Rugby union in Saint Martin
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Saint Martin
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
is a minor, but growing sport. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly in half between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(53 km2) and the Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
(34 km2); it is the smallest inhabited sea island divided between two nations. However, as both countries are part of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, there is free movement between the two parts of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten.
Governing body
There are two governing bodies: the French Rugby Federation and the Netherlands Antilles Rugby FederationHistory
Rugby was introduced to Saint Martin by the French who colonised the area. More talented players tend to leave for Metropolitan FranceMetropolitan France
Metropolitan France is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica...
.
There have been occasional games against sides from the other Caribbean islands. Most of its rugby contacts are either with them, or with France itself.
Saint Martin has an annual rugby tournament. Anguilla Eels RFC
Rugby union in Anguilla
Rugby union in Anguilla is a minor, but growing sport. It is not ranked by the IRB as it is not affiliated in its own right.-Governing body:...
were finalists in the Saint Martin tournament in November 2006 and semi finalists in 2007.
Like many small islands, Saint Martin has low population, which makes rugby union development difficult. The main sport is association football, and the national population is a mere 72,892. On January 1, 2006 the population of the entire island was 72,892 inhabitants, 37,629 of whom lived on the Dutch side, and 35,263 on the French side. There are two main settlements, Marigot
Marigot, Saint Martin
Marigot is the main town and capital on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.-History and features:Originally a fishing village on a swamp for which it was named, Marigot was made capital during the reign of King Louis XVI, who built Fort St. Louis on a hill near Marigot Bay...
, and Philipsburg
Philipsburg, Netherlands Antilles
Philipsburg is the main town and capital of the country of Sint Maarten, on a narrow stretch of land between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. It functions as the commercial center of Saint Martin island, whereof Sint Maarten encompasses the southern half...
. RC Les Archibalds is the main club in Marigot.