Last weekend, Bishkek hosted an international U-17 boys’ Rugby-7 tournament. Five teams participated: Zhetysu-1 and Zhetysu-2 (Kazakhstan), Sport School for GAWS and Zhany-Zher (Kyrgyzstan), and the national team of Uzbekistan. The tournament followed a round-robin format, with 4 points awarded for a win, 2 for a draw, and 1 for a loss.
Uzbekistan won all its matches and took first place. Zhetysu-1 (Kazakhstan) finished second, and Sport School for GAWS (Kyrgyzstan) came in third. Zhetysu-2 took fourth, and Zhany-Zher placed fifth.
A friendly match also took place between the French Embassy team and the Kyrgyzstan national rugby-7 team, ending in a 21:5 win for Kyrgyzstan.
Throughout the tournament, a festive atmosphere was created by DJ sets featuring modern and classical French music.
At the closing ceremony, the winning team received the main cup, while the runners-up were awarded medals and diplomas. Individual awards were presented as follows:
- Best Player: Yrysbek Burkhanov (Zhany-Zher, Kyrgyzstan)
- Best Forward: Azizbek Kubeisinov (Uzbekistan)
- Best Defender: Kazhken Bekarys (Zhetysu-1, Kazakhstan)
All participants enjoyed refreshments provided by the French Embassy.
The tournament was organized by the Rugby Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic with the support of the French Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, as part of the cultural program “Francophonie Week.”
Among the honored guests were H.E. Rapil Zhoshybayev, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan; H.E. Nicolas Faye, Ambassador of France to Kyrgyzstan; Bakhtiyor Rozbakiev, Counselor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kyrgyzstan; and representatives from the French Embassy and sports community.
The matches were officiated by an international panel of referees: Olesya Terryayeva (Kazakhstan), Pavel Ivanov (Uzbekistan), and Finlayn Hatten (Scotland). Organizational support was provided by Asia Rugby’s Central Asia Development Consultant Anatoliy Shirov.
At the awards ceremony, Ambassador Nicolas Faye thanked the teams for their participation, highlighting the high level of play and sportsmanship. Nurgaazy Kuldzhaev, President of the Rugby Federation of Kyrgyzstan, expressed gratitude to the French Embassy and shared the intention to make the tournament an annual event.