The Cayman Touch Association is gearing up to send two touch rugby teams – a mixed squad and an all-women’s team – to the US Touch Nationals in Olympia, Washington.
This annual high-level national competition, set for 28-30 Aug., typically draws 30-40 teams from across North America for three days of intense, 40-minute matches.
Both Cayman teams are committed to giving their all and finishing with excellence, with the women’s team especially focused on building team cohesion and growth through this invaluable experience.
Shannon Warren, head coach of Cayman Touch Rugby, shared insights into the upcoming tournament.
“Last year, we took a young team to Arizona and they came fifth. The year before that, they came second, and third the year before that,” Warren said.
“This year, we’ve got together a bit earlier, and we’ve got a pretty decent team. The tournament’s not until August, so I think we’ll have a good crack at it this year. Might even take it out.”
The all-women’s team highlights the impressive growth of female participation in the sport.
“The women in Cayman are really stepping up, and there’s a lot more committing to playing,” Warren said.
He added, “We usually have mixed teams, obviously half boys, half girls, and because there’s so many girls now, we need to start promoting women’s teams and promoting them to play, so we’ve got enough for a women’s team and a mixed team at the moment.”
Warren also discussed how participating in such a competitive tournament impacts the teams.
While touch rugby is growing in Cayman, often through social corporate leagues, the US nationals offer a different level of play.
“The corporate league is more social, but here, it’s quite competitive,” he explained, emphasising that both types of play contribute to skill development.
For the women’s team, Warren said the primary goal is growth and for them to get used to playing together as a group.
“They’re a really young team, so when they go over there, they’re going to be playing a lot of older women that have been playing for a long time, so it’ll be good, they [can] mature into that. They’ll get better, and it’s all about the growth for [them],” he said.
The mixed team, encompassing a wide age range amongst its players, is setting its sights higher.
“Hopefully [we’ll make the finals], that’s our goal. Anything after that’s pretty good,” Warren said.
Urging others to give touch rugby a try
Hayley Cloete, a middle for both the women’s national and mixed team, said her experience so far had been fun, adding, “It’s been the best experience ever. We’re all so close on the team, and we’re just all having fun.”
Cloete strongly encourages anyone curious about touch rugby to give it a try.
“I would say, go for it, because I feel like touch, especially here [in Cayman], isn’t as well known by people, or the people who want to join are a bit … unsure about it,” she said.
“Once you start playing it, you don’t stop, because it’s just so much fun, and lots of people play, and everybody knows everybody.”
Warren added a final invitation for interested players, saying, “If you want to play the game, come down and help us out, because we always need the numbers.”
He highlighted the benefits of playing touch rugby, from rapid skill evolution in ball handling and decision-making at high tempos to getting fit, losing weight and making new friends.
Additional reporting by Henri Morineau.
