The Bahama Journal has learned that Bahamas Rugby and Football Union's National Men's Team arrived safely in Garrison Savannah, Barbados for the North America and West Indies Rugby Association's (NAWIRA) Digicel Sevens' competition which is set for today and tomorrow.


Sevens' rugby is a fast-paced version of the traditional game. The games format has seven players aside playing against each other in two seven-minute halves.


Fifteen men's teams and seven women's teams have been confirmed for this weekend's event.


The teams playing in the men's pool A are: Bermuda, Guyana, Barbados, Martinique, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The teams playing in pool B are: The Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands the Dominican Republic.
The teams making up pool C are: The United States (South), Trinidad and Tobago, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and St Lucia.

In the women's division, teams from Barbados, the United States, Jamaica, St Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines will battle.


Only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the next round on Day two.


Last year The Bahamas finished second in pool C, behind Jamaica and ahead of St. Lucia and Barbados' B team respectively. Jamaica is the defending Championship Cup WInners.


This time around National Coach Andrew Davies noted,

"We need to make sure that we are one of those teams that move on. We are looking for a win against one of the three larger teams, namely Jamaica, Trinidad or Guyana."

The 12-member BRFU's National Team comprises of Captain, Jamaal Curry, 2006 West Indies Rugby team member Jeremico Cooper, Timothy Thompson, Dave Sands, Raymond Simpson, Duran Beadle, Giovanni Rolle (from Freeport), 2005 West Indies Rugby team member, Kevin Salabie, Owen Hanna, Jonathan Sands, Charlie Edwards and Luctonians' team member (England) Devon Woodside. Edwards is the sole new member.


In related rugby news, those BRFU members who are not traveling with the national team, games are scheduled for action beginning 3 p.m. start at the Winton Rugby Field, today.


Source: Dahalia Smith, The Bahama Journal