Local rugby star, Antonio Gibbons, has been named on the West Indies team to participate in the Cayman International 7s Tournament to be held in Georgetown, Grand Cayman on June 18 and 19, 2005. This is his second cap this year having been a member of the team in the International Rugby Boards 7s in Los Angeles 7s in February, 2005.This is the premier international 7s tournament in the region and has attracted world class teams from all over the globe from England, United States, Fiji, South Africa etc. Teams play for a total of US$ 50 000.00 in prize money supervised by international referees and other officials.
Antonio leaves the island on June 16 to join the players from Guyana, Trinidad, St. Lucia and St Vincent, then on to Cayman for a training session on Friday June 17 and competition on June 18 and 19. He returns to Barbados on June 20, 2005.
The squad will be coached by Joe Whipple of Barbados, assisted by Martin Varga and will comprise of Damian Pearson -BVI, Antonio Gibbons Barbados, Jerry Charles St Lucia, Hollis Green St Vincent, Theo Henry, Mateo Frenz and Kevin MacKenzie Guyana, Odel Hyman and Elroy Graham Jamaica and G. Alkins Trinidad and Tobago. The non travelling reserves are U. Martin and N. Posey of Jamaica.
The participation of the team in the tournament is as a direct result of the desires and intention of the West Indies Rugby Union (WIRU) to use this as a vehicle to promote and develop rugby in the region. It is strongly felt that a successful West Indies team will translate to greater recognition of the region as a force in world rugby and individual Unions such as Barbados will benefit from this through sponsorship, greater attendance at matches and increased membership.
We wish Antonio the best of luck and sincerely hope that he will do Barbados proud.
