This has been an outstanding year for the development of youth rugby in the Cayman Islands, says national technical director Richard Adams, and even better things are to come.
‘We have reached a point where we need to expand and quickly if we are to keep the momentum and growth moving forward,’ explained Adams. ‘Where we are is remarkable. Let me put it into some kind of perspective, we recently played five matches in Canada against very tough opposition. The smallest population in any of the cities of the clubs where we played was 490,000. We defeated all of these sides and over 80 percent of the under-16 players on this side will still be under-16 in two years time!’
Adams believes that the Cayman Islands have a realistic chance to produce exceptional Cayman Islands teams that produce unprecedented performances. To feed this growth, however, he says the youth program needs $100,000 per year in addition to the $100,000 currently spent on the juniors. Adams wants to employ more Cayman-based coaches, implement both a fifteens and sevens academy, set up and run an inter-school rugby league, set up and run an inter-club competition, encourage more teams to visit the island and be able to take more juniors overseas more often.
Adams says he can increase the school programs and double the number of children playing the sport to around 4,000 per year.
Some highlights of the 2004/2005 season include:
The Academy U18 joined and played well in the men’s Alex Alexander League;
Won eight matches against visiting USA and Canadian U-18 school sides in Cayman;
One Academy U18 player received three full international caps at the recent world cup qualifiers in the Bahamas;
The U16 played three matches against visiting USA and Canadian U18 schools at home winning two and drawing one;
The U16 team traveled to Ontario Canada and played five touring matches in five days against Canadian club sides that included the provincial finalists and provincial champions 2004 and win four and tie one;
All junior programs from U4 to U16 participate in the IRG Knight Frank tournament with over 270 players involved
All junior programs run to completion in the schools.
Adams praised the work of Cayman Rugby Football Union president Derek Haines for his leadership in recent years.
‘Derek has always been a believer in keeping the youth busy in a well run and disciplined sport,’ said Adams. ‘Having served many years as a policeman both in the Caribbean and the UK he understands probably better than most that busy young players do not get into the same problems as young people who have little or nothing to keep them occupied.’
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