Aussie import fronts-up for Israel rugby
A FORMER Moriah College and Maccabi rugby star played a key role in the Israeli national team’s recent fourth-place finish at the Rugby 7s European Division A Championships.
A FORMER Moriah College and Maccabi rugby star played a key role in the Israeli national team’s recent fourth-place finish at the Rugby 7s European Division A Championships.
Sydneysider Jonathan Levy, better known as Jon-Jon, is a member of Israel’s national rugby union 15s and 7s teams, helping bring unprecedented success to both teams during a demanding 2014-15 campaign, which included the 15s failed attempt at qualifying for the Rugby World Cup to be held later this year in England.
However, the letdowns take nothing away from what is a burgeoning sport on the Israeli landscape, with Levy telling The AJN via email: “In the past three years the 15s have gone up three levels in the European league, which is a huge achievement. We are the only team in Europe to jump up so quickly.”
The swift 27-year-old flanker has enjoyed even more triumphs with the rugby 7s team, which has climbed 54 rankings in the past six years and exceeded all expectations at the mid-June Division A Championships (Europe’s top league excluding powerhouses such as England, Wales and France).
Held over two-legs in Hungary and Poland with the top three overall teams advancing through to the next stage of 2016 Rio Olympic qualification, Israel recorded 10 wins from 12 games, but missed out on the semi-finals by a for/against margin of just four points.
While disappointed, Levy pointed out that Israel was the only team to beat the two finalists, Cyprus and Poland.
“Just being able to represent the country, standing in front of a big crowd in places such as Portugal, Spain and Lithuania, and being able to sing the Israeli Anthem, then go on the field and show how strong our team is — those have been the highlights,” said Levy.
Rugby has been a lifelong passion for Levy, having played the sport since he was a child for club and school, as well as helping Australia win gold at the 2009 Maccabiah Games.
After making aliyah in 2010 and finishing his army service with an elite combat unit three years later, Levy was itching to return to the sport and a casual stint for the Jerusalem Lions rugby club quickly turned into an invitation to represent Israel in international rugby.
Surprisingly, the national team is made up of mostly homegrown players, with Levy saying rugby’s profile is on the rise is Israel, reinforced last week when the blue-and-white came runners-up at the Women’s rugby 7s European Division B Championships.
“The woman’s team had an amazing tournament and they have been working very hard to get there,” said Levy. “They have been promoted to division A now, which is credit to their hard work and is an awesome achievement.”
ADAM BLAU
comments