When you watch a rugby match live from the sidelines for the first time, you ask yourself various questions, the most pressing of which is probably: how can this work? Children and young people in different age categories engage in spirited duels of unparalleled intensity. They fight for every inch of the Klagenfurt turf, cheering try after try. I don’t want to sugarcoat anything here: unfortunately, the medical team assigned to the rugby fields has the most work to do. That’s just part of it, you hear people say on the pitches. As is an impressive amount of respect for the opponents and the referees. No other sport places so much emphasis on good behaviour and respectful interaction. With its intensity and the way players interact with each other, rugby is a role model for sport and society, and the spirit of the United World Games is particularly evident on these pitches.
Something else that is highly valued is success. On the field, you often hear the English word “resume”, which roughly translates as a person’s “career”. Specifically: where someone has played and what he or she has won. In 2016, Waisale Serevi was a guest at the United World Games. For many fans and experts, he is the best 7s rugby player in history. He was captain of Fiji and is a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Every time he walked past a team, there was eager whispering and a murmur went through the crowd. His successes speak for themselves, including two gold medals at the Hong Kong Sevens. His nickname was ‘The Wizard’ and he also enchanted the event with his brilliance. Many children and young people took the opportunity to get an autograph or a photo. Serevi even stood on the sidelines and coached a team. For his players and opponents, it was a ‘surreal experience,’ as one youngster recounted with shining eyes.
Check out the video report from back then!
Another player attracted a lot of attention in 2025. A young coach from Spain on the sidelines with the Eggchasers from Great Britain. His name: Joaquin Gali. The 23-year-old is an active professional rugby player and plays for Stade Français Paris Rugby in the French first division. He is currently working on a comeback after an injury. He has represented all of Spain’s youth national teams and has already made his debut with the men’s team. His dream is to represent his country at a World Cup. First, however, he is making his debut as coach of the U16 girls at the United World Games. ‘I am impressed by the level of play here. It’s a great competition and a really big challenge for my players,’ enthuses the professional.
Rugby is played at the United World Games both at the stadium and at the Koschatplatz, home of the Klagenfurt Tigers. A few trees provide some shade, and mini pools have been set up to help cool down. As always with rugby, the tournament is running smoothly and is perfectly organised. There is a lot of shop talk among the coaches and referees. The players are also clearly enjoying themselves, despite the heat. ‘This is the coolest thing I’ve ever done, playing here in Klagenfurt, experiencing the opening ceremony, I’m thrilled,’ says Elli from the Eggchasers Academy. The academy was founded by international 7s player Arun Watkins. The aim of the academy is to train players for the Lions & Lionesses Elite 7s teams founded and managed by Arun. Their high ambitions and impressive level of skill quickly become apparent. ‘If you want to achieve something in rugby, you need strength of character and the will to work hard. These are the key building blocks for a career,’ says Gali, describing the path to the top. The path he is currently on and wants to convey to his players. The United World Games are the ideal breeding ground for the ‘rugby egg’ to chase his dreams and hopefully make them come true.
Fotocredit: nagel