This article appeared today in Nation News, Barbados.


THE FAST-PACED WORLD of "sevens" rugby will come to Barbados on Saturday and Sunday.

The North America and West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) will stage the Digicel Sevens Competition at the Garrison Savannah.


There will be 15 men's teams and seven women's teams vying for one of the most coveted prizes in the sport in this hemisphere.
The team from the United States (South) will start as favourites, but will face a strong challenge from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago.


Strong teams


There will also be strong teams coming from Bermuda, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and St Lucia.


In the women's section, the Barbadians will want to show they can compete against the strong players from the United States, Jamaica, St Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.


Joe Whipple, coach of the West Indies sevens teams and one of the chief organisers of this weekend's tournament, promised it would showcase some of the region's best.

"We have some strong teams coming and it will be a tough competition," he told NATIONSPORT.
"We expect the best players from the national teams to be here. This is a prestigious competition and will be fascinating for the fans."

Follow up:

Trials


Whipple added the tournament would be used as trials for the selection of the West Indies team for the International Rugby Board's Sevens competition in San Diego, United States, in February.

"Players will be out to showcase their talent in full, I'm sure.
"We will be looking to select the players to form the team for the Sevens next year, so that's a wonderful opportunity there as well,"

said Whipple who is also head coach of the Barbados team.


Sevens rugby is a fast-paced version of the traditional game. It's seven-a-side and played over two seven-minute halves.

"Over the weekend we will have multiple games per day. A team winning would play about seven games before reaching the final.
"It's fast, easy to follow and great for spectators," Whipple said.
"This weekend will be good for the sport of rugby in Barbados. Each time we play at home we try to put out good effort.
"In sevens, upsets can happen in a matter of seconds – a few mistakes and you're out.
"If somebody gets 'hot' and there are a few missed tackles, it could be over. Such is the sport."

Source: Philip Spooner for Nation News (Barbados)