BVI Rugby 7s team returns from Trinidad as runners up in Shield Final

November 22, 2016 by
Source: VINO
Big tackles helped the BVI to pick up a close win 17 - 12 against Turk & Caicos on Day 2 of the 2016 Rugby Americas North Sevens Championship in Trinidad. Photo: BVIRFU

Big tackles helped the BVI to pick up a close win 17 – 12 against Turk & Caicos on Day 2 of the 2016 Rugby Americas North Sevens Championship in Trinidad. Photo: BVIRFU

A seven-a-side rugby squad, representing the Virgin Islands Rugby Union competed at the 2016 Rugby Americas North Sevens Championship in Trinidad and came home as runners up in the Shield Final.

The last game, a 5-0 defeat by the Cayman Islands, capped off a frenetic weekend of Rugby, which saw Canada win the overall Men’s Championship, with a 52-5 victory over Guyana.

All in all, 14 teams from around the Region took part and the VI’s first game was a 19-5 defeat to Bermuda and then, the eventual Champions then put up a winning score of 59-0, before the VI bounced back on Day Two with a 17-12 victory over the Turks and Caicos.

A place in just the Shield Final was confirmed when the Dominican Republic recorded a 12-10 win.

According to the Rugby Union, the team’s effort was assisted by leading World Rugby Sevens coach David Mays who visited the island for six weeks and helped train the squad.

Canada’s dominant performance in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions never relented and earned them both Cup titles. Only Guyana Men were able to score against the Maple Leafs and finished second in the tournament. Jamaica Women finished in second place standing with the men’s team coming in third.

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Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With: , , ,

Rugby forges ahead with youth development programme

October 28, 2016 by

Source: BVI Platinum

Children take part in tag rugby under the guidance of Rugby Development Officer, Sherlock Solomon. Photo: BVIRFU

Children take part in tag rugby under the guidance of Rugby Development Officer, Sherlock Solomon. Photo: BVIRFU

In efforts of making the sport of rugby a permanent fixture on the competitive charts in the British Virgin Islands, the BVI Rugby Football Union (BVIRFU) has now turned their attention to training and encouraging young persons to play the sport.

Over the last two weeks, representatives from the union have been visiting schools around the Territory, teaching young persons how to play the game, its rules and the overall health and physical benefits to be gained.

These visits and training with the students will lead into a Rugby Festival, to be hosted by the union late next month, November.

According to Rugby Development Officer for the BVIRFU, Sherlock Solomon, the Festival will put the training received by both primary and secondary school students to the test, as teams are expected to go head to head in tournaments.

Filed Under: LTAD, Rugby Tagged With: , , , ,

Third Physical Literacy workshop to help develop youth in sports

September 27, 2016 by
Group work at the launch of the Long Term Athlete Development and Physical Literacy workshop in February 2016. Photo: BVIOC

Group work at the launch of the Long Term Athlete Development and Physical Literacy workshop in February 2016. Photo: BVIOC

The third Physical Literacy workshop is underway, running from September 27 – 28 at the Fort Burt Hotel Conference room.

The workshop, organized by the BVI Olympic Committee and conducted by Drew Mitchell, Director of Physical Literacy for the Sport for Life Society in Canada, is directed at sports coaches and representatives of the territory’s national sport federations as well as day-care and pre-school teachers and managers, health care providers and elderly care givers.

“Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.” – The International Physical Literacy Association, May 2014

Research shows that without the development of Physical Literacy, many children and youth withdraw from physical activity and sport and turn to more inactive and/or unhealthy choices during their leisure time.

Miss Beverlie Brathwaite, an Education Officer attached to the Ministry of Education sees Physical Literacy as a positive vehicle to champion the cause for a healthier nation and success in the classroom.

“Just as there are basic skills in literacy and numeracy which, when mastered, help students to become competent and motivated, we now know that there are basic skills in movement which have the same effect on students’ confidence, competence and motivation. Also, since there is growing research evidence of the positive link between physical activity and academic success, we see this exposure to Physical Literacy as a gateway to both healthy lives and academic success for our students.”

This workshop aims to also give assistance to the selected sports of Football, Rugby, Tennis, Sailing, Basketball, Athletics, Archery and Swimming as they continue the task to complete a Long Term Athlete Development pathway for their sport.

The first session took place in February and covered the key factors pertinent to athlete development and the 5 basic ‘S’s of training and performance – Stamina (Endurance), Strength, Speed, Skill, and Suppleness (Flexibility).

The second session, which took place in May, focused on discussing the project outlines in the areas of Sport, Health and Education that followed on from the first workshop.

The Physical Literacy Workshops are supported by the Sport for Life Society of Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health.

Filed Under: Athletics, Basketball, BVI Olympic Committee, Football, Rugby, Sailing, Swimming, Tennis Tagged With: , , , ,

Olympic Day celebrated with National Federations and a focus on Rio 2016

June 29, 2016 by
Olympic Day 2016 DSC00314

Runners on BVI Olympic Day 2016. Photo: BVIOC

Adults and children kicked off Olympic Day in the VI with an early morning run in Virgin Gorda on Saturday, June 25. In Tortola, a mix of all ages came out in the afternoon to celebrate the occasion at the Tortola Sports Club by watching demonstrations in rugby, archery, taekwondo, squash and having a go at each of the sports in advance of the symbolic 2-mile run through Road Town.

Representatives for the national federations for Rugby, Archery, Taekwondo and Squash also shared information on the sports and encouraged attendees to sign up and get moving with a new activity.

Rio 2016 sailing hopeful, Chris Brockbank joined the Royal BVI Yacht Club to speak about the efforts he and his teammate, Alec Anderson had undertaken in their quest to qualify for this Summer Olympic Games. Whilst they did not meet the Rio 2016 qualification, Chris reiterated their commitment to pursuing qualification for Tokyo 2020. Club manager Tamsin Rand also spoke about the youth sailing programme.

The VI Swimming Federation represented by the president and members of the youth swimming team were also in attendance.

Ephraim Penn, president of the BVIOC gave a brief history of the BVI Olympic Committee and presented one of the founding members, Reynold ‘Rey’ O’Neal, OBE with a commemorative photo book of the tribute evening hosted for him by the BVIOC earlier in the year.

In keeping with the goal of Olympic Day to get the young involved and engaged in sports, Penn also spoke about the Long Term Athletes Development programme hosted by the BVIOC. The series of LTAD workshops will equip coaches with the resources to identify and develop promising youth athletes with a view to training them for major games such as the Olympics.

Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, Stephanie Russ-Penn followed with an update on the preparations for Rio 2016 confirming that the VI’s qualified track runners, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (100m) and Ashley Kelly (200m) will be joined by young swimmer, Elinah Phillip (50m Freestyle) who will compete as part of the universality invitation.

Russ-Penn then went on to reveal the outerwear for the Team BVi athletes participating in major games highlighting the integration of the Vigilante in the design.

Rounding off with information on attending the summer Games, Mark Chapman, Treasurer, BVIOC said, “Rio 2016 promises to be an exciting occasion and it’s not too late to get event tickets and support Team BVI in Brazil. The BVIOC has tickets for residents and anyone else who has a connection to the territory. Recent research also shows airfare via Panama is available starting at $1006 so anyone interested in getting tickets can complete an online request on bviolympics.org or contact the BVIOC office on 494 6920. The summer Games take place August 5 – 21.”

The afternoon set up at the sports club included tips and massages by La Ambiance Spa and an information booth run by the VI branch of the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO).

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and Red Cross volunteers were on hand to ensure the safety of the runners and walkers. Roadtown Wholesale distributed Dasani water and Powerade to participants along the route and at the sports club.

Olympic Day was established in 1948 as an annual occasion where everyone everywhere can get together in their communities to celebrate the Olympic values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship and also celebrate the Olympic Day pillars: Move. Learn. Discover.

In his Olympic Day message to people around the world, IOC President, Thomas Bach said, “Olympic Day is for everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability. The important thing is to get the couch potatoes off the couch. Although Olympic Day commemorates an historic event, its goals are aimed at the future and particularly at young people. Olympic Day is an opportunity to remind people that sport is not just for watching. We want to inspire all people to get active and to have fun. Thank you for doing your part by getting off the couch. Please encourage others to do the same — not just on Olympic Day, but as part of a healthier and happier life. Enjoy the day, and please keep the spirit of Olympic Day alive throughout the year.”

Filed Under: Buy Tickets for Rio 2016, BVI Olympic Committee, Rio News, Rugby, Sailing, Squash, Swimming, Taekwondo Tagged With: , , , ,

VI Rugby XV overcome visiting USVI team

April 25, 2016 by

By VINO

Photo: Todd VanSickle/BVI Beacon

Photo: Todd VanSickle/BVI Beacon

In a game not for the faint of heart, the local Rugby Union XV finally overcame The Privateers, a visiting team from St Thomas, USVI 34-22, in a friendly match on Saturday April 23, 2016 at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Tortola.

A brace of tries from Noel Maxwell finally broke the resistance, if not the determination, of the visitors as he scored either side of the half time break. However, for the majority of the first period the St Thomas team had been in the ascendancy, looking more organised and eager to tackle hard at every opportunity.

They had, in fact, raced into a 12-0 lead, scoring first after a series of recycled ball and rolling mauls along the home sides score line and then intercepting a sloppy pass as the VI team tried to clear the ball out of their own 22 to double their advantage.

With many new players in the team, it took a while for things to gel for the hosts, but Luuck Soeters finally got the home team on the score board, sliding in under the posts after a great placement kick from Roan Thornton put them within a yard of the opposition’s score line. Thornton missed the attempted extra points for a conversion, but moment’s later more concerted pressure, especially after showing great strength in the scrum, saw the VI score again through Stuart Cullen.

Maxwell then scored his two tries either side of a St Thomas penalty to make it 22-15 and a Mark Simmons conversion made it 24-15.

A scintillating run by Franklyn Victor, from deep inside his own half, made it 29-15 and although Simmons missed that conversion attempt, it mattered not as Tom Chapman broke through the St Thomas defense to score another try and make it 34-15.

St Thomas did get a late consolation score, but resolute defending made sure they could not get back into the game, with the final score 34-22.

“We started a bit jittery and took time to settle down,” commented Coach Sherlock Solomon. “Some of the players were late, but once the right team was on the pitch they found their footing and put it together. We exposed lots of our younger players so they would get experience playing at this level and under pressure, some lost their cool at times, but overall they all played well.”

Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With: , , ,

Cedar & St George’s win Touch Rugby Championships

April 25, 2016 by

By VINO

Photo: Charlie E. Jackson /VINO

Photo: Charlie E. Jackson /VINO

Both Cedar International School and St George’s High School were victorious when the BVI Rugby Union hosted the U15 and U17 Touch Rugby High School Championships on Friday April 22, 2016 on the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds in Road Town.

In the U15’s final, St George’s raced into a 2-0 lead, but were then pegged back by a tenacious Seventh Day Adventist team. However, despite some nervous moments, St George’s held firm and increased the lead to first 3-1, before holding on to win 4-3.

“In the lead up to the final we only had one little hiccup, but otherwise were looking good. The final was a little challenging, but we stood firm and got the win. We had both disciplined and fast breaks and the team executed the plans very well, so I must congratulate them,” commented St George’s Coach, Javon Carty.

On the road to the final, SDA beat Cedar School 9-2, St George’s beat ESHS 10-2 and Cedar 5-4, whilst SDA beat ESHS 10-1.

In the Under 17 final, Cedar survived a second-half come back from St George’s to run out 7-5 victors, which was almost a reversal of the score line from when the pair clashed in the day’s opening game (7-6 to St George’s).

“We kept our shape well and were well organised. The team kept their heads and knew when to move the ball, using the extra width to cause St George’s trouble and came out with the win,” noted Coach John Riley.

Cedar had also beaten ESHS 7-2 to clinch a place in the final, while St George’s had a 5-2 win over the same opposition.

BVI Rugby Union Development Coach, Sherlock Solomon, was very pleased with the day’s outcome. “The idea of using the bigger pitch area has proven a great success, we saw all the teams enjoy the extra space to pass the ball around more and also add some running skills,” he said.

Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With:

Young Rugby players in training

April 20, 2016 by

By VINO

Young Rugby players are currently in training to take part in a series of games, including against St Thomas, US Virgin Islands and a quadruple series in the Dominican Republic. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Young Rugby players are currently in training to take part in a series of games, including against St Thomas, US Virgin Islands and a quadruple series in the Dominican Republic. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Young rugby players are currently in training to take part in a series of games, including against St Thomas, US Virgin Islands and a quadruple series in the Dominican Republic.

Over the years the schools programme has produced many youngsters and two years ago an Under 19 team took part in a tournament in Trinidad. Now Coach Sam Sherlock Solomon is establishing firm grassroots and the pressure is on the older players to keep their places.
“The young ones are coming forward and it’s definitely the way to go for the future,” commented Solomon. “This year is an Olympic year, but the BVI can’t compete in that as we are not full members of the International Rugby Board. However, there is a tournament taking place in the Dominican Republic and the Association plans on taking a young side down there.”

Also, a team from St Thomas will be in Road Town on Saturday, April 23 and the hard working youth will be up for selection.
SDA crowned U13 Schools Touch Rugby Champions

Elsewhere, the Seventh-day Adventist School were crowned U13 Touch Rugby Champions last Friday April 15, 2016 on the Softball Field in Road Town, after a 3-1 win over Francis Lettsome Primary School.

Both schools had beaten Cedar International teams to reach the final and in the match for the bronze medal, Cedar A beat Cedar B 6-1.

Referee Colin Campbell, who is also part of the next generation of rugby players and who has already made his senior debut, was impressed with what he had seen.

“SDA had a good disciplined team and stretched their line out very well. Francis Lettsome had a couple of chances to level the game, but couldn’t take them and SDA prevailed. All players are understanding the rules better and working out how to move the ball around by passing and supporting each other,” said Campbell.

McDonald also noted that all the teams that took part had fun and were definitely enjoying playing Rugby.

In other matches, Ebenezer Thomas Primary beat St George’s 3-2, Leonora Delville drew 3-3 with Enis Adams, before the top four clashed in the semi finals.

This coming Friday, April 22, 2016, Solomon will also be overseeing the U15 and U17 Rugby Schools Festival and hopes to see yet more improvements from his young charges.

“The next stage with that Festival will be getting them to play ‘contact’ rugby,” said Solomon. “Also it has been cut down to seven a side to give them more space, a chance to really show their skills and also improve their fitness.”

Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With: ,

BVI benefits from Long Term Athlete Development and Physical Literacy workshop

March 4, 2016 by
Front row (l-r): Hon Myron V. Walwyn, Richard Way, BVIOC President, Ephraim Penn, LTAD Coordinator, Angeleta Bernard and 68 participants including physical education teachers, doctors from the BVI Health Services Authority, nurses, chairpersons and members of national sporting federations and personnel from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare attended a two-day workshop on Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and Physical Literacy from February 29 – March 1, 2016.

Front row (l-r): Hon Myron V. Walwyn, Richard Way, BVIOC President, Ephraim Penn, LTAD Coordinator, Angeleta Bernard and 68 participants attended a two-day workshop on Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and Physical Literacy from February 29 – March 1, 2016. Photo credit: BVIOC

The British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC), in collaboration with Canada Sport for Life (CS4L), the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and, with full endorsement from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare conducted a successful two day workshop on Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and Physical Literacy at the Fort Burt Hotel conference room on February 29 and March 1, 2016. Mr. Richard Way, CEO of Sport for Life Society, Canada was the facilitator.

At the Opening Ceremony Mr. Ephraim Penn, president, BVIOC, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Minister for Education & Culture and Ms. Ivy George, National Coordinator, Health Promotion Services, Ministry of Health and Social Development addressed the gathering.

The 68 participants comprised physical education teachers, doctors from the BVI Health Services Authority, nurses, chairpersons and members of national sporting federations and personnel from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Physical Literacy which means ‘having the fundamental movement and sport skills and motivation that enable individuals to read their environment and make appropriate decisions, while moving confidently and with control in a wide range of physical activities’, was of major interest to the participants.

The premise of the program is that it will pave the way for residents of the BVI to live a healthier and productive life that will help to manage the cost of health care.

Five sporting federations successfully submitted applications to benefit from the LTAD programme. Athletics, Rugby, Football, Tennis and Sailing will shortly embark on the planning of the multi-stage training, competition and recovery pathway for their sport.

Mr. Andy Bickerton of the BVI Football Association said, “The workshop was educational and very relevant. If we practice what we learnt and employ them in our sport, our athletes should be healthier and the occurrence of non- communicable diseases would lessen. It has pointed us in the right direction and we of the BVI Football Association will ensure that we work with participants instead of concentrating only on the elite players, in an effort to sustain our sport.”

Nurse Cherry-Ann George Smith of the BVI Health Services Authority said, “It is timely and applicable to what is being done with community healthcare. It is a means of primary prevention in non- communicable diseases and chronic ailments. I see where it may be used for all our clients. This has opened an avenue for networking with different sports. It was an eye opener and I am pleased to have been a part of the experience.”

“The workshop was informative and well structured,” said Mr. Elsworth Phillips, president of the BVI Swim Federation. “Mr. Richard Way made the concepts easy to understand. I now see where the BVI Swim Federation can partner with the sailing association with strength and conditioning, their swimming skills and water safety.”

Mrs. Angeleta Bernard, local coordinator of the LTAD, BVI was pleased with the enthusiasm of the participants and will be meeting with the committee, chaired by Mr. Penn to initiate the launch of LTAD, BVI and Physical Literacy in the national federations, schools and communities.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Football, Rugby, Sailing, Tennis Tagged With: , ,

BVI Rugby Team narrowly defeated by Barbados

November 10, 2015 by
350x_r_rugby_3

Photo courtesy of VINO

By VINO

The BVI Rugby Team lost 17-15 to Barbados in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association south zone promotion/relegation clash at the A. O. Shirley Ground on Saturday November 7, 2015.

After a period of sustained pressure early in the first half, Rory Thornton opened the scoring for the Virgin Islands with a 30 yard penalty and went on to add a couple of conversions to his tally after both Thomas Wilson and Matt Holmes had scored to give the VI a 15-10 half time lead.

However, a fitter looking Barbadian team hit back strongly in the second half.

The VI were camped in the Barbados 22, but were unable to extend their lead before Kevin Carter scored an opportunist break away try, which he also converted to make it 17-15 to Barbados.

The VI came back strong with a prize of matches against the likes of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago up for grabs and got their chance to go back ahead with ten minutes to go.

Thornton though, would see a penalty kick from in front of the posts go wide and with it the last chance for the VI to win the game.

A bitterly disappointed VI Captain, Rory Thornton, was in a philosophical mood after the game. “We made them play our game for the best part of the game, we knew they had more individual talent, but the one thing we have been doing lately is coming together as a team and we did that really well today. Individually everyone had a great game, but as a pack we didn’t produce enough clean ball for the backs to exploit.”

Coach Sherlock “Solo” Solomon was heartbroken to see his team come so close to what would have been a famous victory. “It broke my heart!” he said.

“[It was] a game we clearly should have won, but lost by two points. We can take a lot from the game though, especially with the youngsters. The Forwards didn’t do as much as I hoped in providing the likes of Noel Maxwell and Austin Kiel opportunities. I think we were a little nervous at times and soft in defence, but when a game is that close it only takes one moment to win or lose it,” he said.

Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With:

East End Stamps Authority As Rugby League Starts

July 13, 2015 by

By BVI Platinum

Photo: Provided

Photo: Provided

Hard hitting tackles were many during the opening of the first full contact three-team rugby league at Capoons Bay which saw a dominant performance by the East End Entertainers.

Despite a late start due to the lights being switched off, players and fans congregated to witness the history start to the 10-a-side league on Friday, July 3. The East Enders finished the first week unbeaten 2-0, defeating the Central Cockerels, 69-12 and the West End Warriors, 38-17.

However, the Central team pounded out a 22-12 victory in the opening game.

“It was a good start for us,” said East End captain, Donovan Staples. “We had about 800 spectators in attendance so we had to put on a good show for East End. We are playing for territorial bragging rights so we had to represent East End massive. We defended well and countered well through ball movement. Tonight we had no substitute and that is something we need to change going forward so our players can get some rest,”

Rugby Development Officer, Sherlock ‘Solo’ Solomon told BVI Platinum News that he is very pleased to have the league start in the BVI. “This is where we needed to go in the BVI to establish ourselves as a full member of the International Rugby Board. We know for sure on the island we have lots of folks who want to play, but in the IRB competition you have to have lived on the island for three years before you can play for the national team. Having said that, there are a number of persons who come on the island for short a period and sometimes longer periods, who want to play contact rugby,” Solomon said.

He went on to state that he is very pleased with the support for the league. “We saw a high standard of rugby and a number of under-19s. Some guys who have been coming to practice with the national team, who did not make the cut, got an opportunity to run on the field and participate in a real-game situation,” Solomon said.

Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With: ,
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