Two former Glasgow Academicals are highly involved with the Cyprus National Rugby Team.

On the left is Loukis Pattihis (Formerly Pattison) who gained his rugby colours at the Academy in 1968-9, and again in 1969-70. He emigrated to Cyprus, the land of his parents 27 years ago, and although rugby was unknown then, he took up squash, and was part of the Cyprus National Squash team that went to Amsterdam for the European Championships of 1988. Following the televising of the 2003 World Cup in Australia, Loukis was caught up in the growing enthusiasm for the sport in Cyprus, and was a founding member and later President of the local Nicosia Barbarians RFC in 2005. At the same time the Cyprus Rugby Federation was established with 3 teams around the island, and Loukis became the Federation's first Vice President, and in 2008 he was officially elected President.

Graeme Scott, right of picture, was an Academy boy from 1989 and was an Academical until 1998. Graeme played rugby at the Academy all through his school years and also played with Glasgow Accies until 1995, he also spent some of his summer months playing cricket with Accies.
There after Graeme played his Rugby with Uddingston up until 1998. Unfortunately due to work commitments in Car Sales Graeme gave the game up in 1998. He then emigrated to Cyprus with his fiancée and found out there was rugby in Cyprus!!
Graeme began playing for the Paphos Tigers in 2005 after more than seven years out the game, after an injury plagued first season he has been a first team regular, playing at hooker and won the Most Improved Player Player Award 07-08.

Graeme played against Monaco in October 2007 in a select Cyprus 15, but gained his first full Cap against Azerbaijan in November 2008 then his second playing against Monaco again a week later.

Cyprus has played 7 international matches over the last 21 months, and won 6 of them, and play in the European Nations Cup Division 3.

This article was posted on 20-Jan-2009, 08:31 by Hugh Barrow.