European newcomers primed for debut Test against world record holders

Gibraltar will make their competitive debut on Saturday with a home fixture against Cyprus in Rugby Europe’s Conference division.

After years of campaigning and 14 years after playing its first friendly fixture, the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union was voted in as the 49th member of Rugby Europe back in December.

Just over 100 players have represented the British Overseas Territory in the 21 friendlies they’ve played to date, but on Saturday, the 23 that take to the field will be a part of history.

Previously in no-man’s land in international rugby, they are now part of the Rugby Europe structure and determined to do themselves, and the 40,000 inhabitants of The Rock, proud.

Cyprus are a long way short of the team that once won a world record 24 consecutive games between 2008-14 and have lost their last four Tests.

But putting history and form to one side, Gibraltar head coach Lee Fortey’s insists his main focus is on his own team, rather than worrying too much about the opposition in front of them.

“I watched a video of them from last year but you don’t really know what to expect. I said to the boys we’ve got to take care of ourselves and get what we do right, and if you do that, you are halfway there.

“We played Malta a few weeks ago, which was a real good hit-out for us.”

Disappointingly for Gibraltar, they head into their historic fixture without their best player, Devonport Services lock Matt Scott. Regular prop Tommy Grimes, from Keynsham RFC, is also missing because of injury.

But captain Oscar Cruz, a back-row forward, was in determined mood when speaking to the Gibraltar Chronicle before the match. “Cyprus are a great outfit and it will be a tough match, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and having another opportunity to defend the Rock.”

Fortey, meanwhile, has welcomed Gibraltar’s inclusion into the Test rugby family.

“For Gibraltar Rugby, it is massive, a momentous occasion and one I am proud to be involved in,” he said.

“Being involved with it for 10 years and heading it up with Alun (Harries), the technical director, it has gone really well.

“It just gives the players more stability, more games, more opportunities, which is what we want.”

Working with Gibraltar is another chapter in the colourful rugby career enjoyed by Fortey, who had the unique ability to play in all three front-row positions – loosehead, hooker and tighthead.

Having started out at Gloucester with his twin brother and hooker Chris Fortey, Lee had spells at Moseley, Newport – where he counted Gary Teichmann, Adrian Garvey, Franco Smith and Andy Marinos as teammates, Birmingham & Solihull and then Worcester, where he won the Champ in 2004.

A shoulder injury in 2007 led to him coaching full-time and he has been a regular fixture in and around the Gloucester rugby scene ever since, with Longlevens RFC his current club.

Fortey’s involvement with Gibraltar first came about as a result of a conversation with Chad Thompson, the Gibraltar Rugby CEO, on a night out after a Gloucester match.

“He’s a Gloucester bloke, who I knew him from Gordon League, and we got chatting about what we were both up to now. He asked me to do some sessions with the forwards and it’s progressed from there.”