Life According to Rugby

STYLE Name: Rob Vann Age: 40 Nationality: Scottish Hobbies and interests: Anything with a ball Favourite Czech food: Jelito and jitrnice Life According to Rugby Rob Vann is a teacher and a rugby coach. He teaches English and brings modern world rugby to Ostrava. Where do you come from and what is your relationship to Ostrava? I‘m from Scotland and Ostrava is home to me, my wife, our three kids and a mortgage. I live in Ostrava-Poruba and I really like this part of town -- I can easily leave the city and spend my time in nature. What is exciting about the region for you? As a Scot, I take Ostrava as a place where my grumpiness is viewed as flagrant optimism. I can also see some similarity between my hometown of Aberdeen and Ostrava -- industry is an essential part of the history and the present. And nature is very close to both cities. There is a sea in Aberdeen and there are mountains and forests near Ostrava. Why did you decide to cooperate with the 1st International School of Ostrava in the past? Chemistry is the alpha and omega in any workplace. The 1st International School of Ostrava is just a good group of people doing a fantastic job. I worked there as an English teacher for almost two years and my son attends the partner school, The Ostrava International School. What is your rugby mission here about? Camaraderie, sport, self-development, the craic... the list goes on. I‘ve played most of my senior rugby for Mariánské Hory and as the body gave up, I moved into coaching. The game‘s values offer a lot, especially for kids nowadays. Rugby is an inclusive sport, a sport for all shapes and sizes; it changes lives for the better and I like being a part of that. Text: Mgr. Ivo Helebrant, ředitel školy 1st International School of Ostrava - mezinárodní gymnázium, s.r.o. Foto: archiv 1st International School of Ostrava - mezinárodní gymnázium, s.r.o. www.is-ostrava.cz POSITIV 3/2019 ǀ 89