Article by DeNez Jones in The Nassau Guardian. DeNez is a good friend of Bahamas Rugby, so when you see him, buy him a beer!



The Bahamas Rugby Football Union (BRFU) is urging players to get in shape for the upcoming Caribbean Zone 7's Championship being hosted in Barbados.

The tournament will include men's and women's teams from most of the Caribbean nations as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Training camp begins before the end of this month, with about 10 weeks left to prepare for the tournament.

"If we are going to mount a serious challenge at this tournament then the vast majority of the team need to work on their weaknesses, be it their fitness, strength or skill level, or even a combination of all three,"

said training camp co-ordinator Andrew Davies.


He has indicated to players that while they were lucky enough to qualify for the Caribbean Zone Championship with sub-par fitness, they won't be as fortunate in the upcoming event if their levels aren't improved.

Follow up:

"This won't happen by sitting on the couch hoping it will come right in the end. It also won't happen if you're waiting on one of your buddies to train with. The motivation to get off your backside and make of yourself what you can as a rugby player comes entirely from within and that's all you need to know,"

Davies emphasized.


In addition to attending the regional 7's tournament being hosted November 18 and 19, the BRFU has received word from the North American and West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) that they've won the bid to host the 2007 Caribbean 7's Championship Tournament.


According to BRFU secretary Stephen 'Stevie' Thompson, the current mandate by NAWIRA is that if the tournament is successfully hosted they will allow the tournament to be hosted again for a second year running, which is why the tournament was in Barbados in 2005 and will be again this year.

"In this regard, we should have the tournament here in 2007 and 2008 which should also double as a Rugby World Cup 7's Qualifier. That's all good news - now the work begins,"

he stressed.


The national men's rugby squad has already suffered a blow when hard-hitting forward Manoli Roussos announced that he was retiring from the sport. Having complained over the last few seasons about lower back pains, Roussos was advised by doctors to hang up his cleats. However, he won't disappear from the rugby scene totally. Apparently, Roussos has agreed to come on board as forwards coach for newly formed club The Dragons during the next season. He's also expected to assist with coaching the national team that will travel in November.


According to BRFU executives, the national training sessions for the 7's squad will not interfere with regular 15's club practices that are hosted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In fact, attending club practices is going to be very important in addition to the national training camp, according to Davies.


The major difference between rugby 7's and 15's is the amount of players on the field. Additionally, the tempo of the 7's game is much faster than 15's.


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