Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By: Andrew Gioannetti

The title-winning women’s national rugby team and the boys Under-19 team which were runners up at the 2011 North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Championship in the Cayman Islands last weekend, were celebrated by the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby football Union (TTRFU) on Thursday evening. The function, which was held at the administrative centre of the T&T Police Headquarters  Port-of-Spain, was led by Colin Peters. Speakers included Leslie Figaro—TTRFU president, Curtis Nero—chairman of selectors and treasurer for the TTRFU and former coach and president of the T&T Schools RFU Justice Gregory Rousseau. Also speaking were women’s coach Simone “Kitty” Andrews, women’s captain Latoya Edwards and U-19 boys vice-captain Tariq Cheekes. They all extended congratulations and praises to the successful team. Nero offered praise and gratitude to three boys from the Youth Training Centre (YTC) who had “earned the right to represent the country” as well as those who sacrificed their personal commitments, such as work and studies for their country.

He also used the opportunity to offer condolences on behalf of the TTRFU to one of the members of the U-19 team who received news on the death of his father while en route to the Cayman Islands. He commended the players for showing professionalism in continuing playing through those circumstances. Nero stressed that the sport was a team game and that some would end up in the glory positions despite the effort of players in each of the positions. He said: “Some individuals will always stand out, but always remember that everybody plays a part. The winner will end up scoring a try but for the person with the eye, they would notice that it was the engagement of the prop at that time who allowed the ball to be won and allowed the ball to get to the winger—so he is just as much a part of that scoring opportunity.” Guest speaker Justice Roussaeu in his address said that as with everything in life, preparation was important. He said that since T&T was on the losing side in similar circumstances in the last two finals against Bermuda in 2010 and the Cayman Islands this year, there was a common denominator. “Both Bermuda and Cayman Islands were able to go on tour before the Caribbean Champions and as a result, had that edge. The fact that in both finals, we lost in the last couple minutes, and let me say that not for one moment making any excuses. One has to join in congratulating the Cayman Islands as champions,” said Roussaeu.

When the U-19 vice-captain, full back Cheekes was given a word, he responded to the TTRFU executive committee with gratitude. He said: “I’d like to say thanks to Mr Nero, Mr Figaro for giving us the opportunity to play for our country. There are some sports down here, although we have it hard, other people have it harder as they don’t get the support of a board.. they have to do it on their own, we actually get the support from them and I’d like to say that we’re very grateful for that.” The Women’s national team were successive winners from 2010 and this year while the boys U-19 team also had a similar runner-up finish as last year. In 2008, the U-19 finished fifth in the Caribbean Championship and improved to third place in 2009. Juliana Straker was the women’s “Most Valuable Player” while Ernest Wright was MVP for the Boys U-19 team. The respective national teams will begin training for the NACRA Men’s and Women’s Sevens Rugby Championships in November and the  rugby sevens competition at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in September.