From the March issue of Forum
By Simon Tharby, staff writer
The coach shouts instructions across floodlit grass, and players answer with their own calls. An egg-shaped ball is passed between men, who crash into one another in a semi-choreographed train wreck. Muscles flex and strain, bodies collide and passes fly at a moment’s notice.
American football? Please. This is rugby, and it’s catching on in São Paulo.
They’re called the Barbarians, and they look the part. Most on this recreational rugby team are big men. They’re also diverse in true representation of Sao Paulo, with a roster that includes English, Kiwi, Australian, Brazilian, Argentinian, North American, Chilean, and French players. The team developed slowly throughout 2007 and 2008, drawn together first by soccer and remnants of the O’Malley’s Rugby Club that died in 2004. 
Today, Barbarian coaches instruct in both Portuguese and English. “Using both languages helps us to bond,” said Julian Montgomery, a North American with the team for three months now. Rookies learn the ropes from veterans, and age is a non-issue if you’re willing to scrum, proven by the team’s inclusion of a 62-year-old at the moment.
“The idea is social rugby – games once a month, involving barbecues, families, and fun after games,” said James Allen, team captain. “Any age, any standard can play – it’s about having a run, meeting up, and mixing it up [culturally]… There are 15 different nationalities here at the club.”
Brazil has a guaranteed place in the 2016 Olympics for rugby, so suddenly interest and money are being drawn to the sport. Public radio, TV, print media, and grass-roots interest have grown. The Six Nations (Rugby) Tournament is even being shown on ESPN Brazil.
The Barbarians play friendly games against local teams, like Nippon, a Japanese veterans team, and Keep Walking, a team of Brazilians and Argentinians. The team also enters serious competitions, like the Rugby Football Union Lions Tournament, and smaller tournaments throughout the region. Players fondly recall a beach rugby tournament in Rio de Janeiro in January. “It was cool, because you could jump in the sea after the games,” said player Richard Heyton. “There was a great social scene on the beach afterwards, including dinner for everyone.”
The social aspect is a common thread amongst all rugby teams, and players say it’s an aspect of the sport most outsiders never see unless they participate. “When you see a rugby game you imagine a lot of fighting, but actually it’s very friendly,” said Vinicius Lima, a Brazilian player. “Camaraderie” was a repeatedly mentioned word. For Montgomery, this meant the world. After living in Rio, he had found Sao Paulo more difficult socially, but, “the best thing I ever did (after coming to SP) was to start playing rugby with the Barbs.”
Sponsorship has always and will continue to be an issue for the team. “Training is a big sacrifice. Some guys study and we need to support them, so we depend a lot on sponsorship. We also need a clubhouse, where we can gather and a field for games and events.” said player Pablo Silenze. “Any exposure is good because we fight against the monster of football [soccer].”
Interestingly, the Barbarians also play soccer.
John O’Connor, who organizes friendly soccer games against other Brazilian and ex-pat teams, said this began after a Brazilian friend declared, “Gringoes can’t play football.” The soccer team grew from this first match against a Brazilian side, until soon they had enough players to stage an England vs. The Rest of The World game. They now play once a month. Between 10 and 15 players play 0n both the football and the rugby teams.
Rugby is still the heart of the Barbarians.
All the media coverage tied to the Olympics may well bring new opportunities for the Barbarians, but Michael McDonald, team coach, prefers to divert attention to a worthier cause. He and others are involved with Rugby Para Todos, which works with youngsters in favelas in Parisopolis. “It’s based on the principles of camaraderie, leadership, teamwork, respect and social integration,” McDonald said.
The program, run by two ex-Pasteur School students, now has 150 young people. As well as training for and playing rugby (including a girls team), the program provides food, a psychologist, nutritionist, doctors, lawyers and more.
“It diverts kids from drug dealing and other problems, and can feed them into other teams,” Silenze said. “For example (name omitted) from the favela now plays for the Pasteur club. Rugby changed his life. Now he has a future.”
To learn more, visit http://spbarbarians.com, or www.rugbyparatodos.org.br.