After a twelve-year absence from the podium, the Cayman’s Under-19 National Men’s XV’s team has broken the drought with a third-place finish at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Men’s U19 XVs Tournament hosted in Querétaro, Mexico.
The tournament, held from 9-12 July, saw the Cayman squad navigate challenging pool play with matches against the US, Mexico, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago.
During the initial stage, they secured impressive victories over Bermuda (22-0) and Trinidad & Tobago (19-10).
While they faced tough defeats against the US (33-3) and Mexico (17-0), these matches proved to be valuable learning experiences that ultimately fuelled their success.
The bronze medal game saw the Cayman squad go head-to-head with Mexico once more, in a thrilling rematch.
This time, Cayman turned the tables with a 17-10 victory to claim the bronze.
Key contributions came from try-scorers Emmanuel Deluche and Kale Jones, with Charlie Charlton Jones adding crucial points through two conversions and a penalty.
Head coach of the U19 team, Matthew McCabe, was unable to attend the tournament for personal reasons, so acting head coach Jamie Barnwell and assistant coach and director of Cayman rugby James Greenwood steered the team.
Also contributing to the team’s victory was physiotherapist Nicola McCabe and team manager Ciara Hansen.
Reflecting on the strengths that led Cayman to bronze, Barnwell told the Compass, “The team exemplified some of the non-negotiables within a rugby team such as respect, communication, being coachable, work ethic, self-discipline and being a great mate.”
He also highlighted the players’ remarkable “willingness and courage to act,” noting their ability to adapt and make bold decisions, which was evident in their turnaround against Mexico.
“They led with conviction and made bold decisions to change game plans, and their noses all pointed in the same direction to overturn a 17-0 defeat to Mexico in the [pool play] stage to a 17-10 win in the bronze medal match,” he said.
Barnwell emphatically added that there were “no shortcomings in this team”.
He pointed out that their loss to the US was against a full-performance programme comprising full-time university athletes, contrasting with the Cayman squad, which included players as young as 15 as well as those participating in only their third-ever rugby game.
The initial loss to Mexico in the group stage, despite some key injuries, was viewed as a learning opportunity.
The team reviewed the game, and adapted their strategies to enhance their strengths – and nullify Mexico’s – in the bronze medal match.
The exceptional efforts of the medical team, who ensured all players were rehabilitated and recovered in the 36 hours between the last group game and the bronze-medal match, were also crucial to this success, Barnwell said.
The team was led by captain Hugo Barnett, who concluded his U19 tournament and career at this level with this memorable victory.
He was supported by a strong leadership group comprising Zach Brooks, Cian Anderson, Liam Keogh, Javan Dyatt, Antoine Lawrence and Max Robertson.
