This article originally appearded in the Bahamas Journal on Tuesday.


Another young Bahamian is exploiting opportunities afforded by The Bahamas Rugby and Football Union.


Twenty-two year old Dan Woodside from Andros left for England last week to work and play there.


Arrangements were made for Woodside to become a member of the Luctonians, a leading rugby club in the English West Midlands. This club was founded in 1948, based at Mortimer Park, and located between England and Wales. This part of the country is known as the Marches.


Woodside arrived in England days before his birthday (August 1st). After his first training session on his birthday he was treated to a special gathering.


Since Woodside’s arrival, he has been registered with Medicare and set up his first bank account. The Androsian was also set to purchase a new pair of rugby boots this week.


Woodside intends to begin working this week but until then he is helping the club prepare to host one leg of the UK Professional Darts League.


The person responsible for arranging this opportunity for Woodside is the BRFU’s National Sevens’ Coach Andrew Davies.


Woodside is just one of the many talented young men who were developed in the BRFU’s Youth Programme.


According to Davies, a former member of the Luctonians, Woodside exhibited the talent, personality and discipline required to play at the level in England.


Davies said that Woodside has a wealth of raw talent that needs to be refined. Because of this many local sponsors jumped on board to invest in Woodside's full potential in the sport.

"I told my old club that I had a talented player and asked them if they were interested. They said yes.
"We have big hopes for him…this is a once in a life time opportunity. He will enjoy himself and we expect that he will bring the knowledge back home when he is completed,"

said Davies.

Follow up:

The National Sevens’ Coach further noted that more Bahamian student athletes must begin to consider taking up sports other than the core ones.


He said the sport of rugby offers alternative opportunities for the less fortunate Bahamian student athletes who do not have the credentials to obtain a collegiate scholarship.

"The thing about our country is that there are many limitations for Bahamian student athletes in that if they don’t go away on track and field scholarships it could mean the end of the road for them,"

noted Davies.


Regarding the chance of Woodside playing professionally some day, Davies said it was a reasonable goal but the Androsian would have to play for two years, put on more weight and be recognized by the right people.


Davies also made a distinction between Western professional sports and the International Rugby Board’s Sevens Circuit.

"Unlike the NBA or the NFL, playing pro rugby in Europe is not a lucrative career. The players just get a substantial amount of money to live comfortably and for the most part it is about experience and traveling,"

explained Davies.


Woodside is the second young Bahamian, (aside from team participation) who came up through the BRFU’s programme and afforded a chance to excel in rugby aboard.


In June, 22-year-old Jeremico Cooper was named to the 2006 West Indies’ Rugby Team to play at the Deloitte Cayman’s Sevens Tournament in the Cayman Islands.


Kevin Salabie was the first Bahamian to be selected to the WI squad last year.


Cooper got a chance to play against world-class professionals who regularly play on the International Rugby Board’s Sevens Circuit such as David Strettle from the English National Sevens Side and William Ryder from Fiji.


When Cooper returned home he summed up his experience saying,

"It was like playing against Michael Jordan"!

In other BRFU news, seasonal sevens play has taken a break and will resume in September.


Related Articles: Young Bahamian Set to Play in England | Bahamas Rugby at The Cape Fear 7s | Jeremico Cooper Back From Cayman Sevens