Jungle Cry: When 12 Indian Tribal Boys Surprised the Rugby World

LONDON - He's never played a minute of football. But Louis Rees-Zammit, one of the world's top young rugby stars, is walking away from his sport and homeland for a long-shot gamble at making it in the NFL. His announcement this week dropped like a bombshell in Britain - and now he's intent on becoming a household name in the United States, too. He…

History has so far taught us that hosting the rugby World Cup goes one of two ways. Mostly, the expectation that comes as hosts manifests itself positively: New Zealand winning in 1987, England finalists in 1991, South Africa victors in 1995, France runners-up in 1999, Australia finalists in 2003, the All Blacks' second title in 2011, and Japan's…

The Indian women's rugby team will begin their campaign in the Asian Games 2023 on Sunday, September 24. Meanwhile, the men's rugby team failed to qualify for the tournament. Rugby is a sport that has a limited association with India, but the women's rugby team defeated all odds to mark their second-ever appearance at this year's Asian…

Together, they are being called the Chak De'girls' of rugby. However, that may be selling them somewhat short. Even in a jumbo Indian contingent set to participate in a whopping 41 disciplines at the Asian Games, the young women's rugby team has been grabbing eyeballs for their extraordinary story of rising against all odds. When the likes of Hupi…

In an inspiring tale, a Bonda boy from Odisha's Malkangiri has braved acute poverty and other obstacles to take the leadership mantle of the India U-20 rugby team. Meet Ganesh Dhangdamajhi from the Bonda Ghat area in Malkangiri district. Ganesh has been recently appointed as the captain of the Indian team for the upcoming Asian U-20 Rugby…

Premiership Rugby have revealed a shortlist of 12 inspiring young rugby players, volunteers and coaches who have been nominated for Premiership Rugby Parliamentary Community Awards. One of the clubs leading the way is Newcastle Falcons, which has representation in three of the four award categories, with one exceptional young local man and two…

The Indian men's hockey team will take on South Africa in their last and final classification game of the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup on Saturday, January 28. The hosts had earlier lost to New Zealand in a crossover game, which ended their medal hopes in Odisha. Following an 8-0 win over Japan, Graham Reid's team could now finish up anywhere between…

Bhubaneswar - When India hosted Spain on the opening day of the World Cup in Rourkela, it proved a "very emotional" moment for those involved in the construction of a sporting venue just 15 months in the making. Covid, lockdowns, global supply chain restrictions, coupled with a prolonged monsoon season, there were an array of challenges. "We were…

Tom Walsh with girlfriend Dana Mulcahy, of Timaru, on the red carpet at the 54th Halberg Awards in February last year. Photo/Photosport His mother always wanted him to be an All Black but shot put eventually eclipsed not just the country's No 1 sport but the myriad codes Tom Walsh was flirting with while growing up in South Canterbury. "She always…

2023, much like 2022, will be packed with World Cup action across sports, a quadrennial multi-sport event, along with several World and Asian Championships. From an Indian perspective, the next year will be crucial. 2023 will be the third straight year when Indian athletes will be in action at a multi-sport event, with the COVID-19 delayed Asian…

HITZ is Premiership Rugby's flagship education and employability programme, supporting young people to make positive changes in their lives. Working with more than 2000 14-24-year-olds across England every year, the programme is supported by CVC, Wooden Spoon and East Head Impact, with Central YMCA as the programme's official education…

They were the respected teachers and priests who were secretly preying on young boys at schools run by the Spiritans order. ne priest who sexually abused pupils was praised as being someone who "got very close to children", who "cared for problem students" and "threw himself wholeheartedly" into his work at Blackrock College, Dublin. Fr Gerard…

Last week, after Australia's 13-7 win over Wales that took them to the World Cup quarterfinals, Lori Cramer and Grace Kemp refused to swap their shirts with their vanquished opponents. They weren't the only ones. Not a single member of the Wallaroos was willing to exchange their green and gold jersey for a red one. "I was happy to swap my shorts,…

We're enjoying an unprecedented run in Philly sports right now. The Phillies are headed to the World Series. The Eagles are 6-0. The Flyers might not stink. The Sixers won a game and the Union are in the Eastern Conference Final for a second straight year. For whatever reason, some people get butt hurt when we mention the Union. " No one cares…

The genre of sports dramas in India has become quite densely populated in the last few years. For years, Indian filmmakers stayed away from sports films. But the last decade or so has made up for it by churning out more underdog stories from the field of sports. But that means that films must now work hard to distinguish themselves from the herd.…

MUMBAI: Actor Abhay Deol says he came on board' Jungle Cry' as he believed the "underdog" story of tribal kids winning the Rugby World Cup was a tale worth telling. 'Jungle Cry', directed by Sagar Ballary of'Bheja Fry' fame, is based on the inspiring true story of 12 underprivileged and orphan children from Odisha's Kalinga Institute of Social…

Cricket is the sport that will unite all Indians. It's either watched on tv or in a stadium somewhere in the whole of India. Although other sports have gained popularity in this country, no sport melts Indians' hearts like cricket. Like playing the game and supporting their favorite team, cricket betting India has gained popularity massively. A…

LAST PUBLISHED28.09.2021 | 08:56 PM IST It is a season of felicitations in Indian sport. The Indian Under-18 women's rugby team received one as well, at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday, 22 September, after they returned with a silver medal from the Asian Rugby Sevens Championships at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. While it was mainly to…

While everyone is going gaga over the ICC World cup currently, watching Dhoni and Kohli do what they do best, we've actually overlooked one of India's most historic wins ever! Yes, you read that right and let me tell you what you've missed. On June 22, in the Philippines, 26 Indian women made history. They won their first ever international 15s…

When you think of Jamaican sport, you probably think of one event, or even just one man. The fastest man in the world. Perhaps with a doff of the hat to the 1988'Cool Runnings' bobsleigh team. But now there's a new team to look out for on the Caribbean island - The Reggae Warriors. Mention rugby league to a Kingston native 20 years ago and they…

Rugby is not a popular sport in India, but it is handing girls in remote pockets of the eastern part of the country a purpose in life and helping them surpass societal inequities that dog the gender in most parts of the country. From the tea gardens in Siliguri to a village in Odisha, the physically taxing game of rugby is attracting a number of…

The past 12 months have been a sobering time for domestic professional rugby union in England. Just under a year ago, the English Premiership had 13 teams. Now, there are 10. London Irish, Wasps and Worcester have all gone into administration, and last month Championship title-holders Jersey Reds ceased trading. Why are so many clubs failing? Is…

Sam, who is profoundly deaf has harnessed the power of playing rugby to enhance his own life, so much so that he has become a role model inspiring other young people with disabilities to take up the sport. Sam's story, alongside the compelling, uplifting and emotive stories of all those shortlisted, will be shared at the Premiership Rugby…

Five brothers, a knack for footy and deep love for their home country: this is the story of the Slaimankhel family who created a championship-aspiring national team from nothing. From Afghanistan, then Pakistan before migrating to Auckland in New Zealand, the Slaimankhel boys were determined to create their own mould in a new country. After…

One individual from the Harlequins Foundation will be recognised for his achievements on and off the pitch, at the Premiership Rugby HITZ Awards 2023 on 22nd November at Twickenham Stadium. HITZ is Premiership Rugby's flagship education and employability programme which for 15 years has supported young people to make positive change in their lives.…