Cyprus dispute Kingdom of Cyprus. In February 1489 it was seized by the Republic of Venice. Between September 1570 and August 1571 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, starting three centuries of Turkish rule over Cyprus. Starting in the early nineteenth century, ethnic Greeks of the island sought to bring about an end to almost 300 years of Ottoman rule and unite Cyprus with Greece. The United Kingdom took administrative control of the island in 1878, to prevent Ottoman possessions from falling under Russian control following the Cyprus Convention, which led to the call for union with Greece ("enosis") to grow
Greece national rugby union team The current coach of the Greek national team is Mike Bishop taking over from Niall Doherty who is currently involved with Turkey. It is unknown when rugby was first played in Greece. During the mid 19th century, English and French sailors are recorded as playing some of the earliest games in northern Greece. Squad to 2014 European Nations Cup - Division 2D. Reserves Greece national rugby union team The Greece National Rugby Union team represents one of the world's newest rugby union playing nations. The national team is governed by the HRF (Hellenic Rugby Federation), or EOP (Elliniki Omospondia Rugby),