Rugby Union and 7’s is quickly becoming part of pop culture. Since the 2009 announcement that rugby would be admitted into the Summer Olympics in Rio 2016, the sport has experienced increased television exposure particularly in North America. In 2011, more than 5.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the USA Sevens on NBC, helping increase awareness for rugby across the United States, Canada and The Caribbean Islands.
There is no sport in Trinidad & Tobago that has bigger potential for growth and improvement than rugby Union and 7’s. The latter is the fastest growing sport in the world and with the introduction of it in the Commonwealth Games, Olympics and the very successful and entertaining HSBC Sevens Series. Trinidad & Tobago needs a profile national team programme to succeed.
There’s this old saying that “Rome wasn't built in a day”. Some sports or Individual’s have been given, 2 or 3 cycles of funding before they achieved a medal, and many don’t receive funding until they’ve actually won a competition.
Behind the United States of America, Canada and Mexico we have one of the highest participation in North America currently standing at 1,412 according to the Rugby America North website https://rugbyamericasnorth.com/team/trinidad-tobago/. Last year we hosted the RAN 7’s 2016 and narrowly lost to Guyana in the semi-Finals 5-0 and Jamaica for the 3rd place resulting in missing out on the opportunity to Play in the Hong Kong 7’s this year. The Under 19’s has grown in numbers each year and they never cease to disappoint in the Mens U-19’s Championship.
We’re calling on the Trinidad and Tobago Government, The Trinidad & Tobago Rugby Football Union, Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee and The Sports Company of Trinidad & Tobago to consider Increasing the Funding for the Men and Women’s National Team. Sport England promised to provide £493 Million in GRASSROOTS funding alone between 2013 and 2017, these are the Nations that we want to be competing against at the highest level.
If we’re to only get half the support, funding and television coverage of the National Football team we would be so much more successful than we are now.
By Omari Stafford-Davies
Updates
April 10, 2017
Seeing this level of support for our players feels surreal because I have seen them work through impossible conditions for years. This momentum gives me genuine hope that the board finally understands how much our rugby community demands better for these athletes.
18 Comments
YES! About time someone spoke up for the rugby boys. Give them the resources they need to win!
Rugby is growing fast and our guys have the raw talent to compete with anyone. Funding is the only thing missing from the picture. Lets get it done.
The values taught by playing rugby are crucial in an age where the ego and individual rules. The values learnt from playing rugby go hand in hand with a thriving and inclusive community and should be embraced so it can be woven into the fabric of society. Rugby doesn't discriminate, people of all sizes can play. Rugby is a game of honesty, trust, comradery and resilience. The combative nature of the sport is left on the field. Afterwards, there is a mutual respect and a sense of wealth of achievement, empowerment and self-confidence. Trinidad has the best athletes in the world to be a dominant force in the game. A mixture of speed, power, athleticism, flair and pride that could beat any team.
I totally support this effort as sport is a positive option for the youth in Trinidad and Tobago.
I believe rugby 7's is the best way forward for rugby in the Caribbean and in T&T . Rugby 7's is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.Trinidad and Tobago has the potential to be the first Caribbean country to qualify for the World Series all we need is some funding to make the next step toward that goal.Time is now 2017!!!
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Rugby Union and 7’s is quickly becoming part of pop culture. Since the 2009 announcement that rugby would be admitted into the Summer Olympics in Rio 2016, the sport has experienced increased television exposure particularly in North America. In 2011, more than 5.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the USA Sevens on NBC, helping increase awareness for rugby across the United States, Canada and The Caribbean Islands.
There is no sport in Trinidad & Tobago that has bigger potential for growth and improvement than rugby Union and 7’s. The latter is the fastest growing sport in the world and with the introduction of it in the Commonwealth Games, Olympics and the very successful and entertaining HSBC Sevens Series. Trinidad & Tobago needs a profile national team programme to succeed.
There’s this old saying that “Rome wasn't built in a day”. Some sports or Individual’s have been given, 2 or 3 cycles of funding before they achieved a medal, and many don’t receive funding until they’ve actually won a competition.
Behind the United States of America, Canada and Mexico we have one of the highest participation in North America currently standing at 1,412 according to the Rugby America North website https://rugbyamericasnorth.com/team/trinidad-tobago/. Last year we hosted the RAN 7’s 2016 and narrowly lost to Guyana in the semi-Finals 5-0 and Jamaica for the 3rd place resulting in missing out on the opportunity to Play in the Hong Kong 7’s this year. The Under 19’s has grown in numbers each year and they never cease to disappoint in the Mens U-19’s Championship.
We’re calling on the Trinidad and Tobago Government, The Trinidad & Tobago Rugby Football Union, Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee and The Sports Company of Trinidad & Tobago to consider Increasing the Funding for the Men and Women’s National Team. Sport England promised to provide £493 Million in GRASSROOTS funding alone between 2013 and 2017, these are the Nations that we want to be competing against at the highest level.
If we’re to only get half the support, funding and television coverage of the National Football team we would be so much more successful than we are now.
By Omari Stafford-Davies
Updates
April 10, 2017
Seeing this level of support for our players feels surreal because I have seen them work through impossible conditions for years. This momentum gives me genuine hope that the board finally understands how much our rugby community demands better for these athletes.
18 Comments
T&T rugby players have real heart. They been holding it down for years with barely any help. Time to back them properly so they can reach the world stage.
YES! About time someone spoke up for the rugby boys. Give them the resources they need to win!
Rugby is growing fast and our guys have the raw talent to compete with anyone. Funding is the only thing missing from the picture. Lets get it done.
The values taught by playing rugby are crucial in an age where the ego and individual rules. The values learnt from playing rugby go hand in hand with a thriving and inclusive community and should be embraced so it can be woven into the fabric of society. Rugby doesn't discriminate, people of all sizes can play. Rugby is a game of honesty, trust, comradery and resilience. The combative nature of the sport is left on the field. Afterwards, there is a mutual respect and a sense of wealth of achievement, empowerment and self-confidence. Trinidad has the best athletes in the world to be a dominant force in the game. A mixture of speed, power, athleticism, flair and pride that could beat any team.
I totally support this effort as sport is a positive option for the youth in Trinidad and Tobago.
I believe rugby 7's is the best way forward for rugby in the Caribbean and in T&T . Rugby 7's is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.Trinidad and Tobago has the potential to be the first Caribbean country to qualify for the World Series all we need is some funding to make the next step toward that goal.Time is now 2017!!!
Supporting T&T rugby
I agree with Omari petition to increase funds for the national team
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T&T rugby players have real heart. They been holding it down for years with barely any help. Time to back them properly so they can reach the world stage.