Upon request from all referees present at the recent NAWIRA Seven-s-Side Tournament in Nassau I have compiled a Fitness Chart for referees within NAWIRA (excluding USA & Canada).
It is important to stress that the chart depicts guidelines of fitness and are NOT meant to be restrictive in any way. Rather, the chart is meant to stimulate interest in the fitness aspect of refereeing I have tried to take into account the high degree of temperature and humidity within the region regarding the aerobic aspect of the fitness requirements and, therefore, my calculations may have to be adjusted according to feedback from unions and their match officials.


Aside from the Leger 'Beep Test', all tests require a minimum of equipment (a measuring tape, a 400m track, and a stop watch). The Beep test requires an audio tape and player. (available from the Union).

It is my hope that all referees will take up the challenge to determine how they stand with regard to fitness. But it is essential to point out that the scores represent the minimum fitness requirements only and referees should not make the tests a competition amongst themselves.

I have included the iRB standards, with modification to scores to the 1600m Run. The iRB run is measured over 2400m but I have decided that it would be most unfair to include this distance in the fitness chart within The West Indies due to climate. However, for interest's sake, I have included the iRB standard for the 12 Minute Run Test (No doubt, the very fittest will take up this challenge).


Within time it is hoped that fitness results may be incorporated in each certified referee's portfolio. But before then, I hope all referees will enjoy taking the challenge of measuring their fitness standards and, when necessary, planning a programme of training for improvement.


Source: Roy Harvey (Director of Officials for NAWIRA)

From Joe Wipple,

West Indies Head Coach/Chairman of Selectors


I am please to announce the Rugby West Indies squad for the USA Sevens tournament in San Diego in 2008.


The players competed for the 12 travelling and 5 non-travelling (reserve) spots in the NAWIRA 7s tournament in Nassau, the Trinidad mini camp and the Trinidad 7s. We had 22 players in our camp in Trinidad and every one of them gave a very good account of themselves. In some cases, experience prevailed over youth and in others the fitness of some was not quite up to the standard required for the next level.
I am confident that we will see all of these 22 compete for the West Indies in the future, provided they put forth the effort. We expect to compete in more tournaments this year and we will be looking at additional players for these tournaments. Our basic selection criteria remain: a good level of fitness, strong in the tackle, able to play the team pattern and demonstrating good ball handling skills.

I thank our selectors:
Noel Adonis (Guyana)

Victor Hyder (Jamaica)
Curtis Nero (Trinidad)

Dave Mays (Cayman)
Spenser Robinson (Technical Director)

Read more »

Thanks to Jennifer O'Neill for these photographs.


I've reduced the quality of the images considerably in order to present them here and these don't do Jen's photography justice. However, if you'd like a full quality ( 4.5MB ) copy of any of the pictures below, please contact me: ely@rugbybahamas.com, quoting the image ID number.


There are 150 pictures in total and I've put them in groups of 30, in chronological order of games throughout the two days. This is the fifth set.

DSC0297
DSC0303

DSC0321

Read more »

Thanks to Jennifer O'Neill for these photographs.


I've reduced the quality of the images considerably in order to present them here and these don't do Jen's photography justice. However, if you'd like a full quality ( 4.5MB ) copy of any of the pictures below, please contact me: ely@rugbybahamas.com, quoting the image ID number.


There are 150 pictures in total and I've put them in groups of 30, in chronological order of games throughout the two days. This is the fourth set.

DSC0260
DSC0238

DSC0280

Read more »

Thanks to Jennifer O'Neill for these photographs.


I've reduced the quality of the images considerably in order to present them here and these don't do Jen's photography justice. However, if you'd like a full quality ( 4.5MB ) copy of any of the pictures below, please contact me: ely@rugbybahamas.com, quoting the image ID number.


There are 150 pictures in total and I've put them in groups of 30, in chronological order of games throughout the two days. This is the third set.

DSC0171
DSC0194

DSC0219

Read more »