S.R.U.F.C

Solihull Winger on International Duty

Midlands 1 West club Solihull RUFC had a similar problem as the Premiership super clubs last weekend – they missed a key player due to the Autumn internationals. Whilst his Solihull team mates battled against Camp Hill in the wind and rain at Portway, winger Dino Markou was in altogether more glamorous surroundings in the south of France representing Cyprus in their away fixture against Monaco. Qualifying through both parents, Saturday marked his third full international cap. Cyprus are latecomers to International Rugby, but Dino was there at the start making his international debut in Cyprus’s first competitive fixture against Slovakia in October 2007. “We play in the IRB European League 3, with Bosnia, Monaco, Azerbaijan and Slovakia” say Dino, “and we’ve now won 9 out of our first 10 matches. My best moment was that first cap, but my worst was tearing my hamstring against Azerbaijan – I missed 6 months for both club and country”. Dino also has represented Cyprus at IRB World Seven’s tournaments and is now a key member of the national squad which comprises players from South Africa, France the UK as well as home based Cypriots. And what of the latest match against Monaco? “We battered them 0-44 “ says Dino. The official match report states “Dino Markou burst clear to sprint 40m and score under the posts”. Unlike a number of England’s players, this is one international future that looks secure”