Posted: July 15th, 2008

Junior Rugby Numbers Continue To Climb

Last Saturday saw the largest turnout for the TCI RFU Juniors rugby ever seen in the country. 39 junior rugby players attended the session held on Grace Bay with the squad going through a series of drills, games and exercises. The larger numbers have enabled the sessions to be divided into age groups with the juniors working together with players of their own age and size. Three groups lined up on Saturday; the Under 6’s, the Under 10’s and the Over 10’s. The broke off into their own groups, and with each group supervised by the TCIRFU member they went through a variety of training drills, learning and then putting into practice the basic skills required to play the game of rugby. Growing attendance from both Leeward and Five Cays is building as well as players from all around Providenciales.

The enthusiasm and dedication is encouraging and with the recommencement of the school terms the TCIRFU is looking to build on the success of the summer development program run at the Downtown Ball Park during the summer vacation period. Junior Development officer James Hamilton was quoted a saying that the schools throughout the country and in Providenciales in particular were being approached to work with the TCI Rugby Union over the next 12 months to establish an on-going rugby program at junior and high school level. The Rugby Union has organised a coach to be available go into schools and run training and skills sessions for rugby in conjunction with the existing physical education and sports programs.

This continuing development is essential to maintain the momentum established by the summer development program and to answer the demand from the junior players themselves who keep turning up in increasingly greater numbers to the Grace Bay beach sessions on Saturday morning. The TCI RFU is working with the TCI Sports Commission to obtain an alternate venue for the junior’s training sessions so that additional skills can be taught in a grass environment away from the beach.

This will enable further development as well as allowing a structured tournament to be played. For further information please see the TCIRFU website at www.rugby.tc or contact Jamie Tait on email: jctait@gmail.com

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