Photos: Under 16′s Rugby Team Clean Up

March 19, 2011

Almost 30 players of the Bermuda National U16′s Rugby Team took part in the KBB pickup at Rocky Hill Park, St Georges on Saturday March 19th.

The National Under 16 program is in its second year of operation and has been particularly successful in attracting a broad range of boys from a variety of schools both in the public and private sector. The program was started to close the gap from Under 14 rugby to Under 19 rugby, were Bermuda has tended to lose a lot of its talent to other sports.

A spokesperson said “Last year, we took 19 players to Cayman Islands to take part in the Conyers Cup in what was a great learning experience for many of the players and coaches alike. This year, we are taking 30 players to Ontario.”

“The objectives of the National Under 16 program and tour are essentially twofold: on the one hand, we want to bring a competitive group of players together with the aim of winning a rugby tournament and being honored in representing their country – Bermuda.”

“However the tour and the program is about much more than winning a rugby match – it’s about bringing players from different family backgrounds, different schools, different economic backgrounds together in a situation where they would not otherwise find themselves and working together with people with whom they perhaps would not associate with in their normal day-to-day lives. Friendships made in rugby are long-lasting, and it starts from an early age.”

“Whilst we are keen to ensure everyone travels and we leave no one behind for financial reasons, we have asked that the players take an active part in fundraising as after all it is their tour. Our main fundraising event is the Keep Bermuda Beautiful (“KBB”) pick-up. We collected trash and unwanted items in St. Georges on Saturday March 19th from 9:00AM to 12 noon. Players seek donations and pledges from various sources for collecting trash etc for 3 hours.

“In addition, some of the schools have offered a “scrub day” where by each pupil pays $3 to wear jeans for the day with all proceeds going toward reducing the cost of the players. Through their hard work, the players are taking ownership and responsibility, something which can only stand them in good stead for later in life and set’s a great example for others on the island, young and old.”

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