Rebuilding test rugby in the Caribbean

For the first time since 2011, Caribbean teams played have played non-sevens international rugby (Photo: Rugby Americas North)

The Caribbean Women’s Rugby 15-a-side Championship had a long, if isolated, history. Starting in 2003 (three years before the first Asian test championship) the tournament became an annual event from 2006 (apart from the odd hurricane).

However, by the 2010 tournament problems were becoming evident. Only two nations entered that year (Bahamas and the Cayman Islands) and, although the following year three teams (Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and a combined Caribbean Select) travelled to the Caymans, a combination of rising costs and sevens resulted in the tournaments disappearance from the schedule.

It is a story that has been repeated in other parts of the world, but sevens had a special attraction for the Caribbean beyond the usual attractions of lower cost and simplicity. The Caribbean was the only test-playing part of the world excluded from the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

Regardless of how well teams played, and however much was invested in the game, no test teams from outside the Caribbean ever visited the islands (though the USA and Canada’s U20s played in the 2010 tournament), and no island team ever had an opportunity to play a test match outside the region. Sevens, on the other hand, presented a pathway that could theoretically lead to the World Cup and even the Olympics. Trinidad were even given a chance to play a round of the World Series. Small wonder, therefore, that test rugby died.

Now, however, the newly reorganised regional body – now called Rugby Americas North (RAN) – have a plan to revive the game, starting this year with a two-day 10-a-side tournament, played as part of a week-long “RAN Superweek” in Miami, Florida.

Bahamas, Jamaica and traditional regional “super-power” Trinidad & Tobago took part along with a USA Rugby South team in games that were played with 15 minute halves.

In the end it was the USA Rugby South Panthers who came out on top, defeating Trinidad & Tobago 31-22 in the final. Third place went to Jamaica, who were too strong for the Bahamas in winning 27-0.

The results, perhaps, were less important than overall concept. In the end it may still require a more imaginative approach to World Cup qualification by World Rugby to cement a revival, but for now the regional association, and at least one of the regions two North American superpowers – the USA – are doing all they can to prove that there is rugby life in the Caribbean beyond sevens.

Results

THURSDAY, JULY 14th

DAY 6 Video

USA Rugby South

17

–

10

Trinidad & Tobago

Bahamas

20

–

17

Jamaica

Trinidad & Tobago

27

–

12

Bahamas

USA Rugby South

14

–

12

Jamaica

FRIDAY, JULY 15th

DAY 7 Video

Trinidad & Tobago

24

–

7

Jamaica

USA Rugby South

34

–

0

Bahamas

Third place:Bahamas

0

–

27

Jamaica

Final:USA Rugby South

31

–

22

Trinidad & Tobago