Rugby

I picked up rugby in August 2016 with the Thessaloniki Lions knowing almost nothing about the sport—other than that it was unique, fast, and gloriously physical. I was hooked immediately. What started as curiosity quickly became a way of life: teammates, community, and the grit of a contact sport that rewards discipline and respect.

The Game

I loved rugby’s combination of controlled chaos and structure: the collisions, the tactics, and the code of respect that binds rivals on the pitch. After a strong half-season with the Lions, I was approached to help start a new club. With a big circle of friends who were eager to try something different, we founded Rugby Rebels—where I served as founder, manager, and player.

Timeline

• Aug 2016: Started with Thessaloniki Lions; fell in love with rugby’s unique, full-contact style.
• 2017 – 2019: Co-founded Rugby Rebels (founder, manager, player). Within six months we played our first tournaments, stacked up games, and earned our first wins.
• 2019 – 2021: Moved to Athens; played for Panathinaikos for a couple of seasons.
• 2021: Moved to London; played a few games with Old Streetonians and trained with Hackney RFC.
• 2022 & 2023: Attended Flanders Open Rugby with Karatha Cavaliers.
• 2025: Attended the Aegean Rugby Festival with Cretan Gunners.

Key Moments

• Launching Rugby Rebels and seeing teammates wear the jersey for the first time.
• Our early tournament appearances and the buzz of earning those first wins.
• Playing festival rugby at Flanders with Karatha Cavaliers (2022, 2023).
• Joining Cretan Gunners for the Aegean Rugby Festival (2025).
• Experiencing the culture shift across clubs—Lions, Rebels, Panathinaikos, Old Streetonians, Hackney—same respect, new lessons.

Lessons Learned

• Leadership: Starting a club taught me recruitment, organization, and accountability.
• Resilience: You get hit, you get back up—simple rule, powerful mindset.
• Respect: For teammates, opponents, and the game; it carries into everything else I do.