Cayman rugby celebrates

(CRFU): The Cayman Rugby Football Union celebrated its 2011/12 local rugby season with their annual player’s dinner on Friday 29 June. The traditionally all male affair which is now open to female rugby players and more recently guests and partners, was attended by over 200 people at Ristorante Papagallo. Guest speaker for the event, Shane Williams MBE, was a big hit with the local rugby fans answering questions on his professional and international career and making himself available for autographs and photos whenever asked.

The focus of the evening being the opportunity to join with friends, family, colleagues and team mates in order to celebrate a year of all things Rugby in Cayman and to give thanks to the volunteers, staff members and sponsors withoutwhose support the continued successes of Rugby in the Cayman Islands would not be possible.

Successes, to name but a few, included Cayman’s rise to being ranked 2nd in the Caribbean at Rugby 7’s, 4th in the Caribbean in Men’s XV’s and 66th in the IRB World Rankings and 1st in U19’s Men’s Rugby.

On Saturday 30 June Williams also took part in the John Gibson Hangover match taking on the Cayman U19 squad before their departure to Mexico to compete at the NACRA U19’s championship where the team will be looking to retain their Championship earned on home soil.

No doubt the Hangover Match was not Williams’ biggest test since his retirement from international rugby in on 3 December 2011 but having come out of professional retirement to take a contract in Japan with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in June, Williams showed all the flare and skill which saw him named IRB International Player of the year in 2008 and will no doubt be a huge inspiration for the U19’s on their Mexico adventure.

2011/12 player awards:

Most improved female player (Sponsored by DMS Offsore): Valerie Coerver
Female players’ player award (Sponsored by Stuarts Walker Hersant): Joanne Ziegler
Female player of the year (Sponsored by Heineken Light): Joan Murphy
Junior male player of the year (Sponsored by CRFU Angels): William Hayward
Most improved male player (Sponsored by Artifacts): Yohann Regnard
Men’s Player of the Year (Sponsored by Magners Cider): Marco du Plessis

The Club Person of the Year award, which is awarded to the individual who volunteers the most time and effort to Cayman Rugby, went to Mark Lea for his dedicated service to the Cayman Rugby Union in keeping the South Sound rugby pitch manicured and marked throughout the season.
The CRFU would like to give a special thank you to all their Partners & Sponsors for the 2011/12 season especially;
Platinum Sponsors: MAPLES, Heineken, Z99, IT Outsource, Hews, Caymanian Compass, International Rugby Board, North American Caribbean Rugby Association, Cayman Islands Government Department of Sport, CIOC

Gold Sponsors: DART, Greenlight RE,

Silver Sponsors: PWC, KPMG, Cayman Rehab Services

Bronze Sponsors: Fidelity, Clan Construction, Krys Global, DHL, Queensgate, John Doak Architecture, Cayman Islands Helicopters, Global Captive Management Ltd, Comfort Suites, Water Authority