IRAN MAKES MARK ON INTERNATIONAL STAGE
By Chris Thau
IRB
Rugby News Service
Tuesday 18 September 2007
Ireland
While the eyes of the world concentrate on the IRB Rugby World Cup
2007 rollercoaster in France, elsewhere in lands far away, the game
keeps moving ahead in its own idiosyncratic way, taking small steps
forward, or sideways, as new clubs and Unions emerge and new matches
and challenges are fought.
After several years of fragmented reports about rugby developments
within Iran, the news that the recently formed national team has made
its international debut on 18 August, came as a bit of a surprise.
Even more remarkable was the news that Iran, who literally has had
no international contact of any kind before this match, managed
to defeat Pakistan by 22 points to 11 in Pakistan, scoring in the
process four tries to the home side’s solitary effort. Flanker Ahmad
Zare-Manesh of Teheran RFC will go down in history as his country’s
first international try-scorer, with lock forward Yousef Jalali as
the kicker of the conversion and the author of another try.
Vartazarian the catalyst
The catalyst of Iran’s unexpected arrival on the world’s stage is Emil
Vartazarian, fly half, former captain of India and senior development
officer in Tamil-Nandu in southern India.
Iranian-born Vartazarian, who learned his trade at the famous Armenian
college in Calcutta, taught by Ashram Sokiaas, one of India’s foremost
players, teachers and game developers, was invited back to the country
of his birth to help coach the newly-formed national team. He takes
up the story:
"This was the first time for many things. It was the first time we were
selecting a national team, it was the first international Test match,
first match outside Iran and especially my first International as a
coach, so I think there was a mixed feeling of anxiety and suspense
not knowing what to expect and what we were getting into.
" In my earlier visit as an IRB trainer for conducting and officiating
a referees course in 2006 I had the opportunity to screen some of the
players at the training sessions and I know that these boys, given
a fair chance, could do well, if given a chance to prove themselves.
Eager to learn
"I taught them a few aspects of the game and they were all crazy
about learning more and more. One could see the hunger for knowledge
in their eyes.
When I was asked to take over as coach I was very excited. I knew
that the fit and hard Iranians could dominate physically Pakistan,
even though the latter had played international games before.
"I also knew that the Iranian players had the pieces of the puzzle
and all they needed was for someone to guide them to put them together
in the right way.
These guys just love the physical aspect of the game and the
challenge," Vartazarian said.
"We had two weeks of vigorous camp and I picked 24 from the 50-strong
squad, who attended the camp. I gave them a friendly game with one of
the clubs in Tehran and they just did exactly what they were told –
so much that after the game they were really shocked by what they
had achieved. Literally, it clicked.
"Some walked up to me after the match and even said that "Now we know
what rugby is all about." It was then that I knew that we shall have
a great game in store for Pakistan and I was very positive that we
could win the match if only everyone did what was expected of them.
First-ever international
"When we went to Pakistan, of course being a very big occasion the
players were a little tight and nervous so the initial 20 minutes
was very scary since anything could have happened. But as the game
progressed the boys started getting the points on board and we kept
on putting the pressure and finally it paid off at the end.
"All credit should go to the boys as they showed that they are
mature players and can handle pressure. And I am glad that my first
international match was a success. I have to say that this is the
beginning of a team that has great potential and it will be a force
to reckon with in the near future if handled properly."