Rugby union in Bermuda
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Bermuda
is a popular sport. Because of the island's small population, less than 70,000, it has not produced a world class team, but nonetheless is a dominant force within Caribbean rugby, and arguably the third strongest rugby nation in North America
after Canada and the USA.
Rugby in the island has tended to be played by the white population, as well as some immigrants, such as former Bristol winger Barry Whitehead.
Bermudian rugby suffered a major setback in 1958, when a regular Bermuda Rugby Week competition popular with US teams was dropped by the sponsoring Bermuda Trade Development Board because of complaints about off-pitch behaviour.
Bermuda competes in the Caribbean Championship, a tournament which includes Trinidad and Tobago
, Martinique
, the Cayman Islands
, Jamaica
, the Bahamas
, British Virgin Islands
, Antigua
and Guyana
.
The highlight of the rugby year in Bermuda is the Bermuda Classic Tournament. This is a kind of Rugby World Cup for the over-35s.
The island is also quite small measuring no more than twenty-one square miles. This coupled with its small population make it hard for a major rugby culture to emerge.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
is a popular sport. Because of the island's small population, less than 70,000, it has not produced a world class team, but nonetheless is a dominant force within Caribbean rugby, and arguably the third strongest rugby nation in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
after Canada and the USA.
History
As with many British colonies, rugby union was an early arrival in the island, being played since the 19th century.Rugby in the island has tended to be played by the white population, as well as some immigrants, such as former Bristol winger Barry Whitehead.
Bermudian rugby suffered a major setback in 1958, when a regular Bermuda Rugby Week competition popular with US teams was dropped by the sponsoring Bermuda Trade Development Board because of complaints about off-pitch behaviour.
Bermuda competes in the Caribbean Championship, a tournament which includes Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national rugby union team
The Trinidad and Tobago national rugby union team represents Trinidad and Tobago in the sport of rugby union. Trinidad and Tobago have thus far not qualified for the Rugby World Cup finals, but have participated in qualifying tournaments since 1999...
, Martinique
Martinique national rugby union team
The Martinique national rugby union team represents Martinique at the sport of rugby. Martinique has been playing international rugby since 1991 but has never qualified for a Rugby World Cup....
, the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands national rugby union team
The Cayman Islands national rugby union team represents the Cayman Islands in the sport of rugby union. They have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments...
, Jamaica
Jamaica national rugby union team
The Jamaica national rugby union team represents Jamaica in the sport of rugby union. The team have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments...
, the Bahamas
Bahamas national rugby union team
The Bahamas national rugby union team represent the Bahamas in the sport of rugby union. The team have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournament. The nation is classified as tier three by the International Rugby Board .-History:The Bahamas made...
, British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands national rugby union team
The British Virgin Islands national rugby union team represents the British Virgin Islands in international rugby union. The nation are a member of the International Rugby Board and have yet to play in a Rugby World Cup tournament...
, Antigua
Antigua and Barbuda national rugby union team
The Antigua and Barbuda national rugby union team represents Antigua and Barbuda in the sport of rugby union. They have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, and have not participated in qualifying tournaments....
and Guyana
Guyana national rugby union team
The Guyana national rugby union team represents Guyana in the sport of rugby union. They have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have participated in qualifying tournaments.-History:...
.
The highlight of the rugby year in Bermuda is the Bermuda Classic Tournament. This is a kind of Rugby World Cup for the over-35s.
The island is also quite small measuring no more than twenty-one square miles. This coupled with its small population make it hard for a major rugby culture to emerge.