Stag Trinidad Northerns retained the National 7s Rugby title Sunday but will not take part in the forthcoming Carib-sponsored International Rugby 7s tournament, scheduled for December 1 and 2 at the St Mary’s College Ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair.
Six teams, minus Northerns, the Marcus Minshall Cup winners, have earned the right to contest the international tournament.
Their omission came following a decision by the team’s management to skip the Classic Caterer’s 7s competition recently in Marabella.
A release yesterday stated that clubs must participate in all rugby 7s tournaments sanctioned by the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) if they are to be eligible for the International 7s play-offs.
But on Sunday the team showed why they are national champions by defeating archrivals Caribs in the final 26-14 at the Serpentine Road Ground. As expected the men in the familiar blue and white strips enjoyed most of the possession with the Llewellyn Barrow Memorial Trophy at stake.
Harvard which placed fifth at the national 7s championship have replaced Trinidad Northerns for the International 7s draw.
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The other teams will consist runner-up Caribs, Royalians who finished third, and automatic qualifiers Tobago Rugby Club which ended fourth. Meanwhile Rainbow also retained their national rugby 7s Under-19 title by virtue of whipping Harvard 28-nil in the final.
The young Rainbow men dominated the proceedings from start to finish to earn the crown and the bragging rights that goes with it.
In the Women’s division Royalians and Caribs shared the title as both could not pull off a win in the final.
The hard-fought encounter finished all at 12 and therefore a decision will be made by the TTRFU on which team will contest the international tournament.
The Rainbow senior team, which were considered a favourite to win the competition, arrived late for the opening game and could only muster a 12-12 tie in a Pool “A” encounter against Eastern Graduates. Having won the Police 7s tournament on two occasions and finishing as runner-up in the Classic Caterer’s championships, Rainbow got the better of Eastern Graduates 37-5 to claim the ninth spot.
Source: T&T Newsday
