Rugby U16 girls claim historic second place win in Tropical 7s

Cayman’s under-16 girls rugby team has returned home with a historic second-place finish at the Tropical 7s tournament in Tampa, Florida.

Held on 2-4 April, the tournament stands as North America’s largest rugby 7s event, featuring over 200 teams, ranging from under-12 to adult divisions.

The path to the finals

The Cayman squad dominated the pitch on 3 April, sweeping all three matches to maintain a perfect record.

They opened the day with a solid 20-12 victory over the Canada Misfits, followed by a commanding 22-10 win against the NC All Stars.

Cayman closed out their undefeated run that day against Macdowell Rugby, narrowly clinching a 17-15 win.

Building on the previous day’s success, the matches on 4 April saw Cayman defeat TOA Rugby Academy 15-10 for their fourth straight win.

They then punched their ticket to the finals with an identical 15-10 victory over Southwest Rugby Black in the semi-final matchup.

Later that day, Cayman’s winning streak ended after a 22-0 loss in the finals against Provo Steelers.

An intense semi-final

For team captain Arianna Chin, the emotional peak of the tournament occurred during a nail-biting semi-final that pushed the Cayman girls to their absolute limit.

With the score tied at the end of regulation, the game moved into an overtime period where the first team to score would win. Chin reclaimed possession, sparking a sequence where nearly every Cayman player touched the ball before the team crossed the line for the winning try.

“[At] the end of the semi-finals, there were a lot of tears – me included. It was definitely a really nice moment because everyone was just so happy … we definitely tried really hard during [that game],” Chin said.

As captain, Chin said her focus of the tournament was “definitely to help bring the energy”.

“It’s very nerve wracking to be there and to be representing Cayman on such a big scale, so I was definitely trying to be there for everyone, make sure everyone was comfortable and ready to do their best,” she said.

“Beyond the results, the games gave us so much insight, not just for the players, but for us as coaches too. This experience didn’t just move us forward, it launched us. Proud is an understatement,” said head coach Jazmaine Gray.

Also competing for Cayman in the tournament was the under-16 and under-14 boys who collected a few wins.

“The under-16 boys found it hard and only won one of their six games whilst away. The under-14 boys, however, fared better and won three of their six games,” said Graham Smith, the under-16 boys’ head coach.

Short preparation time

Speaking on the second-place finish, Gray said, “I’m very pleased. It’s the first time we’ve put a girls team on the 7s stage in one of the biggest tournaments of the year, so I’m very pleased with how the girls handled themselves and the outcome.”

She added, “The girls got better each game and I think [their] first game let them get their bearings and realise that [their competitors] came to play. So, it kind of woke them up a little bit and I think each game from there they improved.”

Despite a short preparation time for the tournament, the team set a new precedent as the first female representatives from Cayman to compete in the event, capping off their debut with a spot in the finals.

“Not bad for a group that only had four weeks to prepare,” said Gray.

Sharing additional preparation insight, team captain Chin said, “On top of our normal training, we had an extra session on Wednesdays. We also had some running to do outside of practice to help with our stamina because 7s is a very trying game and you definitely have to … hold your run [and have a lot of endurance].”

What’s next

Looking ahead, Gray highlights what’s next, stating that the 7s Academy will run from 19 May to early July, targeting girls aged 11 to 18 to get involved with rugby 7s.

“We also have a Females In Rugby Empowered and Educated (FIREE) programme trip [in May], which is our developmental team who’s going to Miami, Florida, to play a big game and to tour St. Thomas University as well.”

The FIREE programme targets local girls ages 13 to 18 in the three government high schools – John Gray, Clifton Hunter and Layman E. Scott in Cayman Brac.

Persons interested in getting involved or finding out more information are encouraged to contact female rugby manager Mercedes Foy on 525-7937 or [email protected].