- IRB Development Officer Mohamed Dermouni

International Rugby Board (IRB) coach and development officer Mohamed Dermouni has indicated that the game of Rugby is a whole school of life as it can change the life of anyone who is interested and make him or her famous and rich.

Speaking to yours truly on the third day of a course for coaches in Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium, he acknowledged that most Ghanaians love football, but not everybody can play and there are other sports lovers who love other sports and can choose the game of Rugby.

Mohamed Dermouni who played professional in France and the national team of Morocco and is decorated with many medals and trophies noted that there are massive opportunities in Rugby like any sport and advised Ghanaian youth to take up the challenge to play Rugby.

He noted that Rugby can produce international stars for Ghana is the nation is serious with the game, and congratulated Madam Gifty Anna- Meyers for steering affairs for Ghana over the past years and organizing a league for clubs as well as playing international matches.

He said the game would be very popular in Ghana if the media and sponsors come on board to support the efforts of the president of the Ghana Rugby Association, especially at the grassroots level.

According to Dermouni, the game of Rugby has special values like sharing, love, humility, discipline and organization which can impart of individuals to shape their minds and behaviours.

“I can see from the behavior of the coaches her that they are interested in what they are learning and I believe they will share with their players. I know Ghanaians love sports, so I would not be surprised if Ghanaians take up the game seriously and by five to ten years time you would see professional players and a very competitive league in the country” he said.

The Confederation of African Rugby Regional Development Officer for the Northern zone from Morocco came to Ghana to deliver a 2 days training session for the union representatives + 1 day training for teachers from 11th to 13th March 2014. The aim of the program is to encourage children to TRY – PLAY – STAY in Rugby, with a target of one million new players and 15,000 new coaches and referees globally over the coming years. The program will promote the values of the game and ensure children are encouraged to Try Rugby in a safe and progressive way. These modified rugby forms have specially been designed to increase participation by making the game easy and enjoyable, and also increase the margin of safety by a significant much. The first, Tag Rugby Trust, a charity initiative which was launched in the first week of February focused on the Eastern Part of Accra; Madina, Legon and the environs, whilst the second; Get Into Rugby a global (IRB) driven initiative will focus on the West part of Accra and then spread into the regions. The program is a central part of the IRB’s initiative to grow the game as Rugby rejoins the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.In the last couple of months, the Ghana Rugby Association has embraced two modified versions of the game of rugby; Tag Rugby Trust and Get Into Rugby.

Madam Gifty Anna-Meyers, President of the Ghana Rugby Association said the game is becoming very popular in the schools and very soon many people would be familiar with the rules and regulations of the sport as Ghana prepares to play in the Rio 2016 Olympics.