The Polish rugby community, along with the all Polish peoples around the world were shocked and saddened by the death of the President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, in a plane crash over Russia. The President, along with all 132 people, many from the top level of Polish political and military ranks, died as the plane was about to land in Smolensk, Russia. The plane apparently hit trees whilst negotiating fog. The President, his wife and others were about to attend a memorial service to the thousands of Polish army officers executed in Russia soon after the 1940 Russian invasion of Poland.
Pictures from the National Rugby Stadium in Sochaczew where apparently many people had already gathered for the kick off of the Poland-Moldova international rugby test match
Photos from the stadium, thanks to http://www.rugby.info.pl/komentarze_24_artykul_2068_mecz_odwoany#comments
Picture one shows a ceremonial and memorial kick off as a mark of respect and the official cancelling of the rugby test match.
rugby-international.blogspot and the brother website rugbyinternational.net wish to extend thoughts to the Polish community in Poland and around the world.
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One of the victims, Krzysztof Putra (deputy speaker of parliament, I think), is a relative of Poland's rugby coach Tomasz Putra. Hats off to Tomasz for his courage in being able to turn out for the on-pitch mourning in front of the crowd.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jonathan
Thanks. That makes the service at the rugby ground even more important. I wondered why on the Polish site where the photos came from there were tributes to the Polish coach. That explains.
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