Monday, July 20, 2009

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Rugby Union prepares for U-19 July Caribbean Championships By FRED STURRUP ~NG Associate Editor ~ frederick@nasguard.com: Rather quietly, the Bahamas Rugby Union (BRU) has been making significant inroads in the last 10 years. The Bahamas is considered one of the touted Caribbean countries in the sport. The BRU is the base that has spawned players recruited to play overseas. It has an independent and proactive perspective and could well be the least bothersome of the disciplines the Ministry of Sports has to deal with. In this space before, the union has been lauded for establishing a first-rate field on its own initiative in Winton. Seasons come and seasons go. Regional events are hosted, visitors are impressed and the union just keeps rolling merrily along without fanfare like some of the more high-profiled sports organizations. Presently, the BRU is getting ready to send off a team to the Under-19 Caribbean Championships, set for the Cayman Islands July 4-10. Jamaica and host Cayman Islands will be tough but the Bahamian lads are eager for the confrontation. They deserve a lot of support. A successful cocktail party and an action were held recently at Lucianos of Chicago, East Bay, but the union is still almost $8,000 short of the budget. This is a noble cause and hopefully the union will get the needed assistance. Interested persons may send support funds to Steven Johnson, P.O. FH-14397. Rugby has undergone a big change over the years. The look is a lot different from the early years of the sport being played here in an organized fashion. For several years now, there has been a big concentration on involving inner city youngsters in the game. The union went into the public schools and the rugby landscape is indeed much different today. Steven Johnson, one of the prime movers behind the sport, points to the comradeship and the quality environment afforded the young school boys. "The face of rugby has changed considerably in the last 20 years. It used to be a game played by a large expatriate community. However over the years, the (scene has changed) and the ball has been picked up by a more athletic and younger segment of the country). Public high schools such as Doris Johnson, C.R. Walker, C.V. Bethel and C.C. Sweeting have contributed lots of raw athletic talent to today's rugby in The Bahamas. "The greatest thing about the rugby community is that it enables young men from the public schools to socialize with businessmen, lawyers, doctors and judges at a level whereby each person gets an insight into the other's personality. It's a step in the right direction," said Johnson. The Bahamas Sailing Association has a similar program and this new culture in sports bodes well for an advanced and potentially-sounder national program. Low key though they are, the rugby folks are cutting a wide path in local sports development. Continued best wishes to them all! Wednesday, July 1, 2009