Final Meeting of the EU Erasmus+ Project Held in Dubrovnik
“Rugby for Children” is a two-year project supported by the European Union that brought together five clubs from three EU countries: Rugby Club Dragon Brno, Rugby Club Ljubljana, Rugby Club Zagreb, Superkid Zagreb, and Rugby Club Dubrovnik — the project leader and the youngest of the participating clubs.
Over the past two years, several Mobility Visit meetings were held in Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Brno, where partners presented their clubs and shared the activities they organize. These gatherings served as an opportunity to exchange experiences in children’s rugby training. The main goal of the project has been to increase the visibility of rugby as a sport, highlight its core values, and encourage more children to join and stay active in rugby.
The meeting in Dubrovnik marked the culmination of two years of successful collaboration between the clubs. More than sixty children and their coaches attended the three-day event. The first two days featured joint training sessions at the Lapad Stadium, followed by a Mobility Visit meeting. Rugby Club Dubrovnik presented to its partners the club’s history, organizational structure, age categories, training models, and the challenges it faces.
A SWOT analysis of the club showed that Dubrovnik has achieved a lot in a short time but still faces major challenges, such as the lack of a dedicated rugby field and supporting facilities. On the third day, a U-14 rugby tournament was organized, offering the audience over three hours of exciting matches and great play. The event concluded with an award ceremony and a shared lunch.
During their free time, visiting teams enjoyed exploring Dubrovnik and its landmarks, while the children especially loved swimming and summer fun by the sea.
The meeting concluded with the shared understanding that such projects and exchanges bring tremendous value to clubs — not only for staff and coaches but also for the young players, who strengthen team bonds and build friendships with peers from other clubs. The participating clubs expressed hope that new projects will further strengthen cooperation and continue to promote the development of rugby.
