Rugby sevens' efforts to get back on the Olympic programme received a boost when the sport got provisional approval for inclusion on the programme of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC).

At the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CASCO)general assembly held January 29-31 in Vera Cruz, Mexico, the regional organisation conditionally agreed that rugby sevens will be included as an official sport at the 2010 CAC Games to be held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, provided the International Rugby Board ( IRB ) can meet certain criteria. That includes presenting to CASCO within 90 days the list of a minimum of 16 Central American and Caribbean rugby unions who are members of their respective national Olympic committees.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Larry Romany attended the meeting along with secretary-general Brian Lewis. Romany said the pending inclusion of rugby sevens in the CAC Games is a timely boost for the sport in the region.

However, he called on the West Indies Rugby Union (WIRU) and the North America and West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) to step up their efforts to popularise the sport in the region.

"Rugby sevens has an opportunity through its inclusion on both the Pan Am and CAC games programme to enhance its status in the Americas region. I encourage the international, regional and national rugby bodies to grab the opportunity with both hands," he said

Romany believes the Caribbean are well poised to contest for rugby sevens medals at both the CAC and Pan Am Games.

Source: Trinidad Express