AEL Limassol Rugby
Independent rugby union club in Cyprus
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AEL Limassol Rugby are the rugby union department of AEL Limassol, Cyprus. They were the second independent (not affiliated to the British or UN Military) rugby club to be formed in Cyprus, after the Paphos Tigers. They were established in late 2003 as Limassol Crusaders[1] and joined AEL in September 2025.
2025 as AEL Limassol Rugby
| |
| Full name | AEL Limassol Rugby |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Crusaders |
| Founded | 2003 as Limassol Crusaders. 2025 as AEL Limassol Rugby |
| Location | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Ground | AEK Achileas Stadium (Capacity: 2,000) |
| Chairman | Antonio Fiorillo |
| President | Michael Quain |
| Coach | Dave Lee |
| Captain | Devon Van Der Merwe |
| League | Cyprus Rugby Federation League |
History
The club was formed, as Limassol Crusaders, and initial membership recruited, by word of mouth after the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Temporary training facilities were used initially, including a spell at the Elias Beach Resort Hotel, until the club finally leased the AEK Achileas Stadium in 2004, with the club joining the Joint Services Rugby Football Union and competing formally starting with the 2004/05 season. When the Cyprus Rugby Federation formed its own league, Limassol Crusaders joined it.
When, in 2006, Cyprus formed a national squad, five Crusaders were members of the team that won their inaugural game against Greece.[2]
In 2013, the Crusaders moved to a new stadium in the Mesa Geitonia area of Limassol. The new stadium had a higher capacity, better drainage and conformed better to IRB safety regulations. In 2016, the club moved back to the historical stadium of AEK Achileas after closing the contract with the previous venue.
In 2025, Limassol Crusaders were officially dissolved as the club was integrated into AEL Limassol to become their Rugby department.[3]
Men's Rugby
Results
(Note: All results before 2025 were by the legacy club, Limassol Crusaders)
League
| Season | League | Final Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004/05 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2005/06 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2006/07 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2007/08 | JSRFU League | 5th |
| 2008/09 | JSRFU League | 6th |
| 2009/10 | JSRFU League | 3rd |
| 2010/11 | JSRFU League | 5th |
| 2011/12 | CRF League | 4th |
| 2012/13 | CRF League | 5th |
| 2013/14 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2014/15 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2015/16 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2016/17 | CRF League | 2nd |
| 2017/18 | CRF League | 3rd |
| 2018/19 | CRF League | Unfinished due to Covid |
| 2019/20 | CRF League | Cancelled due to Covid |
| 2025/26 | CRF League | Ongoing |
Tournaments
| Year | Tournament | Final Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Aya Nik 15s | 4th |
| 2010 | Aya Nik 15s | 3rd |
| 2011 | Aya Nik 15s | 3rd |
| 2012 | Aya Nik 15s | 3rd |
| 2013 | Cyprus Beach Rugby[4] | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Aya Nik 15s | 5th |
| 2015 | Warsaw Rugby Festival | Cup Winner |
Tours
| Year | Team | Location | Result | Year | Team | Location | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Maastricht University  | AEK Achileas Stadium  | Won | 2009 | Beit Jala Lions  | AEK Achileas Stadium | Won | |
| 2009 | Cairo Rugby  | Cairo | Won | 2012 | Warwick University  | AEK Achileas Stadium | Lost | |
| 2013 | Leigh RFC | AEK Achileas Stadium | Won | 2013 | URAG  | Rome Campo Tre Fontane | Won | |
| 2013 | Rugby Roma | Rome Campo Tre Fontane | Lost | 2013 | The World  | Limassol - Mesa Geitonia | Won | |
| 2014 | HMS Diamond  | Limassol - Mesa Geitonia | Won | 2014 | Courbet  | Limassol - Mesa Geitonia | Won | |
| 2015 | Les Zozos | Warsaw - AWF [a]  | Won | 2015 | Honey Badgers  | Warsaw - AWF [a] | Drawn | |
| 2015 | Old Actonians | Warsaw - AWF [a] | Lost | 2015 | Cani Sciolti | Warsaw - AWF [a] | Lost | |
| 2015 | Abbeyfeale | Warsaw - AWF [a] | Lost | 2015 | Warsaw Frogs (White) | Warsaw - AWF [a] | Won | |
| 2015 | Aberdeen Grammar  | Warsaw - AWF [a] | Won | 2015 | Camberley Rugby Vets | AEK Achileas Stadium | Won | |
| 2016 | Cirencester RFC | AEK Achileas Stadium | Lost | 2016 | Brussels Celtic Barbarians  | VUB | Lost | |
| 2017 | Arlechinii Bucuresti  | Stadionul Florea Dumitrache | Lost | 2018 | Kyiv Rebels  | Spartak Stadium | Lost | |
| 2018 | Jamhour Black Lions  | AEK Achileas Stadium | Lost | 2019 | Belgrade Rugby Club Red Star  | Ada Ciganlija | Lost | |
| 2021 | HMS Queen Elizabeth | AEK Achileas Stadium | Lost | 2022 | Rugby Klub Bratislava  | Športový Areál Ekonomickej Univerzity | Won | |
| 2023 | Amatori Napoli Rugby | GLS Villaggio del Rugby | Lost | 2024 | Locomotiv Sofia  | Borisova Gradina | Won | |
| 2025 | Ragbi Klub Zagreb  | Rudeš | Won |
- Match played as part of the Warsaw Rugby Festival
Captains
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
- 2004/06
Zeno Nicolaou - 2006/08 Andrew Spring
- 2008/09
Darryl Davies - 2009/10 Greg Loucaides
- 2010/11 Andrew Spring - Marko Mladenovic
- 2011/13
Fraser Nelson - 2013/19 Constantinos Constantinides
- 2019/20
Robert Field - 2021/25 Devon Van Der Merwe
Ladies rugby
The ladies section of AEL Limassol Rugby are known as The Sirens. They currently compete in the Women's Cyprus Rugby Federation League, predominantly with the minimal contact version of Touch Rugby; according to the Federation of International Touch (F.I.T) rules. They played their first competitive match, against a team from the visiting HMS Queen Elizabeth, in 2021.
There is also training for the contact versions of rugby union, and smaller local competitions held in the 7's, 10's, and XV's format, numbers permitting.
As of 2025, the Sirens are the title holders of the Women's CRF League.
Results
League
| Season | League | Final Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | Women's CRF League | Winner |
| 2025/26 | Women's CRF League | Ongoing |
Captains
- 2023/25
Lotte Pollack
Coaches
- 2024/25 Panayiotis Karasavvas
- 2025
Steve Wrigglesworth