The Rugby Company t/a Rugby Belize

The silence from rugby authorities on the stagnation of the sport in Belize is really disappointing. Especially when there's a thriving club just waiting to help boost the sport and help it be sustainable.

RUGBY IN BELIZE – CRITICAL JUNCTURE

THE SPORT of Rugby Union is Belize is at a critical junction, according to the founder of the sport, former President of Rugby Belize, Tony Gillings. Stagnated growth, lack of competitive games, the cessation of inter-district league competition, egos and centralisation have all contributed to an almost complete collapse of the sport which was founded 11 years ago.

”Back then, from 2014 until 2023, we had six locally based district teams and a national team which had competed in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos.” Gillings stated, “Now, there’s one team in San Ignacio which doubles as the so-called national team, and a few players dotted about the rest of the country struggling to keep the sport alive.”

The one bright spot is on the tiny island of Caye Caulker, where the local rugby club – The Crocodiles – has been able to grow and capture the islands attention in just one year. “We started with a couple of youngsters, and now have a senior U21 team, fully sponsored and training every week. Our problem is there’s nobody else to play against because, under the current management of the sport, growth has stopped and players elsewhere have walked away; there are no other active teams now.”

Why? Gillings says that’s because the centralised attitude of the current management means everybody has to go to San Ignacio to get game time experience and competition, and for players coming from Belize City, Orange Walk or Stann Creek, that’s both expensive and time consuming. “Those apparently managing this sport should be the ones travelling around the country. They need to get off their butts and go motive players and teams, encourage recruitment, spread the good things about what rugby can bring to youth and communities, not sit in their village and expect everyone to come to them. That’s not how you get growth and encourage development.”

This sport started in Belize by Gillings travelling around the country with a rugby ball and engaging with youngsters about the sport every weekend, and many weekday evenings on patches of grass playing rugby with youngsters for almost 10 years. “Its’ hard work” he says, “but that’s how we got teams right across this country – you got to be committed and demonstrate consistency for something new to take hold and grow.”

Right now, this sport is at a critical juncture. If the management team don’t act, instead of just talk, the sport will cease to be a serious option for youngsters that really do need something like rugby, which offers more than just a game, but life skills, discipline and potential scholarships through sport opportunities. Act or quit and let more enthusiastic volunteers take over.

Ends

Tony Gillings
Founder, Rugby Belize