Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange on, January 10, 2008, presented a sponsorship cheque to the Jamaica Rugby Team to assist with their preparation for the International Rugby Board (IRB) Youth World Championship slated for Santiago, Chile, April 9-30, 2008.

In presenting the cheque to Chairman of the Jamaica Rugby Union Mr. Jacob Thompson, Minister Grange commended the team for its hard work and dedication to the development of the sport for over 30 years.


She acknowledged the team's achievement and commended them on receiving the IRB trophy, the second highest award given out by the organization and for being the only team outside of Europe to receive the award.


Jamaica is the first and only English speaking country to qualify for the event, joining other countries such as Uruguay, Romania, Namibia and Korea. Thirty two members of the team are now in training with a final 26 to be selected to represent the country at the Chile games.

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You can't fault the Jamaicans when it comes to bleeding the well.


It seems that the 5 team "Jamaican Rugby League Association", which is heavily sponsored by the English League, is largely the same people who play Union.


When I was growing up, 'League' was the enemy, you couldn't say the word in our house without risking a clattering from my dad. But it seems the JRFU, and particularly their main team, the Jamaican Defence Force have embraced both codes.
Now, it seems the British tax payers are getting in on the act, by supporting a tour of 'Disadvantaged Jamaican Communities' (quote) by the Royal Air Force.


At the same time, one of the best League Clubs in the world, Leeds Rhinos are sponsoring Jamaican Club side Kingston Vultures.

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Jamaica Qualified for the U 19 World Cup


There was bitter-sweet emotion at the Jamaica Rugby Union’s (JRU) press conference which should have commemorated the young Under-19s historic qualification to the Youth Rugby World Cup at the Sports Development Foundation complex on Wednesday.


A tension-filled room with media personnel, rugby executives, Under-19 players and parents gathered to reflect on Jamaica’s Under-19s recapturing the regional championship and qualifying for the Youth Rugby World Cup 2008 after they defeated Guyana 4-1 on penalties in a game
that was drawn 14-14 in regular playing time. However, instead of celebrating the country’s victory, the union found itself deliberating on the problems it faces going forward as an organisation.

“With the help from the Higher One, we defeated Guyana, it was a job well done for all our hard work,” were the words of team coach Victor Hyde.

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President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Noel Adonis has made a call to the local corporate community to offer support to Guyana's rugby efforts since the local men's side is likely to represent the region at the World Cup Sevens championships in 2009.

Adonis was speaking at a dinner over the weekend arranged by German's Restaurant at New Market Street to honour the Guyana men team's success at the just concluded NAWIRA (North American, West Indies Rugby Association) Sevens championships in the Bahamas.


Guyana retained the men's title at the tournament which attracted 12 teams from North America and the Caribbean; the Guyanese had also won the tournament in 2006.


He said the business community should follow the lead of the Urling brothers Clint and Hubert who offered to host a dinner for the players in appreciation of their achievement.


"We need to see more support forthcoming from the business community," Adonis said.

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Teamwork was the hallmark of the Guyana men's team's success at the NAWIRA (North American, West Indies Rugby Association) Sevens championships which was played last weekend in The Bahamas, coach Sherlock Sam told Stabroek Sport yesterday.


Guyana retained the men's title but the women's side failed to record a win at the regional rugby event which attracted a number of teams from North America and the Caribbean.


Solomon said that the teams had come fully prepared to challenge Guyana for the crown they won last year but he said his men were equal to the challenge.


"The players stepped up to the plate and it was all round performance and teamwork that helped us to win again, the coach said.


Guyana defeated Jamaica 7-5 in a hard-fought final, after both teams had shown their intention of being the teams to beat in the preliminary rounds.


The Guyanese had earlier beaten Martinique in the semi-finals 17-5 and got the better of Trinidad and Tobago 24-14 and USA South 17-7 on Sunday while a day earlier they disposed of Turks and Caicos 26-4, Barbados 29-0 and Mexico 26-5.

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