To begin we believe it is necessary to put our sport and club in context.
We are talking about a sport with a very high affiliation, with an exponential growth in the last decade not only worldwide, but also nationally. Within this very unknown sport for most is the DENIA RUGBY CLUB, the name already shows the involvement of our club with the city in which it takes place. With more than 25 years of existence, a huge number of people who have passed through our ranks, among them we have categories of all ages, training players, among which some have finished as professionals or internationals.
This club that in its beginnings developed its activity in other lands of the municipality has been using the rugby field of the Dénia sports center as a sports venue for many years, facilities with such great potential that not even the best clubs in the community could dream , with bleachers in the best style of British Rugby, natural grass, sticks or “H” (goals in rugby) with international measures, a unique climate and impressive views surrounded by a beautiful recently modernized athletic track that will be the envy of all . In addition, in recent years, thanks to the aforementioned and the great growth of the sport, we have been finding unique opportunities, such as the one that was lost at the end of December 2019 when the WORLD RUGBY (equivalent to the FIFA of soccer) was presented together to the Spanish Rugby Federation to see if the UNDER20 world championship could be organized in our town (this being one of the venues), which would have meant a contribution of visibility, tourism, gold money for all Dénia, but for a few "Few meters from the field" was not possible as it did not have the necessary measures for this type of event and it was left as a training venue for one of the National Teams. But that's where the good news comes, since all that work that was carried out at the beginning, when building the field years ago, has been overshadowed by the lack of planning and vision without horizon of the current project.
Our current club and board, as well as the previous ones, have insisted on countless occasions to those responsible for the development and sport areas about the need for improvements that could be made to raise this field and Valencian rugby to another level, with reforms, some small and others a little larger, but always very manageable, such as a widening of the field, change of the type of grass, for another suitable for this sport, leveling of tunnels, replacement of the irrigation system (with hydrants within the field, obsolete and no longer approved by the Spanish Rugby Federation) that does not comply with security measures, or the improvement of the stadium stands. But all these proposals have been delayed and the reform and investment in the new athletics track, which fills us with joy for our teammates, would have been the perfect moment to take advantage of it and make it a benchmark not only at the Valencian level, but also in Spain.
In the middle of last year, as soon as we were aware of the proximity of the track reform works, we began with meetings, calls, messages and emails with the sports councilor and those in charge of the sports center, as well as the homologation technicians of the fields of the FER (Spanish Rugby Federation) to include some of these improvements in the field and thus be able to get it homologated for high-level national and international competitions, improve safety and the grass that has been a small headache at times by its state. We remember that here children of all ages train and play and constantly fall to the ground, the terrain being their protection against possible injuries.
Well, despite receiving a positive response at first all good intention, this was fading until the disappointing reality, and uncertainty, when the work carried out on the new athletics track was announced.
Beyond the beautiful track, approved and in an immaculate condition that we hope all Dianenses athletes enjoy, we find ourselves before our amazement, that the dimension has been modified and meters of rugby field have been lost (not only can they not be housed high-level competitions, at best maintaining the current category with the possible call of attention from the FRCV for not complying with the security measures), that its security has deteriorated, making the practice of sport more dangerous, with manholes and curbs of cement placed in play areas that were not there before (this is to be understood, like putting a concrete curb at ground level in a soccer goal, crazy), with sprinklers with solid plastic caps so close to the field that it has to be shortened so that they are not inside it. We continue with the same irrigation system, which is already outdated because it is within the field, which does not work properly, deteriorating even more a lawn and which could have been replaced in the countless years that this facility has been open.
Already during the stoppage of all activity in March, due to the health alarm, club staff approached the field to check the state of the works and we could sense that there were things that were not being done well, or at least, they had not taking into account that green space within the athletics track and the people who play sports there, as valuable as the rest of the users of the facilities, so we began to insist to the relevant authorities about the need to review and be informed about some points that were not being respected and knowing what solutions were planned to overcome these deficiencies. More than two months later, we are still waiting for answers or to be heard.
Therefore, after contacting the Councilor for Sports on countless occasions, promises of meetings and cancellations due to lack of time ... Then we called the City Council to make an appointment with someone who would answer our requests. By not having an answer and not being listened to, we have decided to expose this problem to the media, to make this situation public. Warn that there are many athletes of all categories who should have already started the preseason and do not know when they will be able to do it, if they can and with what security measures they will do it ... and this adds to an already stressful situation such as that we are currently living.
Sport is health without a doubt and we want all the people who want to try a beautiful sport like ours to be able to do it at the best possible level and with the greatest safety, for this reason we bet and trust that what has to be done will be done in this regard by the City Council to channel the situation.
We simply want to know what solutions are planned, to be able to contrast them with the Rugby Federation and that the field can remain official. We offer ourselves at full disposal as help, for any questions that may arise in this regard.
Although I do not practice this sport, I would like, it is sad to know this situation, once again it seems that politicians practice "looking the other way" and at the same time I wonder ... Weren't they interested in seasonally adjusted tourism? This sport with its competitions would give them a golden opportunity!
Let's not lose hope !!
I am with you fellow athletes.
You need the best facilities for your sports practice, both in training and in competitions, to preserve your integrity.
I see how you make an effort in your training when my athletes are also training on the track and I feel very much the shame of politicians that we have had in Denia for a decade, especially the sports councilors with whom I believe I have faced everyone because they have very little idea. They go to their thing and olé olé !!!!!
Franc Beneyto as a former athlete (1977-2013) and as an athletics coach since 1989 is on your side and I demand that you not only be heard but that they provide you with fast, safe solutions that comply with all regulations.
Then the politicians say that they are betting on sports so that tourism can come. HAHAHAJAJAJA !, what a bunch of scoundrels we have.
By the way, I already mentioned not long ago that the asphalt parts that are on the track should not be there ... How little sense they make !!!
A big hug Rugby friends !!
One of the many values that the sport called Rugby has is the necessary team work. This Spanish town needs to know and want to work as a team. I personally see here a lot of character that goes. to yours and fast. I usually complain to the mayor of Denia about the lack of the search for excellence in everything that is done in Denia, from the construction of a sidewalk to the paving of a street. Everything is done quickly and cheaply and I think it is an evil that afflicts Denia. The teamwork makes you especially a team player, a global player in search of excellence, winning but enhancing the common values of the team and also having fun with friends forever.
Indeed, great good has been done for the athletes practicing on a very worn track, but not a second thought has been given to the potential of the Rugby pitch and facilities. Think about what it could have meant that a U20 World Cup matches were held?, the recognition, the economic contribution, tourism, visibility and above all diversity…. We cannot continue betting on only three sports in Spain when there are thousands to be exploited!!! Vision please, vision!!