Rugby union in the Cayman Islands

Rugby union in the Cayman Islands

Location of the Cayman Islands
Country Cayman Islands
Governing body Cayman Rugby
National team Cayman Islands
Registered players 2,256
Clubs 6
National competitions

Rugby union in the Cayman Islands is a growing sport. The Cayman Islands national rugby union team is ranked 62nd in the world, with 2,256 registered players.[1]

Governing body

The governing body is Cayman Rugby, which is a member of the International Rugby Board, and the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association NACRA.[1][2]

History

Although there has been interest in the game in the Cayman Islands for decades, it only became properly organised in 1972, when the Cayman Islands RFC was founded.[3] This team faced the challenge of having no rugby ball, pitch, and no clubhouse, for several years, and their nearest opponents were in Jamaica 600 miles away.[3] In 1975, however, Jeff Butterfield, a former England player acquired the rights to a piece of pine forest, which was turned into their pitch.[3]

Nowadays, the islands have their own men's team, and also a women's team, which was established in 2004. There is also a national Sevens team. A schools development programme is also now in force.[4]

The Cayman Islands compete in the Caribbean Championship, a tournament which includes Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, Martinique, Jamaica, the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Guyana.[5]

Teams

Male

Other former teams include:

Female

References

  1. 1 2 IRB.com retrieved 24 August 2009
  2. ↑ http://www.nawira.com/ retrieved 24 August 2009
  3. 1 2 3 Cotton, p14
  4. 1 2 3 Retrieved 4 August 2008 Cayman Rugby
  5. ↑ Bath, p78


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