As rugby continues to grow throughout the Caribbean, NACRA has introduced the game to St Kitts and Nevis using its values as the hook

The joys of rugby are well known up on the South African highveld, down in the Welsh valleys and in the Canterbury plains but now the game has arrived at a new and, arguably, even more exotic destination.

A spot of cricket on the beach or sprinting on the athletics track may be the sporting activities that first spring to mind when the sun-soaked Caribbean twin-island nation of St Kitts and Nevis is mentioned. However, while cricketers such as Keith Arthurton or athletes like Desai Williams have previously inspired the country’s youngsters, potentially a new breed of rugby player will be the ones making headlines in years to come.

Over the past year, kids in St Kitts and Nevis have been introduced to the game thanks to World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby initiative, enthusiastically implemented by the North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA).

The Get Into Rugby scheme has already been a hit in other Caribbean countries, such as Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, where there was already a rugby presence. In 2014, NACRA set the task of introducing the game to areas where rugby was not played, by working with local Olympic committees.

Indeed, the programme has been hugely successful throughout the continent with 16 NACRA unions taking part in more than 50 locations around North America and the Caribbean. So far that has introduced 13,900 youngsters to the game for the first time, including 6,200 girls, through more than 600 training sessions and Get Into Rugby festivals.

St Kitts and Nevis embrace Get Into Rugby The St Kitts and Nevis National Olympic Committee sent a representative to NACRA’s ‘New Country’ initiative in 2013 where rugby was explained and introduced to people who had never experienced it before. The NOC immediately embraced the introduction of Get Into Rugby so, in 2014, it invited NACRA to make a first visit to train teachers and volunteers.

Trinidad and Tobago woman Kwanieze John, who works as a Get Into Rugby instructor for NACRA, and Tom Jones, World Rugby Regional General Manager, were the lucky ones to make the trip to the shores of St Kitts and Nevis. John has since made a second visit, this time with Kurt Weaver of USA Rugby.

John explains the importance of directing their rugby education programme towards primary and secondary age students.

“We need to build a culture and, as young kids are more impressionable, it needs to be the right culture. This is particularly true as there is no local rugby for them in St Kitts and Nevis. It's about the opportunity to make rugby their own,” she said.

So, what is this rugby culture like?

A rugby culture is being instilled

“It is great to address education, health and physical fitness through sport to become not just a better rugby player but to become a better person,” she said.

“Teamwork is heavily emphasised. The integrity of the game, that they have to be honest, they have to be accountable to their team-mates, their coaches, their school, keep maintaining good grades.”

These efforts are supported in St Kitts and Nevis and in other Caribbean countries by the fact that rugby has become part of the physical education curricula. It was during her own school years in Trinidad that John herself first encountered and fell in love with rugby.

“The coach came into our school and she had a very powerful personality, and I wanted to be as strong as her. That was what it was really about for me because I had no idea what rugby really was when I got started, not a clue!”

It was this character building aspect of the game that particularly appealed to the then 15-year-old.

Rugby helped me to make friends

For me, rugby was an opportunity to travel and to make friends with other girls my age who were just as passionate to be as involved with sport as I was. Rugby did a lot for my character as well, you were seen as a strong girl in school.”

Ten years later, John’s desire to promote rugby across the Caribbean and experience in doing so is impressive considering she is still only 25.

In telling of how rugby impacted upon her life as a teenager while growing up in the tough Port of Spain neighbourhood of St Barbs, John expounds on how rugby can be used to help fight socio-economic disadvantage.

“Rugby was an escape for me. I grew up kind of rough, in a sense, in a place where your peers heavily influenced you. Rugby was a lifesaver for me because I grew up in a harsh community. That was just my environment but it wasn’t who I really was. Who I am now has a lot to do with the school I attended, my mentors and the people who looked out for me.

“In my community I saw a lot of girls have children as teenagers and that became their whole life. What rugby did for me was see beyond that, that there were different paths and there are different experiences you can find through sport.”

Desire to inspire others

John’s path that began with rugby has included being capped for her country at senior level playing both sevens and 15s, studying at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, working with the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and last year being their chef de mission for their delegation to the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

These achievements she believes stem from her involvement in rugby and feed into her desire to inspire others.

“I know what sport did for me as a young woman and I have always wanted to share that opportunity with others. I want to inspire others to take up sport as a career or working in sport development as a career. The changes sport can make to the lives of young people are priceless.”

She once again returns to the social aspect of rugby when expressing the benefits of sport for young girls in particular.

The value of solidarity is so important

“We emphasise the values of rugby such as solidarity and how, as women, they should not tear each other down but they need to support each other.

“We tell them that they are part of a wider community and that does a lot for girls and the boys. Because sometimes boys feel very alone despite their machismo, so that camaraderie and friendship are definitely parts of the rugby programme.”

John provides some stirring words to prompt any teenager regardless of where he or she may be in the world to pick up an oval ball.

“Rugby really saved me because I didn’t always have somebody to talk to but I would go on the field and all my worries would just drop away. I became a different person when I was on that green grass. When I am out on the field I am really at peace.”

by Kate Rowan Source: NACRA Info Page.

Trinidad and Tobago's national men and women rugby 7s teams are in contention to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and will travel to the USA to participate in the North America and Caribbean region Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification tournament .

The North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) has announced  that the Triangle Sports Commission has been selected to serve as the local host of the 2015 NACRA  Sevens rugby tournament on June 13-14, which will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

This event will serve as the regional qualification tournament for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Triangle Sports Commission, based in Cary, is one of only 10 United States Olympic Committee Community Olympic Partner organizations, and, as such, has a significant focus on supporting major Olympic and amateur sports events and activities.

“To be able to host this international qualifying tournament for next year’s Rio Olympic Games is quite a coup for the region,” said Hill Carrow, CEO of the Triangle Sports Commission. “It gives us the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of Olympic participation and competition with one of the fastest growing sports in the world. In addition, this tournament will enable us to outfit WakeMed Soccer Park permanently to host major rugby events, which expands the capabilities of the park and can lead to additional long-term positive economic benefits for the area. For those of us involved with the initial plan and funding for WakeMed, as well as the recent expansion of the venue, that aspect is particularly exciting.”

Qualification Process

The initial round of qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games – the first Olympiad to include Rugby Sevens on the Games Program – will result from the 2014-15 World Rugby HSBC Sevens World Series (men’s) and 2014-15 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. The top four teams from each Series will qualify for the Olympics (in addition to Brazil, which automatically qualifies as the host country).

The United States Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens National Teams remain in contention to qualify for Rio 2016 in their respective Series, with the men sitting in ninth place after three of nine tournaments and the women in seventh with five tournaments remaining.

National teams that do not qualify through the Series will participate in regional qualifiers around the world, to include the NACRA Sevens in June. The top finisher from both the men’s and women’s bracket will join the Series qualifiers on their way to the Olympics.

“In light of the continued growth and popularity of rugby throughout the NACRA region and with this year’s Series also being the qualification tournament for Rio 2016, it is important that such an event be held at a high quality venue with strong local partners in order to showcase rugby sevens,” NACRA Chief Operations Officer Niall Brooks said. “WakeMed, together with the Triangle Sports Commission leading the Local Organizing Committee, fulfills this criteria and I am sure all teams, players, officials, and spectators are looking forward to a successful and thoroughly enjoyable sevens tournament.”

WakeMed Soccer Park, venue for the Qualifier, is home to the North American Soccer League’s Carolina Railhawks. The 150-acre complex in Cary, N.C., contains a 10,000-seat natural grass stadium with two additional championship fields, and multiple practice fields on site.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic cycling hopefuls have been provided with a slight competitive advantage ahead of the 2016 Summer Games since the spanking new 250 metre Siberian spruce track laid at National Cycling Velodrome, Couva, last week, is an almost replica of the sleek surface which will play host to cycling events at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This was revealed by German Ralph Schuermann, architect and engineer of Schuermann Architects, and the man in charge of ensuring the successful laying of the surface at the Couva facility. Schuermann’s organisation has also been selected to construct the competitive track in Brazil for all indoor cycling events next year.

Speaking to the professional builder at the track’s unveiling in Balmain, Couva, yesterday, he indicated that TT nationals should have an extra edge.

“This is our 144th track we have built around the world,” said Schuermann. “In a few weeks time we are going to start to build the Olympic track and we are going to install this in Rio de Janeiro in autumn. It will be pretty similar to this track if you train here, you will definitely have an advantage at the Olympics.”

At the track’s unveiling yesterday, generations of local cyclists were all smiles as over 20 years of promises were finally materialised. Veteran national representatives such as Gene “Geronimo” Samuel, Roger Frontin and Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF) president Robert Farrier, along with Olympic rider Njisane Phillip and several other promising national cyclists and enthusiasts were also present at the venue to test the smooth surface for the first time.

Schuermann also indicated that the seats are yet to be installed, air conditions still to be turned on and minor outdoor work to be done, to ensure total completion of now International Cycling Union (UCI) — sanctioned arena.

Schuermann added, “We have already received approval of the UCI for this building and we have the certification for the track. There’s still some minor work to do but the track is completed and as you can see, the cyclists are overjoyed.”

During the visit, national representatives such as Phillip, Keron Bramble, Akil Campbell, Quincy Alexander, Jude Codrington, Justin Roberts and females Kollyn St George, Keiana Lester and Denese Francis all took the opportunity to familiarise themselves on the shiny new track.

Speaking to Minister of Sport Brent Sancho at the venue, he gave credit to the works of the main contractor Shanghai Construction Group (SCG), the Government and all other associates for a job well done.

“History has been made in Trinidad and Tobago in the sport of cycling and history will continue to be made with the swimming and tennis facilities on the way as well — both have been coming along nicely.

“We have now put ourselves on the sporting world map and will now be known to have the best cycling arena in the Western Hemisphere. This is also great for sport tourism and we anticipate this location being a number one destination for foreign cyclists,” said Sancho.

TTCF boss, Farrier, also revealed that the cycling fraternity is presently working on a plan to ensure that this facility is fully utilised. These plans, he revealed, will be rolled out in due course since discussions are still underway with the newly appointed Sport Minister.

Although unconfirmed, the local cycling family is expected to host its first professional race in mid-May when TT’s elite and junior riders gear up for this year’s edition of the National Cycling Championships. However, the official opening is scheduled to take place when TT host the inaugural UCI-sanctioned “Grand Prix of Balmain”.

Originally, the scheduled date was listed as June 12-14 but due to minor delays, this date has been pushed back to ensure smooth operations on opening night. The official opening date is yet to be released.

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The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) as part of its new strategic marketing and brand management plan, is adopting an entrepreneurial, vibrant and dynamic market driven, new business development approach to revenue generation for its programmes and projects. This includes the strategic vision to achieve 10 or more Olympic Gold medals by the year 2024. In an effort to support this marketing plan and vision, the TTOC has set up an in house marketing department that will handle the TTOC marketing, branding, new business and commercial development, merchandising and licensing programme.

The mandate of the TTOC marketing department is to break down barriers with new ideas and approaches.  “As an organization we must always strive to celebrate and embrace disruptive thinking and challenge conventional wisdom,” said TTOC President Brian Lewis. “This department will drive the TTOC's business and commercial agenda, growth and value strategy. We are at a critical juncture, and it is of even greater importance for us to achieve financial independence and strength for the TTOC while at the same time maintaining the TTOC's identity and not compromising its core Olympic values and ideals.”

For the Rio 2016 Olympic Games the TTOC will be putting in place the required legal checks and balances to protect its Olympic Franchise, including the TTOC, the Trinidad and Tobago(TTO ) Olympic Team and the legitimate TTOC Olympic sponsors and partners from opportunistic marketing and ambushers. This effort comes as no surprise as sporting organizations including the TTOC move to protect their bottom lines.

President Lewis in highlighting the issue stressed that the TTOC, has to ensure that cash flows into, not out of its coffers so that the organization can support not only athletes, but key projects and programmes that aim to develop sport in Trinidad and Tobago.

“It’s one thing to understand what your brand stands for but it matters not unless you protect your brand. Defending your rights and what you stand for is central to what the Olympic movement is all about. Ambush marketing is not a game. It’s a serious issue that can undermine the TTOC's efforts to fund its 10 Gold medals by the year 2024 Athlete Welfare and Preparation programme and other programmes such as women in sport and sport for all.”

The Olympic Games is the world's most valuable and important franchise. As the largest sporting event in the world it provides companies with a marketing opportunity unlike any other. Moreover as a corporate marketing and promotional platform the five Olympic rings is considered one of the world's most iconic, recognizable and valuable brand.

Exclusivity is a cornerstone of the Olympic Movement's marketing programmes. The IOC and National Olympic Committees provides partners with one of the highest levels of protection of any major sports property. In keeping with this, the TTOC as brand stewards will take all necessary advertising and legal measures to educate the public on who the TTOC and TTO Olympic Team sponsors are. It will also take steps to protect its right and those of its partners. Lewis further stated that “We have to protect our sponsors and partners promotional rights. We will not be turning a blind eye. At this time we want to assure our sponsors and partners that our Olympic team will be protected by the TTOC. At the TTOC we have a duty, obligation and responsibility to develop and use the Olympic brand to its full potential. It’s something we take quite seriously, and our in house marketing department will form a key part of this.”

Sport is played according to rules and the Olympic Movement was founded on a clear set of values and ethics. Under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Charter, the TTOC has sole and exclusive authority for the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Team, Olympic Movement and Olympic Franchise in the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago.

Medals for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan American Games have been unveiled at a ceremony held at the Royal Ontario Museum in the Canadian city today.

Organisers claim the medals reflect the "rich story of the People's Games", with a layered design expressing the values of inclusion and diversity, while also encompassing the Aboriginal traditions of welcoming guests and cherishing natural world beauty.

Mark Tewksbury, who won gold for Canada at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, hosted the ceremony and the former swimmer argued how the "Toronto 2015 medals are pieces of art in their own right and reflect all the hard work, dedication and difficult journey athletes will take to wear one around their neck and cherish for life".

The metals were sourced by the Barrick Gold Corporation before being designed and produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, who for the first time in medals history applied the ancient technique of mokume gane, the fusing of different alloys, in order to produce the medals.

They believe that the technique reflects the coming together of athletes to compete in the Games under the motto "United We Play".

Additionally braille also features on the medals to reflect Toronto 2015's commitment to diversity, which will be the first time it has featured on both the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games medals.

"Royal Canadian Mint employees have come together with pride to produce one-of-a-kind medals which truly symbolise the years of training and effort put forth by the remarkable athletes who will compete at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games this summer," said Sandra Hanington, President and chief executive officer of the Royal Canadian Mint.

The Pan Am Games are set to take place from July 10 to 26, with the Parapan Am Games due to follow from August 7 to 15, with 4,283 medals in total up for grabs across the competitions.

"When an athlete has a medal hung around their neck, it is a beginning not the end," added Elisabeth Walker-Young, Team Canada's Chef de Mission for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

"The medals that are given out at the Games will hold pride of place in homes, hearts and memories throughout the Americans for decades to come.

"Through the design of the medal, the unity and joy of the Games live on."

With the countdown continuing until the Games, the competition medals will be on temporary exhibition at the Royal Ontario museum from March 14 to 29 and will be available for public viewing at the Royal Canadian Mint pavilion at CIBC Pan Am Park, during the Games.

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