Source: The Barbados Advocate


As a result of the overwhelming success of last year's Digicel North America, West Indies Rugby Association's (NAWIRA) Men's and Women's Seven-a-Side Tournament, another tournament will be held this year.


Plans are well on stream for the upcoming tournament slated for the weekend of November 11 and 12, when fans will be treated to a bigger and better event.


This was revealed by Marquita Sugrim, Digicel's marketing executive. She explained that last years tournament, the biggest rugby tournament to be hosted in the Caribbean, proved to be such a success that NAWIRA requested Barbados to host the tournament again this year.

"We are again pleased to be supporting this exciting tournament, which provides an avenue for the sport of Rugby to gain more recognition in Barbados."
Sugrim added "Twenty-one teams from 15 nations will be coming to compete in the fast and entertaining format of the game this year."
Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Jamaica and the US will be represented in both men's and women's competition, while Cayman Islands, Mexico, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominican Republic and Guadeloupe will compete in men's action only," she said.

Follow up:

Donovan Bagwell, secretary of the Barbados Rugby Football Union (BRFU), expressed his gratitude to Digicel for the support saying:

"The BRFU is pleased that Digicel is sponsoring the tournament, as it was that support that made last years tournament such a huge success. Digicel's involvement ensures that there is an exciting, competitive atmosphere, and we expect this year's tournament to be truly bigger and better."

The BRFU expects more than 350 players, officials and supporters from NAWIRA member countries to participate in the two-day tournament and festival and, with help from the National Sports Council, has established a second pitch at the Garrison Savannah for the staging of this major sporting event.


There have also been several improvements to the Garrison Savannah facility, including improved seating facilities, refurbishment of the clubhouse and the establishment of a permanent irrigation system for the main pitch.

"This tournament has had positive effects on the development of rugby in Barbados, including for the first time, the formation of a women's rugby squad which competed in the 2005 Digicel NAWIRA men an women's Seven-A-Side tournament, and a triangular series with St. Vincent & St. Lucia.

"We therefore encourage all to come to the Garrison on November 11 and 12 to take in the rugby action and enjoy a thrilling sporting spectacular," Bagwell added.

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