T&T’s senior men’s rugby team made its first international appearance in just under a year count on Saturday when the team secured a comfortable 19-6 win away to Barbados in the Round Two (South) Nacra Rugby Championship, at the Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown.
It was a positive result for the Calypso Warriors, which last tasted national 15s action in June last year, when the team was eliminated from the IRB 2015 World Cup qualifying competition by rivals Guyana. Only a match prior to the disappointing loss suffered in Guyana last year, T&T met Barbados and won 32-3.
Saturday’s result saw T&T climb to the top of the three-team table on equal points (four) with Guyana, which defeated Barbados 19-17 a week prior ibn the Nacra Championship opener. Barbados, having lost its two matches was ruled out of progression to the championship match against the winner of the North Zone (consisting of USA South, Cayman Islands and Bermuda).
The next test for the Larry Mendez-coached T&T team comes a week after, this Saturday, when the team faces Guyana is what is expected to be a thrilling encounter at St Mary’s College Ground, Serpentine Road. A win will ensure T&T Round Three action against USA South, which topped the North division after two wins. The date for the Round Three match is yet to be decided.