Strap on your seat belt and grab a crash helmet. A wild ride is about to begin as the Deloitte Cayman Sevens Rugby Tournament returns 18-19 June. The annual Grand Cayman invitational has become world renowned by consistently drawing elite players from the Pacific region, Europe, North America and the Caribbean.
The fierce Fijians of Red Rock will be back to defend their crown. In last year’s tournament, the Fiji sevens champs ran around and over the competition, winning the final against a tough British Army team, 43-7.
‘The field will definitely be as good as ever,’ said Mark Stabler, an organiser. ‘The teams we have this year will be excellent.’
Stabler says the Deloitte Cayman Sevens is here to stay, having established itself as A hot date on the world sevens calendar.
‘Players see it as the number-one invitational in the world now,’ he said. ‘It’s succeeded very well and gets plenty of attention in the international media. We hope more local people will come and enjoy the action. It will be fun.’
Cayman Islands rugby technical director Richard Adams says the sevens competition is a big boost for Cayman .
‘Fans are going to see worldclass players here,’ said Adams. ‘This tournament has a reputation of being a very high-calibre competition. It’s a huge favorite among the best players worldwide. They love coming here to the Cayman Islands. They love the beach, the people, the watersports and they love the tournament.’
Adams believes fans will appreciate the always intense and speedy sevens. Those who like American football, he says, will easily fall in love with the Deloitte Cayman Sevens, for example. He also praises the tournament for boosting the sport’s development locally. Visiting players visit schools and conduct coaching seminars with young players. A contribution of $5 for every ticket sold is made to Cayman youth rugby and, perhaps most importantly, Cayman’s young players get the rare chance to see the skills and flair of great players in action.
The Deloitte Cayman Sevens will be held at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Ticket information and more details are available at the tournament’s official Website (www.cisevens.com)
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