Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A meeting was held in the Cabinet of Ministers on the role, responsibility and effectiveness of leaders in the development of rugby in the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

It was attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Rugby Federation of Uzbekistan Sodik Safoev, Deputy Prime Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov and representatives of relevant ministries and departments.

The meeting heard a brief report from the Chairman of the Rugby Federation of Uzbekistan Sodik Safayev on the work done to ensure the implementation of the Resolution of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev from 29 October 2019 “On measures to develop rugby sports in the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

According to him, rugby branches in educational and sports-educational institutions and other organizations of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent are fully registered. 33 additional sections and clubs were organized, in which more than 500 athletes are engaged.

In order to prepare qualified rugby players in the 2020-2021 academic year, 36 students were admitted to the rugby faculty of the National University of Uzbekistan, and 15 students to the University of Physical Culture and Sports.

According to Sodik Safayev, the national team of Uzbekistan actively participates in prestigious international competitions, takes pride of place and entered the top eight among the countries of the Asian region.

To date, a media plan has been developed and approved to popularize and promote rugby in our country.

At the same time, a system for monitoring the effective organization of the educational process at the rugby departments of sports schools in the country was introduced.

On 1 July 2020, the chairman of the Rugby Federation Sodik Safayev met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Fujiyama Yoshinori and JAIKA representative Takasaka Muneo, and following the meeting, the Japanese side decided to send two coaches to work in Uzbekistan on the basis of a grant from the Japanese side, it was also decided to organize joint competitions and friendly matches.

Taking into account scientific and methodological developments and international best practices, rugby-7 and rugby-15 training programs, 600 World Rugby textbooks have been translated into Uzbek (Cyrillic and Latin alphabet) and training for rugby breeders has been published and a training program has been developed.

In November-December 2020, Tashkent will host the Student League, the Uzbekistan rugby 7 championship, the 15 rugby championship of the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the State Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the Golden Oval Cup championship in three age categories.

The agenda included a report from the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education, the Ministry of Public Education and the National University of Uzbekistan.

As a result of the meeting, it was decided to include in the program until 2021 the construction of a sports base of the Rugby Federation of Uzbekistan for the training process by members of the national team of Uzbekistan in the village of Charvak, Bostanlyk district, Tashkent region.

It is worth noting that the stadium of the National University in the capital will be renovated in accordance with modern requirements so that the national rugby teams properly prepare for the competition.

It is reported that in the near future, Tag Rugby will be included in the physical education curriculum of one high school in each district, and will be provided with Tag Rugby textbooks for the physical education teachers of the selected schools.