From Nador to Ordizia and Beyond: A Rugby Odyssey
Thirteen-year-old Chafik Hammouma boarded a fragile boat toward an uncertain horizon. In a small town near Tangier, dreams for a brighter life demanded the courage to leave family and home. He grew up fast, realizing that staying meant little more than hardship shared by many with nothing to lean on. He once said that life is hardest for those who have nothing. By eighteen, he had become a waiter in Bilbao, finding purpose in rugby and in the kindness of teammates who helped him feel at home. He looks back with gratitude, convinced that every choice taught him something valuable and that regret has no place in his story.
four attempts
Chafik’s voyage to Spain began with four failed attempts to set foot on European soil near Arcos de la Frontera in Cadiz. The journey carried a heavy price; a group of about forty people paid a large sum to reach Spain. His father, a farmer with limited means, borrowed the money, knowing the risk his son faced. The route was perilous. At sea and in waters patrolled by authorities, GPS tracking often meant detention and return to Morocco. Yet the drive to reach a new life persisted. On the night they finally approached Arcos de la Frontera, the engine faltered and the group called for help from the Spanish police. Those over eighteen were sent back to Morocco, and Chafik found himself in a children’s center that offered little guidance beyond basic care. A series of transfers followed, from Almería to Granada, where meals were frozen and paperwork scarce. Frustration did not dampen his resolve. He escaped with three friends, spending a grueling day walking through mountains and sleeping in the cold. They traded thanks with Moroccan shopkeepers who handed them small sums of money. With this aid, they reached Madrid by bus and then Bilbao. A local trainer named Jon introduced Chafik to rugby, sharing pictures of his own playing days and inviting him to give the sport a try.
Rugby became the turning point. On a field in El Fango, Bilbao Rugby University drew him in, and he soon played as a second row in the Basque League. He found happiness in the game and in the camaraderie that reminded him of home. The club and teammates offered him a sense of belonging he had long sought. Recent victories over Belgium, Spain, and Portugal in Qatar heightened the thrill, and a festive mood carried through San Francisco’s Bilbao neighborhood as celebrations echoed the city’s pride. He counts the days until Christmas, when he can return to his family after months apart.
from Nador to Ordizia
Mohamed Amine al Aamrani, a compatriot from Nador, Morocco, understood early that life there would be difficult for a teenager. Emigration appeared as a risky but hopeful path toward a better future. He arrived in Spain at twenty-one, joining the Ordizia rugby team where he found space to breathe and focus on what mattered. The sense of belonging and the welcoming atmosphere helped him forget the weight of past hardships. He recalls that the move opened doors to a life he had long imagined, one where sport and community could coexist with personal growth. The rugby field became his new home, a place that gave him purpose and a way to channel his energy into something meaningful.
Al Aamrani grew up helping his family alongside an older brother and a younger sister. He spent his childhood alongside his father on fishing trips, balancing work with study. At seventeen, he decided to leave Morocco because the doors seemed closed at home. His decision, though difficult, set him on a path toward a different life. He did not dwell on the past and focused on the opportunities ahead. Upon arrival in Spain, he found himself in Almería, then Barcelona, and finally the Basque Country in San Sebastián, where a local police station led him to a youth center. A short stay in Segura brought him closer to Ordizia, where an educator saw his potential as a rugby pilier and invited him to join. The decision to try rugby changed everything for him, and he embraced the chance to grow under new mentors and teammates. A welding course later provided a practical skill, now employed at a company in Urretxu.
When Ordizia’s youth program began, he stood out as the lone foreign player at first. Over time, trust formed, and he integrated with the squad. His early M23 appearances culminated in a Division de Honor debut against Burgos during the 2019-2020 season. The experience was intense but transformative. A pivotal moment came when a coach and a moment of courage shifted his confidence on the field. A fierce first scrum and a tense moment in his early days highlighted the challenge and reward of rising to the occasion. The rugby path continued, and a notable season later brought him to the field against Alcobendas in Altamira, where his resilience shone through. His ascent was not without setbacks; an ankle injury limited his play that season, and personal concerns, including his mother’s hospitalization, weighed on him. Yet he kept in touch with family, shared photos, and managed to visit during a legal window when his papers were ready. His faith remains a compass, guiding him away from alcohol and toward the simple joys of Basque country cuisine, especially skewers, while weather and rain still test his tolerance. He explains that distance never weakened his beliefs or his resolve to keep moving forward.
Titi, precedent
Spain has seen other sub-Saharan athletes who crossed borders in pursuit of rugby. Thierry Futeu’s story stands out, having played more than a dozen matches for the national team and juggled citizenship issues with government authorities. Some athletes were naturalized to replace others lost to international competition, but rugby players faced a different bureaucracy. Other cases have followed, with various paths toward opportunity that sometimes required extraordinary persistence. In a broader sense, the journey of many players mirrors the ongoing struggle for recognition and belonging in a new homeland. The path to sport and settlement can be long and winding, and it often hinges on community support and personal determination.
Cameroonian Yves Kepse was among those who began by crossing borders and seeking a new life. His journey, starting in Banganté in 2012, included years of hardship across several countries before reaching Spain. He moved through Rugby Club Valencia and CRAT from A Coruña before finding a place in France. The experience of Futeu, who traveled through multiple countries in a short time, underscored the resilience required to pursue rugby at a professional or semi professional level. Kepse’s story highlights the role of perseverance and team support as essential ingredients for lasting integration. He remains committed to the team and to those who helped him when he first landed in Madrid.
In Seville, a rugby program connected to the SAMU Foundation brought together unaccompanied migrant youths from Africa and other regions. A local team in Seville’s CR San Jerónimo emerged as a space for learning, building language skills, and reducing conflict through sport. The experience of these young players demonstrates how rugby can serve as a powerful bridge to integration, offering structure, purpose, and a sense of community to youths in care. This narrative underscores rugby as more than a game; it acts as a catalyst for social cohesion and personal growth across Spain.
At the heart of these stories lies a common thread: sport as a pathway to dignity, belonging, and opportunity despite adversity. The field becomes a place to define a new identity while honoring roots from home. Across borders, rugby delivers a shared language of effort, teamwork, and resilience that resonates with young migrants and their communities alike. Through the challenges and triumphs, these athletes remind readers that every setback can become a stepping stone toward a better future for themselves and those who stand with them in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.