The Friends of the Jungle Crows

If you are looking at this site then it is likely that you have been directed here in order to see images that relate to the proposed Friends of the Jungle Crows.

The Jungle Crows is a rugby club based in Kolkata, India. Like all rugby clubs it looks to expand its membership and win trophies. Most recently the Jungle Crows won the Calcutta Cup - the premier club rugby prize in India. Additionally, the Crows look to work with the disadvantged children of Kolkata and the surrounding area, using rugby as a way to draw them together and create a structure in their lives. The Jungle Crows have also had success on the playing side with the children that come to them. In 2007, a team from KISS in nearby Orissa travelled to the UK under the banner of the Jungle Crows to participate in an international tournament for disadvantged children - beating a team from South Africa in the final. In 2008 a second team from India organised by the Jungle Crows and traveling under the name Tiger Cubs attended a rugby festival in the UK with a number of the squad drawn from KISS.

The development work of the Jungle Crows needs funding and this is where the Friends of the Jungle Crows comes in - to raise funds in the UK to remit to the Crows to pursue agreed developmental objectives and projects.

These images show the 2008 Winter training camp, with the junior Jungle Crows training on the outfield of a cricket pitch in central Kolkata. Every day for two weeks between 50 to 100 players assembled at 7 am for two hours of practice rewarded by cake and a banana - for many the only certain food of their day. The pitch is hard, dusty and littered but the pictures show the players going through drills familiar to rugby players the world over. The standard is remarkably high given the challenges faced and the commitment and physicality is no different to that found from Twickenham to Auckland. Later photographs show images of KISS - a school in Orissa for children from tribal backgrounds who otherwise would not receive an education. Rugby plays a large (if improbable part) of life at this remarkable institution and its link with the Jungle Crows is proof positive of the benefits that can come from supporting the Jungle Crows in their work. To see all pictures click on the "older posts" button.

Further information can be obtained on the Friends of the Jungle Crows by e mail to knickavery@hotmail.com. The Jungle Crows website is to be found at www.junglecrows.com