Have you got a 'little ferret' who's into rugby?

Boys and girls aged four to 12 years are invited to join the Rugby Club Esch – Les Furets (The Ferrets) from Saturday 21 September for the launch of a new rugby school.

“We have already 20 children subscribed to the Saturday school, and parents from across the border in France are also welcome to drop off their kids,” said Rodrigo Esteves from the club. “We will look at the weight, body mass, and age scale to develop the right rugby programme for the children.”

The Ferrets rugby club was unofficially established in November 2022 by three friends who felt there was no senior team in the south, and only one children’s team. To begin with the group practiced at the local park (Belval Park) but soon started training at Hiehl training facilities.

“People went by us and were interested and asked if they could join as an amateur weekend activity,” said Esteves who himself joined in response to a call out on social media.

The Ferrets senior team, including women, with Rodrigo Esteves at the centre/front  © Photo credit: Rugby Club Esch

In June 2023 the club applied for official registration with the Rugby Federation Luxembourg, since when it has grown from six initial players to some 30 seniors at the start of the season. They have invested in tackle bags, new balls, and official team kits, and the commune of Esch has also provided training facilities, locker rooms and both a synthetic and grass pitch at the football grounds in Hiehl at Esch-sur-Alzette.

“We took part last spring in LUXLEAGUE (Rugby Schools tournament), an event which attracted some 200 children from across the country, to demonstrate the importance this team places for the young generations,” Esteves added. “We also had our first participation at school level, at Esch’s sports day and other similar events, crucial to showing young audiences that rugby can be played in the south of the country.”

The senior team, which consists of players new to the sport including women, plus a few seasoned ones like Esteves, meets every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 19.30 for regular training, which is adapted for both beginners and those with experience.

Last season the senior team played international rugby tournaments in Belgium. Whilst there is no Luxembourgish League as there are only three official senior clubs in the country – Rugby Club Luxembourg and Rugby Club Walferdange and The Ferrets – the Esch-based team also joined the Rheinland Pfalz League for the start of this season.

German clubs in the Rheinland Pfalz region also had no league to compete in and the newly established league, which also includes the Rugby Club Luxembourg’s second team, held a tournament between six teams in August. More tournaments are planned in Mainz on 12 October, Luxembourg on 7 December and Bad Ems on 14 June, with The Ferrets rugby club hoping to host one in April next year.

“It’s great for inexperienced players but also that something is happening in the region to attract more people to the sport,” said Esteves, who pointed out that women are welcome to join the club.

“Sport is good for your sense of team and community. I played it for many years in Portugal but I think last year’s Rugby World Cup in France and its inclusion in the Olympics has attracted more media coverage and made people aware that it is a growing sport,” said Esteves.

In addition to the Saturday school for youngsters, Rugby Club Esch has partnered with the University of Luxembourg to start a programme for students where it is hoped training and the club’s social events will help international students integrate into Luxembourg.

The team has also invited teaching and academic staff and their children to join the regular training.

Esteves came to Luxembourg in 2018 and works for an aviation trading company at Findel airport.

“My interest in rugby started from a similar project when I was at university in Portugal. I did not know the sport at the time but I played seven seasons and when I came to Luxembourg I trained with one of the city teams,” he said.

Unfortunately, the commute times on public transport from his home in Esch-sur-Alzette made this impractical so he was delighted when he could get involved with a local rugby club.

And why the name Les Furets or the Ferrets? The founders wanted to name it after an animal that could be found in Luxembourg’s forests.

Men and women interested in joining the senior teams at Rugby Club Esch can find more information on their website or send an email to [email protected].