Rugby, the new love of Orissa tribal boys

YOUNG GUNS: Team members of the under-14 rugby team take a break from a practice session.

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Bhubaneswar: In Orissa, it is not cricket, hockey or football that is attracting the budding sport stars.

The state’s tribal boys have taken to rugby and are going to represent India at a rugby tournament in the United Kingdom.

In a country obsessed with cricket, the tribal boys from Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences have chosen rugby and are preparing to represent India at the under-14 rugby tournament in London.

"Rugby is a new game for the tribal boys, they have adopted the game very fast, and they will perform well in UK," Kalapna Sahu, sport teacher KISS, says.

The boys are also all charged up as it is almost a dream come true for them.

"We are from a tribal district. To go aboard to play sports and that to rugby is great. We are thankful to our sir for this, we are proud of it," a team member, Ganesh Hemburm, says.

Their coach is also all praise for the boys.

"These tribal boys are very strong, physically and mentally. We practice both in morning and evening and hope we will win the tournament," a confident Rudrakesh Jena, rugby coach at KISS, says.

The 12-member rugby team will leave for London on September 22 and who knows with the kind of enthusiasm and effort they might just spring a surprise.

The sporting talent of these tribal boys was only waiting to be tapped and now they ready take on world of rugby.