ALUMNI FLYING HIGH - LOS TEROS TO JAPAN

Throughout the years our School has been a constant generator of excellent players, many of whom have achieved a place in different National teams in various sports. Over the recent years a considerable number of rugby players that have spent their years at The British Schools and later at The Old Boys Club, have been carefully selected to play for our National team: Los Teros. Currently, there are many of our former students playing for different teams of the Teros: Manuel Leindekar, Santiago Civetta, Eugenio Plottier, Gabriel Puig, Germán Albanell, Juan Manuel Cat, Juan Gaminara, Carlos Pombo, Joaquín Alonso, among others.

Our School has one interesting distinctive feature: it produces leaders. In political, business, entrepreneurship, social and economic spheres our alumni thrive and sports is not the exception, since the captains of the various national teams are former students. Juan Gaminara “Garrafa” is the captain of our National team (XV), Gabriel Puig is the captain of our Sevens team, Santiago Civeta is captain in the U20 national team, Santiago Vilaseca who was the former captain of the National Team, and Andrés Vilaseca who was the captain when Juan Gaminara was absent. This is a striking fact that cannot be easily dismissed and speaks for itself regarding the kind of education that our School provides.

All of us who have participated in their education are proud of them, since they portray with pride our School motto: PERFICE.

I have coached all of them both at School and later in their years playing for Old Boys. We have been together in many trips and sport tours, hours of training and practice and I can assure that every one of their accomplishments is very much deserved. Their first steps defending the green and white of their School, later the blue and granate of Old Boys and now the light blue of the Teros. What a way to go! Their character and behaviour has always been consistent: always giving the most of themselves in every practice, in every game, always transmitting the values the School, their families and this sport have imprinted in them.

All of these players are in deep preparation to play different World championships, this further suggests that the URU (Uruguayan Rugby Union) is committed and achieving quite a lot and the Charrúa Center of High Performance is paying off. All of them are being trained as professionals, being young amateurs, leaving aside time to work, time to study and time for their families.

Your School is deeply thankful for how all of you represent us and wish you all the luck in the upcoming stages!

César Cat –Rugby Manager at The British Schools - Head Coach at Old Boys

Juan Gaminara has his own Wikipage and although he is not the tallest of the team, everyone acknowledges that the man is huge. He is currently the team´s Captain, and feels proud to represent not only his country but also his club, his family and friends in every match. He is an accountant and everyone knows him as “Garrafa”. English sport journalists commenting during the last World Cup in England were at awe at the tough figure and the wild ferocity of Garrafa, who was always either tackling or on the floor after a tackle. He was a keen demonstrator that there was more than what was expected from the Uruguayan team, the “underdogs” on the pool of death in England 2015.

How do you feel now having achieved such an objective? (Upon classifying for the Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019)

We are really happy on achieving the objective we were working for, for 3 years now. But now focusing on preparing as best we can so as to have a good World Cup, representing our country the best we can.

What does being part of this team mean now in terms of preparation for the upcoming World Cup in Japan?

This qualification means we are on the elite rugby, so we must be very responsible on our preparation, because rugby is becoming every year more and more professional. So we will try to be as competitive as we possibly can.

What does it mean being this team´s captain?

It´s an honor being Captain of this team, representing our country, as well as my Club, family and friends.

What are the 4 main words you would use to describe this team and why?

Sacrifice (we are an amateur team playing against Pro players, so this word is our main one)
Devotion (playing rugby is a lifestyle, so we feel it like that)
Passion (our main inspiration is the passion we feel for the sport and for our country)
Humility (always necessary)

Is there any way being an Old Boy and an alumnus influence you in your performance in and out of the field? Are there any lessons you learned at The British Schools that you treasure?

For sure, I think that a big part of my personality was formed because of The British Schools, as well as my tenacity and always working for PERFICE.

Education is really important so as to balance Sport/Study/work life in order to be efficient, and The British Schools is responsible for that. This is also reflected in all former students that are part of the Uruguayan team.

Any word of encouragement for young students of our School regarding rugby, sports and/or life?

Yes, our school has the very best to prepare us to be the best in what we most like, and it´s important to develop various strengths (academic, sports, culture, emotional, etc.) so as to then have the capacity to use them in what you are best and what you most like; so develop the very best in all areas for then being outstanding in a specific one.

Juan Manuel Cat is 21 years old and has been teaching at The British Schools since 2016. He teaches F6 and 1YL. He is a former student who strengthens the Rugby Coaches´ team with his youth and great connection with the students. What he likes best about teaching at the School is seeing how students are walking through the same or a similar path he made years ago, that makes him remember all the things one goes through thanks to the wonderful sport. He enjoys the opportunity of teaching kids that can possibly play by his side in the Old Boys team. He was chosen as the young revelation of Teros in 2017 by the followers of @RubgyUruguay. He is studying Administration and says that continuing his studies is “unnegotiable”.

How do you feel now having achieved such an objective? (Upon classifying for the Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019)

Having achieved the objective both in an individual and in a collective manner, of playing a World Cup is a source of endless joy. The countless hours of dedication and effort appeared that afternoon when facing Canada. The objective was achieved because the team proved to have every characteristic a TEAM must have.

What does being part of this team mean now in terms of preparation for the upcoming World Cup in Japan?

It means a shift in the mindset and way of living of every player until the World Cup of Japan. Now is the time to enjoy what we achieved as a team, feeling proud of each other in order to later build the long way ahead hoping to multiply the many efforts already invested.

What are the 4 main words you would use to describe this team and why?

Persistence: is a word that never fails. This team always kept on, although there were some tough moments.
Companionship: he bond created amongst ourselves is invaluable, unique. It is without a doubt one of the main reasons why we achieved the objective.
Leadership: within us there are leaders that took the team to reach its utmost level both inside and outside the field.
Dreaming: Yesterday the World Cup was a mere dream. Today it is a fact. We all shared the same dream and that led all of us together pushing forwards to the same side.

Is there any way being an Old Boy and an alumnus influence you in your performance in and out of the field? Are there any lessons you learned at The British Schools that you treasure?

Without a doubt the School gave me the academic and sports education I carry with me. It is part of who I am. On the other hand Old Boys is mi club, they are my friends. If I am now where I am is thanks to the tools both the School and later Old Boys provided me with.

Any word of encouragement for young students of our School regarding rugby, sports and/or life?

My favourite word in this sport is persistence. In rugby, as in many other sports and in life itself, there will be ups and downs, moments where things don´t come out as one would like, but one must always carry on.

Germán Albanell is the first son of a family with a lot of history within the School and especially the Club. His mother is a well-remembered Old Girl and active in the Old Boys & Old Boys board, his brother is a superb rugby player, and his sister is a tough and experienced hockey player: both of them defending the blue and granate. "Colo" as he is known suffered major injuries throughout his rugby career: he broke his jaw three times! However, he has always shown an impressive spirit and passion by working hard to recover. He is a key teammate and is much admired by the rest of the players.

How do you feel now having achieved such an objective? (Upon classifying for the Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019)

Qualifying was the accomplishment of many people working for the same purpose, some on the field, coaches, trainers, managers, etc. so it was a great joy that now means a huge responsibility.

What does being part of this team mean now in terms of preparation for the upcoming World Cup in Japan?

Pool D at the RWC will be very tough, but we will be able to perform well.

The upcoming 18 months will be of intense physical training and plenty of international competition.

What are the 4 main words you would use to describe this team and why?

Brotherhood – there is a great atmosphere in the team.
Sacrifice – as we all have an amateur life (work, study, etc).
Team work – we must work as a team to be competitive.
Passion – for what we do.

Is there anyway being an Old Boy and an alumnus influence you in your performance in and out of the field? Are there any lessons you learned at The British Schools that you treasure?

Being an Old Boy and a TBS alumnus taught me certain values that guide me inside and outside the field. Respect, teamwork, humility and being grateful are some of those values that I must always bear in mind so as to walk the right path.

Any word of encouragement for young students of our School regarding rugby, sports and/or life?

The rugby union is demonstrating as an entity, that you must work hard to achieve your objectives. Everyone at the “Estadio Charrua” is committed to the rugby growth and success, as a consequence, outstanding results have been obtained.