Throughout each season, Leicester Tigers look to bring fans an update on how our Global Partner Clubs around the world are getting on.
The world has changed a lot since the last update back in March where each club in Malaysia, India, Thailand, Belgium, Holland and Italy shared how their communities had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With clubs now looking at ways to bring rugby back for all age groups and levels, read about how Tigers’ Global Partner Clubs have been overcoming the challenges.
Rugby Colorno
Rugby Colorno play their rugby in the Peroni Top10, the top flight of Italian rugby, and saw the season suspended back in March.
Since then, the country underwent a major national lockdown and, as quarantines were eased, volunteers from both the Men’s and Women's teams support the community with home delivery services for the vulnerable.
In addition, the team’s Club House provided over 2,500 meals to the Covid-19 wards of the Major Hospital in Parma, helping those on the front line who were working to save lives.
Training for the Men’s and Women’s first teams has now resumed as the teams gear up for a new type of season. The 2020/21 Top12 season will kick off on October 31 with the women’s team competing in the Women’s Serie A on October 18.
Dendermonde RC
The Belgium league was also suspended back in March with both the Men’s and Women’s teams occupying second spot in their respective leagues.
The biggest change saw former Tigers player Joe Cain take a step down from his head coach role due to the impact of Covid-19 around the world alongside backs coach Pierre Chancel. Karim Demnati will now take reins.
In August, the club introduced its own return to play protocols for all age groups adhering to social distance procedures as the Flanders community continue on the pathway to the new season.
Kuala Lumpur Tigers
One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic has been the different rates and reponses in countries around the world. Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Tigers were able to introduce club-wide training as early as July as the western part of the world braced itself for lockdowns.
Fewer staff and no spectators saw younger age groups work together in smaller groups socially distant which was also helped with the re-opening of schools. The club worked to operate a strict registration process which parents and children had to complete at every session before contact training was allowed roughly four weeks later.
With close ties to the Tigers Academy Pathway, the club utilised new ways of coaching via video links, home conditioning, skill videos for players and video analysis and game scenario sessions. The club is hopeful of introducing a series of friendlies in October.
RC DIOK
RC DIOK were atop the Ereklasse league when the Netherlands league was suspending in response to the virus outbreak.
With 13 different age groups including Men’s and Women’s teams, the club shut down operations following government guidelines and as of September 28, sport was once again postponed for a further three weeks.
Bangkok Lions, had planned to host their Bangkok International Rugby Tens 2020 tournament, welcoming more than 70 teams from across Asia. However, the decision was made to cancel the event with teams travelling from other countries.
Delhi Hurricanes have also been placed in a state of lockdown by their government and the summer season will no longer go ahead.
In a special LTTV series, we will be catching up via a video call with representatives from Tigers’ Global Partner Clubs to hear more about how they are continuing to respond.
You can follow all Tigers’ Global Partner Clubs by following their social pages @delhihurricane @Rugby_DRC @KLTigersRFC Rugby Colorno @lrcdiokrugby
