Rugby union in Palau

Rugby union in Palau is a minor but growing sport.

History

Rugby was introduced in the mid 20th century, either by the Japanese, or the Americans. Palau was a Japanese colony between the two world wars, and Japanese is still an official language there.

Palau's main problem is one of population. Only around 20,000 people live there. Although most of these people live on the main island, the southern islands, such as Sonsorol, are particularly isolated, making development difficult there, and land is at a premium, making the development of pitches difficult.[1]

In 1995, Guam Rugby Club undertook tours to Saipan (in the Marianas), Palau, Pohnpei (Micronesia), and continental Asia. [2]

Rugby Sevens has been a sport in the South Pacific Games since the late 1990s.

External links

  • Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions

References

  1. ^ "Artificial Rugby Pitches - Protecting Playing Fields". Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  2. ^ http://www.guamrugby.com/Club.htm FROM GRASS ROOTS TO RUGBY WORLD CUP, Guam Rugby Club
  • v
  • t
  • e
Rugby union in World Rugby affiliated nations not present in the Rugby World Cups
Third tier without
World Cup experience
Former states without
World Cup experience
  • v
  • t
  • e
Rugby union in Oceania
Sovereign states
Associated states
of New Zealand
Dependencies
and other territories