Since joining the Cayman Rugby Club as women’s rugby manager in July, Mercedes Foy has focussed on rebuilding the sport for women and she is pleased with the results far.
“It’s been fantastic,” Foy told the Cayman Compass. “We started the programme four weeks ago, encouraging women of all shapes, all sizes and backgrounds from across the Cayman Islands to come down and give rugby a try, and they have been turning up in force.”
The sport in Cayman has been heavily dominated by men for many years. However, Foy is hoping to change that, beginning with organising camps and programmes for both girls and female adult players.
Foy said about 50 women are participating in the programme, training twice a week, and a youth programme is set to start on 6 Nov.
“We also have our junior rugby programme… [W]e are running four age groups this year, under 8, under 10, under 13 and under 16s,” Foy added.
Ciara Hansen is among several Caymanian players in the adult women’s programme. She said she has noticed a change since she first got involved in the sport several years ago.
“I first started playing rugby with this team… right before I went to university,” Hansen told the Compass. “I’m really glad that it’s up and running again because when I was heading off to university [there] was not even a woman’s team… but now, I’m glad that Mercedes and the other coaches are getting everything back up.”
Foy, who was part of the English team that won the 2014 Rugby World Cup, said her aim is to put Cayman women’s rugby on the international map, starting with several upcoming competitions.
“So, we were originally given the host nation, to host the [Rugby Americas North Women’s 10s Tournament] on December 4 and 5,” Foy said, but said those plans were scrapped when government decided in September that the borders would remain closed.
However, last month that changed, with Premier Wayne Panton announcing that Cayman would move into Phase 4 of the reopening plan, which allows vaccinated people to enter the jurisdiction, starting 20 Nov.
“With the borders now open on the 20 of November… we’re pushing towards the women’s 10s and hopefully we can still hold it here,” Foy said. “We know about another one, in February, it’s happening in Mexico City. [T]here’s some WXV 15’s rugby that’s going to be happening later on in the year (2022) as well.”
Rugby player Hollie Coleman, who welcomed the upcoming matches, said she is eager to showcase her skills.
“I’m looking forward to having some real competition,” Coleman said. “Going abroad and having players from other countries come and play with us…it’s really exciting stuff.”
In addition, Cayman Rugby is in the process of forming a domestic women’s rugby league, which will be kicking off within the next several months, according to Foy.
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