MATCHES OF THE NATIONAL RUGBY TEAM OF ARMENIA

N1.
02.06.2004 Armenia v Norway 36:6


The Armenian national team (in white shirts) before the start of their first official match against Norway for the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) championship in Division C, town of Bove (France), June 2, 2004.

Episodes from the Armenia v Norway match in Bove

N2.
06.06.2004 Armenia v Israel 48:0


The Armenian national team before the start of their second official match against Israel for the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) championship in Division C, town of Bove (France), June 6, 2004.

Episodes from the Armenia (red shirts) v Israel match in Bove

Armenia celebrating a victory in European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) Championship Division C. The town of Bove (France), June 6, 2004.

The Armenian national team - the winner in European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) Championship Division C. Bove (France), June 2004.


Both official matches of the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) championship in Division C were held in the French town of Bove during a one-round tournament. As a result of the tournament, the Armenian national team received the winner's Cup. However, later, because of the protest of the Israeli team, the Armenian rugby-players had to play another two matches with this team (see the section "Publications in the Press"), i.e. matches 5 and 6.


N3.
19.06.2004* USRP (France, Roman) v Armenia 0:15

On June 19, 2004, the Armenian national team played a friendly match with 18-year-olds of the French club of USRP from the town of Roman. The match was held at the municipal stadium of the town of Roman. The Armenian rugby-players led by manager Michel Tadjian staged a good- quality performance.

All members of the team play in French rugby clubs representing championships of divisions of different levels. The match was organized with the assistance of the Armenian communities of the French towns of Roman and Lourg-de-peage. Numerous fans who had arrived from these towns as well as Valance attended the match. The match was played in a warm atmosphere and its participants were greeted by Mayor of Roman Henry Bertolet, who handed to the manager of the Armenia team Michel Tadjian a new oval ball with the logo of the Rugby Federation of Armenia.


This report is based on the text of information of the Nouvelles d'Armenie magazine published in France (the June 27, 2004 issue).


N4.
20.10.2004* Armenia v Belgium 24:11

N5.
07.05.2005 Israel v Armenia 15:47

N6.
11.06.2005 Armenia v Israel 31:12

N7.
01.10.2005 Luxembourg v Armenia 12:39

This playoff for the promotion from Division C to Division B was held in Luxembourg (see details in the "Publications in the Press" section).




N8.
12.11.2005 Armenia v Bulgaria 57:17

The Armenian national team played their first match in Division B again in the town of Roman in the Marseilles-Guillermo stadium. The Armenian team coached by Mark Abanozian included 22 players mainly representing the French clubs of Lyon, Bordeaux and Chamberi.

One of the heads of the Help to Armenian Rugby public organization Jean-Jacques Chicherian said that the match had a great important for the further progress of Armenia to a higher division.

The Armenian team did not miss the chance to register a confident victory with a 40-point difference in the presence of thousands of fans, most of whom were ethnic Armenians and had arrived in Roman from Valance, Lyon, Marseilles, Grenoble, Paris and Roman itself.

A traditional banquet attended not only by players and representatives of both teams, but also by representatives of the Armenian community of the town of Roman and its chairman Bernard Tsakisi took place in the Armenian "Sevan" hall after the match.
This report is based on the text of information of the November 2005 issue of the Nouvelles d'Armenie magazine published in France. Author: Krikor Amirzayan.


N9.
29.04.06. Hungary v Armenia 13:24 (6:10)

The final whistle of a referee from Moldova, M. Dudko, registered another victory of Armenia's national team in Budapest over Hungary with the scoreline of 24:13 (10:6) as part of the championship of Division B of the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER).

In the Armenian team Boyajyan, Antyan, Anselyan and other players were distinguished by their activity throughout the match.



N10.
Armenia v Slovenia 42:6 (25:6)

The regular match of the national team of Armenia against the team of Slovenia as part of the Championship of Division B of the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) took place at the Central City Stadium of Abovyan on May 13. A solemn ceremony of opening took place before the match. It was accompanied by performances by ethnographic children's and youth ensembles of Abovyan. The participants and spectators observed a minute's silence to pay tribute to the memory of the 113 victims of the recent Yerevan-Sochi passenger jet crash.

The match was dominated by the hosts among whom one could distinguish Donabedian, Boyajian, Hayrapetian and others. Atom Sharafyan, who recently left Armenia for France, substituted for experienced Churekdischyan in the second half. The final whistle of the referee from Belgium M. Meersman registered a confident victory of the Armenian national team with the score of 42:6 (25:6). The match was attended by about 5,000 spectators, which is an unprecedentedly high attendance level for rugby in Armenia.




N11.
04.06.06. Lithuania v Armenia 3:18 (3:18)

On June 4, the national team of Armenia held its last and decisive match against Lithuania as part of the Division 3B championship of the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER). To occupy the first place in the division, Lithuania needed only a victory, while a draw was enough for the Armenian team.

According to the reports of the Lithuanian press, the Lithuania v Armenia match took place under drizzling rain in the city stadium of Shaulai in the presence of 500 spectators. The match, which was officiated by referee from Germany Jens Reineke passed in stiff competition in ended with the score of 18:3 (18:3) in favor of the Armenian team. In the first time the initiative belonged to the Armenian rugby players. Among those who distinguished themselves were Frederik Boyajian, Jacques-Antoine Bogosian, Nikolas Anselen and Joan Antian. Among the host team successful was Kyastutis Martsishauskas. In the second half Lithuania attacked a lot, but to achieve real success, in the opinion of the Lithuanian press, the host team "lacked several meters and luck", as the Armenian team was defending very competently.

During the match both teams' doctors had a lot of work. In the second half there was even a moment when their aid was being awaited by one Lithuanian and two Armenian rugby players.

After the match the coach of the Lithuanian team Pyatras Astrauskas tried to find an excuse for the outcome of the match, saying that Lithuania played without several leaders, although before the match he spoke about equal chances for victory.

The win over Lithuania took Armenia to the first place in the tournament table of Division 3B and allowed it to play in Division 3A in the 2006-2007 season.



The final tournament standings in Division B of the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) championship are as follows:

	MP	W	D	L	GD	P
1. Armenia	4	4	0	0	+102	12
2. Lithuania	4	2	0	2	+22	8
3. Hungary	4	2	0	2	+3	8
4. Slovenia	4	1	0	3	-30	6
5. Bulgaria	4	1	0	3	-97	6

Contractions: MP - matches played, W - wins, D - draws, L - losses, D - difference. Three points are given for a win, 2 points are for a draw and 1 point is for a defeat.




Notes:
* friendly matches
the rest matches of the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER) championship