Rugby union in Saint Kitts and Nevis is a minor, but growing sport. Cricket and association football tend to be more popular. The British first introduced the game to the islands, and for a number of years it was mainly played by expatriates. Now it has some uptake by the local population.[1] Games against visiting ships, and touring sides are common, as well as against neighbouring Caribbean islands.
| Rugby union in Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
|---|---|
| Governing body | Saint Kitts and Nevis Rugby Association |
| First played | 1960s |
In 2009, International Rugby Board Regional Development Officer Scott Harland visited Saint Kitts and Nevis, and stated that he was impressed by local interest in the game.[2] Harland also said that the sport had suffered from an "expatriate" image but that it was not reflected by the facts on the ground.[2] There is a school rugby programme in Molineux, and a Peace Corps volunteer at St. Theresa’s Convent School has also been involved in coaching the game.[2] However, the islands' small population of 42,696 means it is unlikely to emerge as a power in the near future.
The governing body is the Saint Kitts and Nevis Rugby Association.[3]
References
edit- ^ Cybriwsky, Roman Adrian (2013). Capital Cities around the World. ABC-CLIO. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-61069-248-9.
- ^ a b c "International body impressed by interest in local rugby". NACRA. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009.
- ^ "Affiliated Unions". NACRA. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013.
External links
edit- "Saint Kitts and Nevis page on NACRA site". 2009. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011.
- "Boost for Rugby 7's in the Americas & Caribbean". 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012.