2011 By Miguel Carner

Transcription

1 2011 By Miguel Carner

2 IRB Sanctioned Havana Howler 7's December 2 & 3, Submitted by Fred Forster A Seven aside rugby tournament took place in Havana Cuba on December 2nd & 3rd To say the tournament was a success would be an understatement. In all 13 teams competed, 10 in the men s division and 3 in the women s division. The tournament was organized as a joint effort by Canada 's Dog River Howlers Rugby Club president Karl Fix and Rugby Cuba headed up by Chukin Chao along with the Cuban government's sports governing body INDER (Eric Rodriguez is the rugby co-ordinator). Fix took responsibility for organizing the teams, referees, awards and financing while Chao and Rodriguez were responsible for permits, fields and all local matters. The event took place over 2 days at Eduardo Saberio Stadium in Havana. A facility close to downtown and with stand for 3,000 plus people. This was the second annual Sevens and is destined to become a perpetual annual event. This year s tournament had National teams from Cuba, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago ((Venezuela were scheduled but ran into some travel permit problems and had to withdraw). Two USA teams, Santa Monica and Atlantis, one Canadian team, Dog River Howlers and one German team Hanover Selects. Other local sides were Cuba B, Cuba C and ISS, a team from the Havana international Sporting School, comprised of foreign students in Cuba hailing from countries including Argentina, South Africa, Chile, Fiji, Sri Lanka and Columbia. The standard of play by the top 6 teams was as good as any club sevens in Canada, US or Ireland. The pace was fast, the athleteswere fit, the defense was great and the refereeing was first class. The ladies teams were, Atlantis USA, Dog River Howlers Canada and the Cuban National Team. The Cuban women were playing theirfirst ever international rugby game. The visitors from Canada and the USA were top class and gave a demonstration of skill, fitness and class. There were 26 games on Friday culminating in seeding for the Sunday event in which 16 games were played. The women s final was won by the Canadian Howlers (14-12) in an exciting game against the USA Atlantis team, organized by Emil Signes, former coach of the USA national sevens women's men s team. Refereeing of the highest standard was performed by 3 Canadians(David Robinson, Andrew Pettiand David Laporte), 2 Cubans (Alexis Figueres & Chukin Chao) and one Argentinian now living in Spain (Pablo Alonso). The men s playoffs was a high standard series of games of exciting rugby. Howlers won the cup by defeating Santa Monica 26-7 inthe final. Germany s Hanover Selects beat Mexico 19-12, in the plate final the Cuba National A team won the bowl 19-0 against Atlantis andthe Trinidad Tobago Enthusiasts beat ISS 26-0 in the Shield final "

3 Participating Teams 1. Canada Dog River Howlers Men 2. USA Atlantis Men 3. USA Santa Monica 4. Germany, Hanover Sevens 5. Mexico. The National men s Sevens(Las Serpientee) 6. Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts 7. ISS (International Sports School)\ 8. Cuba National Team A 9. Cuba B 10. Cuba C 11. Cuba Women s Team 12. Canada Dog River Howlers Women 13. Canada Dog River Howlers Women

4 Trophy And Awards Winners Men Alberto Granado Award Men's MVP of the Havana Howlers Rugby 7's Trofeo Alberto Granado JMV (jugador mas valioso) del Torneo de Rugby Habana Howlers 7's Trofeo Miguel Carner (Mexican National Team) José Martí Cup Cup Champions Copa José Martí Dog River Howlers Rugby Club (Canada) Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Plate Champions Plato Carlos Manuel de Céspedes ---Hanover Selects (Germany) Máximo Gómez Bowl Champions Tazón Máximo Gómez Cuban National Team (Cuba) Antonio Maceo Shield Award Escudo Antonio Maceo Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts (Trinidad and Tobago) Women Emil Signes Award Women's MVP of the Havana Howlers Rugby Trofeo Emil "Emilito" Signes JMV - delas mujeres (jugador mas valioso) --Lindsay Stephenson (Atlantis) Mariana Grajales Cup Champions Copa Mariana Grajales Coello ----Dog River Howlers (Canada) Ana Betancourt Plate Champions Plato Ana Betancourt Atlantis (USA) Candelaria Figueredo Bowl Champions Tazon Canelaria Figueredo -----Cuban National Team (Cuba)

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9 Mr. Eric Gutiérrez

10 Chukin Chao

11 Karl Fix

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14 Wayne Madray & Leslie Figaro

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23 Fred Forster

24 MVP

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26 Conclusions & Relevant Facts Cuban Rugby is Growing Fred Forster still plays at 76 ( Nobody tackles me, not because it is forbidden, but because they can t catch me ) The Tournament had a good Rugby level Karl Fix, from Canada, is the drive behind the Tournament, his support of CubaRugbyandChukinChaoisworthyofpraise. Thank you to NACRA s EXCO for this enjoyable assignment