also missing through injury.
But captain Oscar Cruz, a backline forward, was in a determined mood when he spoke to the Gibraltar Chronicle ahead of the match. “Cyprus are a great team and it will be a tough game, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and another opportunity to defend the Rock.”
Fortey, meanwhile, welcomed Gibraltar’s inclusion in the Test rugby family.
“For Gibraltar Rugby, it’s a big, significant opportunity and I’m proud to be involved,” he said.
“Being involved in it for 10 years and headed by Alun (Harries), the technical director, it’s gone really well.
“It just gives the players more stability, more games, more opportunities, which is what we want.”
Working with Gibraltar is another chapter in a colorful rugby career enjoyed by Fortey, who had the unique ability to play all three positions in the front row – loosehead, hooker and hardhead.
Starting at Gloucester with his twin brother and whore Chris Fortey, Lee had spells at Moseley, Newport – where he counted Gary Teichmann, Adrian Garvey, Franco Smith and Andy Marinos, Birmingham & Solihull as teammates, and then Worcester, where he won the championship in 2004.
A shoulder injury in 2007 forced him into full-time training and since then he has been a regular on and around the Gloucester rugby scene, with Longlevens RFC his current club.
Fortey’s involvement with Gibraltar first came about as a result of a conversation with Chad Thompson, chief executive of Gibraltar Rugby, on a night out after a game in Gloucester.
“He’s a Gloucester guy who I knew from the Gordon League and we talked about what we were both up to so far. He asked me to do some sessions with the forwards and it progressed from there.”