Rugby in the Falklands: the Birth of a Dream

Our dream began several years ago, but history will have December Sunday 13, 2009, as the date to be remembered. That day, the first rugby union game was played in the Falkland Islands.
For a long time, we had been wondering how to unite two peoples after a war? How to create an overcoming event to help us heal our open wounds?
Let’s hold a rugby match! was the answer we found in the sport we had played all of our lives and that had given us our values.
Many things happened since Juan Bautista Segonds had the idea of playing a rugby match in the Falklands and use the sport as a meeting and overcoming tool.
At first, there were no replies to emails and letters, but Juan Bautista and Fernando Vela never gave up until after a long time, they got the first reply: the dream was on.
There was a first trip to meet with the Assembly, the military, the radio and newspaper of the Islands… everyone wanted to know what the Fundation Rugby Sin Fronteras wanted. And the answer was simple: living rugby and plating its seed in the Falklands, showing that sports unite and transcend any ideological or political matters.
Many preparations followed the approval of the carrying out of the event. We had to find rugby lovers that were able to be at the rise to the occasion, since it was the first time an Argentine sports delegation traveled to the Falklands. And those people had to also leave their families and jobs for ten days and pay for the adventure…

Finally, 34 people were selected. From all over the country, of different ages, professions and history within rugby. From famous Pumas to players that barely stepped on a rugby field, but all of them with the same love and selfless commitment for rugby
Some setbacks between this first trip and the arrival of the delegation did not stop this utopia and, as in a match, everyone pushed harder to make this dream come true.
Arriving to and living in the Falklands was hard. That circle of respect, passion and tears on December 13 will be forever be branded in the memory of the 34 men who lived it, after a match full of emotions, passion, respect and good play. During that whole week, the Islands experienced rugby for the first time. Many children approached us after school and saw an oval ball for the first time, that is passed backwards, but which you use to go always forwards. Day after day, the boys (there were also some girls) children started absorbing what they were being taught, especially respect for the one who’s talking, team union, teamwork and playing rugby.
On Thursday 17, there was another game, this time sharing the filed with British military who knew how to play and some of the Islands inhabitants, brave enough to take their first steps with the oval ball.
The third half was the perfect example of the satisfaction of the work accomplished: visitors, children, and parents all joined to celebrate this new sports and friendship bond that had been formed.
Sport can do anything, especially when it is full of values such as our dear rugby, and much more when there are people committed to convey those values just for the smile of a child in exchange.
The seed of rugby had been planted. As well as its spirit and its game. Eternal gratitude to the 34 friends without borders who joined this adventure, who supported it but could not travel (physically, because they were present in all of our hearts) and he companies who believed in and supported this dream, making it possible.

Fernando Vela’s Account
When Bautista told me about the idea of playing a rugby game in the Falklands, I thought it was impossible? How will an Argentinean side play rugby in a place where there was a war and where have no relationship whatsoever?
That is exactly Rugby Sin Fronteras’ challenge: to prove that sports can bring communities closer. This has nothing to do with politics or governments; it’s just a sporting matter.
The Foundation’s goal is to foster rugby values, values that have been gradually lost. Respect for the opponent, fellowship, friendship, teamwork, passion for the game… it’s a project that will come to fruition in the next generations, for our children to grow having real codes. For them to know that work and effort are the only way for a future sport and country.

Andrés H. Galliano
Sworn Translator. Interpreter
+54-11-30553544