Zalgiris Kaunas will help Lithuanian rugby to develop 7

Zalgiris Kaunas basketball club will share it’s knowledge and experience with representatives of other sport. On Wednesday, April 6th, an agreement between Zalgiris Kaunas and Azuolas rugby club was signed. The latter now will be called Kaunas rugby club Zalgiris.

During the press conference at Zalgirio arena Zalgiris director Paulius Motiejunas and rugby club director Tomas Bieliauskas signed the cooperation agreement. The president of Lithuanian Rugby Federation Rytis Davidovicius also wished good luck to the new project.

“The football example in Kaunas showed that different sports can learn from each other and achieve a common goal. We start to collaborate with another sport that is interesting for us. Rugby infrastructure is still taking its first steps in Lithuania and we are pleased to contribute to its development. We will share our experience, knowledge with the rugby club. We also hope to help Kaunas and Lithuanian rugby to develop”- said Zalgiris director Motiejunas.

He also added that the vision of the rugby club is synchronized with Zalgiris basketball and football teams’ strategies, as the rugby club has youth sports school and the so called pyramid of players training.

Kaunas city mayor Visvaldas Matijosaitis also was glad about this new project: “Zalgiris Kaunas administration has a large number of professionals from different areas whose experience will contribute to the development of rugby. I believe that another big encouragement for rugby will be renovated “Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas” stadium.”

Both Motiejunas and rugby club director Bieliauskas said that this merger will not have any negative effects for financial stability of Zalgiris basketball club.

“This cooperation opens the door to lift rugby’s infrastructure to a higher level. Stadium renovation, the possibility of finding sponsors is a big step forward. This season, our budget will not change significantly. However, during the meetings with potential sponsors we will be able to offer them a wider range of options” – said Bieliauskas.

The president of Lithuanian Rugby Federation Rytis Davidovicius was happy about Zalgiris club wish to help rugby players.

“This is a great solution for both sports. Lithuanian basketball is the sport of highest level, while rugby tries to follow its example and seeks to demonstrate high performance in the international arena. Cooperation will help not only for Kaunas rugby, but for the entire country’s sports. I have no doubt that thanks to professional club management, soon we will see more players from Kaunas playing in Lithuania’s national rugby teams” – said the president of Lithuanian Rugby Federation.

In April Zalgiris rugby players will start the season. They will play in the Lithuanian Top Rugby League, in Lithuanian Cup and the Baltic League competitions.