A new women’s rugby 7s league kicks off in earnest Saturday, with a new format, new teams and a host of players trying the game for the first time.
Women’s rugby continues to grow in Cayman, with more and more females attracted to the sport, especially Caymanians including Shenel Gall, Chynae Samuels, Jenna Richards, Jodie McTaggart and Tracey Seymour.
Following the success of Cayman’s national team last year in the NACRA 7s held in Cayman and the Tobago 7s, the game has continued to grow.
A boot camp in February attracted several new recruits who have been honing their skills and getting ready for the start of a new league.
The league consists of three new teams: the OMNI Sharks, the John Doak Architecture Lady Iguanas and the Kirk Freeport All Diamonds.
They will play for the annual Hob Nob Trophy twice a year, in the spring and fall, providing more domestic play and vital experience.
Gall, better known as a footballer, is the newly appointed captain of the OMNI Sharks.
“I had a great time last season, my first in rugby, but the last few months have been a little frustrating without proper competition,” Gall said. “But with the new league kicking off and a tour to Texas next month, I can’t wait to get my boots back on.”
McTaggart will skipper the All Diamonds and Joanne Ziegler, the national captain, will lead the Iguanas.
The three teams will compete on Saturdays until May to see who can claim the title. The women’s national team competes in the Texas 7s next month against some excellent teams from the southwestern United States, another place where rugby is growing fast.
But for now the girls are looking forward to the first games of the new season that kick off at the rugby club in South Sound at noon Saturday and run through until 2:30 p.m.
The teams thanked their sponsors, OMNI, Kirk Freeport and John Doak Architecture for their support.
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