The Tel Aviv Heat () is the first professional Israeli rugby union team. Based in Tel Aviv, the team competed annually in the Rugby Europe Super Cup until 2023. The team is also called the Israeli Springboks, on account of the number of South Africans in the team and have also been described as 'the world's most diverse rugby team'.
History Tel Aviv Heat were formed in 2021 to play in the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Super Cup. The Rugby Europe Super Cup was open initially for the seven highest-ranked countries below the Six Nations, other Unions were given the opportunity to bid for an eighth ‘wild card’ slot, which the Israel Rugby Union submitted a formal bid for in December 2020. Having won that slot in March 2021, a founding team was put together to build a professional franchise from scratch. Kevin Musikanth was named as the team’s first Director of Rugby and Head Coach for the inaugural season of the Rugby Europe Super Cup.
In their first season Tel Aviv finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference of the competition, however due to the disqualification on Yenisey-STM, Tel Aviv Heat advanced to the semi-finals, losing to the Western Conference winners Lusitanos XV, 42–26 in Lisbon.
In 2022 Tel Aviv began the season with a win over the Romanian Wolves in their inaugural Super Cup season. Tel Aviv came 2nd in the Eastern Conference winning four, drawing one and losing one. They once again faced the Lusitanos XV in the semi-final, this time winning 30–22 in Lisbon. However they lost against Black Lion in the final. In August 2022 Tel Aviv Heat were invited to join the South African Mzansi Challenge competition, however due to pressure from stakeholders SARU made the decision to withdraw their invitation in February 2023. A partnership with the French Top 14 club Stade Français was announced in May 2023, where both teams exchange training methods and organize friendly matches.
In the 2023 Rugby Europe Super Cup, Tel Aviv Heat were second in Group A, despite playing their games away from home due to the Gaza war and winning the semi-final against the Romanian Wolves 31–6 in Bucharest. Once again they played the Black Lion's in the final with the Georgian franchise winning 27–17 in Tbilisi. Tel Aviv Heat have withdrawn from the 2024 competition due to ″various logistical elements″.
Wins against Tier 1 pro teams After the pool stage of the 2022 Rugby Europe Super Cup, Tel Aviv Heat played a friendly against the English Premiership side Saracens.
Team details FB15 Jenson McInultyRW14 Charlie Reynolds-WestOC13 Francis MooreIC12 Olly HartleyLW11 Tom HoweFH10 Tobias ElliottSH9 Charlie BrackenN88 Jackson Wray (c)OF7 Samson AdejimiBF6 Andy ChristieRL5 Alex WardellLL4 Callum Hunter-HillTP3 Alec ClareyHK2 Kapeli PifeletiLP1 James FlynnReplacements:HK16 James IsaacsLP17 Robin HislopTP18 Harvey BeatonLK19 Obinna NkwochaLK20 Max EkeSH21 Sam BryanBR22 Nathan MichelowSH23 Declan MurphyPR24 Jevaughn WarrenLK25 Kaden Pearce-PaulWG26 Will SandersDirector of Rugby: Mark McCall FB15 Sebastiaan JobbRW14 Jamba UlengoOC13 Jone ManuIC12 Idan EisenbergLW11 Peceli NacebeFH10 Jordan ChaitSH9 Niall SaundersN88 Semi KunataniOF7 Cal SmidBF6 Prince !Gaoseb (c)RL5 Jurie Van VuurenLL4 Max KatjijekoTP3 Wiehahn HerbstHK2 Dameon Venter LP1 Caylib OosthuizenReplacements:HK16 McMillan MullerPR17 Thabiso MdletshePR18 Mhleli DlimaniLK19 Sailasa TuragaluvuBR20 Jasa VeremaluaSH21 Bradley ThainCE22 Nemani BuliruaruaWG23 Ori AbutbulBR24 Thomas BermanPR25 Justin Theys PR26 Nitsan Reizel SH27 Omer LevinsonWG28 Matt MoreCoach: Kevin Musikanth
Players Current squad Tel Aviv Heat for 2023 Rugby Europe Super Cup squadProps Mhleli Dlamini Wiehahn Herbst Thabiso Mdletshe Caylib Oosthuizen Nitzan Reizel Justin Theys Jared Michael Sichel Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi
Hookers Nazir Gasanov McMillan Muller Dameon Venter
Locks Misha Eli Max Katjijeko Yotam Shulman Jurie van VuurenBack row Thomas Berman Mitchell Carstens Yiftach Engel Prince ǃGaoseb (c) Semi Kunatani Cal Smid Jasa Veremalua
Scrum-halves Omer Levinson Niall Saunders Bradley Thain Gilad Vardi
Fly-halves Jordan ChaitCentres Richard Bryant Nemani Buliruarua Idan Eisenberg Jone Manu Matt More
Wings Ori Abutbul Peceli Nacebe Jamba Ulengo Gerswin Mouton
Fullbacks Sebastiaan Jobb (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Israel on residency or dual nationality.
Notable players Internationals Semi Kunatani (2019 Rugby World Cup, 2016 Summer Olympics) Nitzan Reizel Jared Michael Sichel Misha Eli Yotam Shulman Yiftach Engel Omer Levinson Gilad Vardi Idan Eisenberg Ori Abutbul Yahel Rozilio Jared Sichel Mayaan Shaked Dan Stein Prince !Gaoseb (2023 Rugby World Cup) Max Katjijeko (2023 Rugby World Cup) Gerswin Mouton (2023 Rugby World Cup) Lesley Klim Renaldo Bothma Obert Nortje Nazir Gasanov Jamba Ulengo (2013 World Games)
Honours Major honours Rugby Europe Super Cup Runner-up: (2) 2022, 2023
Friendly and Sevens Rugby Town Sevens Plate Runner-up: 2023
See also Israel national rugby union team Rugby union in Israel
References