Cypriot International Joins Ignatians

CHRISTO KASABI, one of a number of new recruits that have swelled the Enfield Ignatians' playing ranks in the close season, certainly has an interesting background. Particularly as the former Saracens Amateur prop has been capped 14 times for Cyprus.

So what has motivated him to join Ignatians? The 25-year-old said: "It's true that it wasn't easy moving across particularly as I had been at Sarries a long time. I was part of a side that won back-to-back promotions which catapulted us to to Herts-Middlesex One. However, I do need to play higher up which is why I moved to the two divisions higher Ignatians.

"It's very a different environment {at Ignatians} from what I'm used to. However, with the encouragement of coaches, Emile Hertz and Andy Sellick, I have been training hard. I have also been playing particular attention to my diet and, consequently, I have lost ten kilos which means that I weigh-in at a more trim 120k.

"Obviously my ambition is to play first team rugby although I realise that there are some very good players in the squad and that competition for places is fierce. Besides, I'm not there for an easy ride and know that I will have to work very hard.

Clearly Christo's domestic ambitions are interlinked with his international ones. "I started playing international rugby for Cyprus in 2007 and am one of the island's most capped players. It's still a minority sport although the country is doing very well as we are riding a winning streak of 11, and have only been beaten once in four years.

"Although scoring a try against Greece was a very memorable moment, it's a special feeling each time you put on the Cypriot shirt and run out in front of the crowd at the Pafiako stadium which is in Paphos."

Cyprus enjoyed a bonanza 2010-11 campaign and they currently top European Group 2D after riding roughshod through Greece (33-13), Bulgaria (55-18), Finland (70-10) and Luxembourg (50-0). They will play the same opposition again and, should they continue to dominate, promotion to a higher European league beckons.

One gets the impression that the away win over Greece in Athens last November was particularly sweet. He added: "The crowd was very hostile and a lot was said before the game. However, we had the last laugh."

Christo is clearly enjoying his rugby. Some tough challenges lie ahead, but whether it is the blue and gold of Ignatians, or in the national colours of Cyprus, he is clearly determined to seize the moment by giving it his all.