From Rebels to Rugby Players: The Oval Ball Post-Gaddafi

Whatever may come of the political wrangling and the chaos in Libya as the liberated country struggles to rebuild post-Gaddafi, it seems that Rugby Union will at least play some small part in the future of the war-ravaged nation. The sport could serve as an outlet for the young rebel fighters who have gone through the crucible of war, according to one Libyan administrator, who believes rugby could act as a tool of stability and focus for these men in an uncertain time for the North African nation.

That administrator, British-born Thair El-Heri, founder of a club in Benghazi, believes that rugby's discipline and teamwork will relate well to the fighter's experiences and that the physicality will appeal to Libyans' martial spirit. In an article on Al-Arabiya, El-Heri believes that rugby will help "alleviate the trauma of war."

The Helal Warriors team, set up by El-Heri, has gained the attention of young men in the Benghazi area who train at a dilapidated sports arena to the sound of Arabic pop and the crack of rifles firing at a nearby gun market. 

Rugby in Libya

El-Heri's and others' efforts to construct a rugby infrastructure in Libya after the corruption-ridden Gaddafi era have been complemented by the Confederation of African Rugby, who last December sent their Regional Development Officer, Mohsen Bouchmel, to Tripoli to conduct training for 19 referees in their Level 1 credentials.

Like the new Libya itself, the game here is only in its embryonic stage, but as the people come to terms with their past and look forward to a brighter future, rugby may well play a part in the healing of a nation.