Rugby union in the Cayman Islands
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in the Cayman Islands
is a growing sport. It is ranked 62nd in the world, with 2,256 registered players.
, and the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association NACRA.
600 miles away. In 1975, however, Jeff Butterfield
, a former England
player acquired the rights to a piece of pine
forest, which was turned into their pitch.
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.
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
.
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 the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
is a growing sport. It is ranked 62nd in the world, with 2,256 registered players.
Governing body
The governing body is Cayman Rugby, which is a member of the International Rugby BoardInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
, and the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association NACRA.
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. This team faced the challenge of having no rugby ball, pitch, and no clubhouse, for several years, and their nearest opponents were in JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
600 miles away. In 1975, however, Jeff Butterfield
Jeff Butterfield
Jeffrey Butterfield was an England, British and Irish Lions, Northampton and Barbarians Rugby player and businessman....
, a former England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
player acquired the rights to a piece of pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
forest, which was turned into their pitch.
Nowadays, the islands have their own men's team
Cayman Islands national rugby union team
The Cayman Islands national rugby union team represents the Cayman Islands in the sport of rugby union. They have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments...
, and also a women's team
Cayman Islands women's national rugby union team
The Cayman Islands women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Cayman Islands, representing them at rugby union. The side played its first 15-a-side test in 2004.-History.:...
, which was established in 2004. There is also a national Sevens team. A schools development programme is also now in force.
The Cayman Islands compete in the Caribbean Championship, a tournament which includes Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national rugby union team
The Trinidad and Tobago national rugby union team represents Trinidad and Tobago in the sport of rugby union. Trinidad and Tobago have thus far not qualified for the Rugby World Cup finals, but have participated in qualifying tournaments since 1999...
, Bermuda
Bermuda national rugby union team
The Bermuda national rugby union team represents Bermuda in the sport of rugby union. Bermuda have thus far not played in a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments.-History:...
, Martinique
Martinique national rugby union team
The Martinique national rugby union team represents Martinique at the sport of rugby. Martinique has been playing international rugby since 1991 but has never qualified for a Rugby World Cup....
, Jamaica
Jamaica national rugby union team
The Jamaica national rugby union team represents Jamaica in the sport of rugby union. The team have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments...
, the Bahamas
Bahamas national rugby union team
The Bahamas national rugby union team represent the Bahamas in the sport of rugby union. The team have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournament. The nation is classified as tier three by the International Rugby Board .-History:The Bahamas made...
, British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands national rugby union team
The British Virgin Islands national rugby union team represents the British Virgin Islands in international rugby union. The nation are a member of the International Rugby Board and have yet to play in a Rugby World Cup tournament...
, Antigua
Antigua and Barbuda national rugby union team
The Antigua and Barbuda national rugby union team represents Antigua and Barbuda in the sport of rugby union. They have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, and have not participated in qualifying tournaments....
and Guyana
Guyana national rugby union team
The Guyana national rugby union team represents Guyana in the sport of rugby union. They have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments.-History:...
.
Male
- Queensgate Pigs Trotters RFC (Originally a police team)
- BPC Buccaneers RFC
- Don Fosters Iguanas RFC
- The Cayman Storm RFC
- The Cayman Surge
- ReMax Old Boys - Tarnished Turtles RFC