A bigger and better Carib Tobago International Rugby 7s Tournament is what is being promised by organisers of the invitational event, which will be staged in Bon Accord, Tobago, for the second straight year, in two weeks’ time.
The competition, through host Tobago Rugby Football Club, the event’s contracted head planner Brian Stollmeyer of Braxter’s Ltd and a number of supporting sponsors, in particular Carib Brewery, have pushed for it to become one of the top invitational rugby sevens competitions in the western hemisphere.
This was relayed at the launch of the competition held at Hospitality Suite, Carib Brewery Compound, Champs Fleurs, yesterday, which is expected to attract clubs from several continents. The event will be held from December 8-9.
No stranger to T&T’s shores, Scottish club Border Reivers will return along with a host of exciting clubs from the United Kingdom, North America, South Africa and the Caribbean. Defending champion Stag Trinidad Northern, Harvard,
Caribs, Police and host Tobago RFC are just some of the local clubs which have also confirmed participation.
Some 12 clubs will vie for the Carib Cup in the men’s competition, while the women’s division is expected to attract almost as many clubs, as they chase the top cash prize of US$5,000.
With top officials making the trip from major rugby nations such as Australia, Ireland and Scotland, the level of competition should be at its peak. Two women referees will also oversee proceedings.
The prizes and the game itself are just some of the attractions which the foreign clubs can look forward to. The organisers, however, have insisted that this too is as much an event for the spectator as it is for the athlete, with the natural splendour of Tobago being the ideal destination for such a event, which has increased nearly twofold in response since the first staging last year.
And, not only is the tournament expected to raise the standard of rugby in the country and region, but increase the awareness of the potential of sports tourism.
So said Colin Murray, sponsorship and events manager of Carib Brewery. Murray, who spoke at the launch, expressed pride in the title sponsor’s involvement for the second year and indicated that an event such as this is what is required to boost the image of the sister isle.
Tourism Development Company (TDC) director of sport, Manohar Ramsaran, was also of the view that the event is vital in making strides for Tobago to become a top destination for sports tourism.
According to Ramsaran, Tobago alone is already one of the top destinations for sports tourism in the West Indies, and he relayed the idea that T&T may one day become the cricketing T20 capital of the world. The island is particularly popular for extreme sports, surfing, powerboat racing, and even the unorthodox goat racing, which too is on the Carib Tobago 7s agenda for the enjoyment of visitors.
In terms of the development of the sport, TTRFU president Leslie Figaro said that T&T can use such an event to broaden its international experience in the game as the country seeks to be involved at the Olympic games, which recently introduced the sport into its series of events (beginning in 2016).
Figaro targeted the women’s game, which despite challenges, has excelled on the regional stage. “Women’s rugby in T&T is doing very well, notwithstanding some of the challenges in terms of competition (league), but recently the Nacra tournament (there) was an excellent showing,” said Figaro.
He revealed that the country has been invited to be part of the US sevens circuit next year, in Houston, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada. Figaro said that T&T has been given the approval to host the Nacra U-19 Sevens Championship in July, next year.
The Tobago Sevens, which is just two weeks away has already received a broad range of support, including that of the Sport Company of T&T, TDC, the Tobago House of Assembly, Caribbean Airlines, and at least four dozen other sponsors. Stollmeyer put the cost of the event at $500,000.
By Andrew Gioannetti
Source: www.guardian.co.tt