The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE final roster has been released and the first step toward International Rugby Board World Cup 2015 qualification is all set to take place in the Cayman Islands this Saturday.

The team is scheduled to travel to face the Cayman Islands in Group Stage II of the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers, broadcasted live on Cayman Rugby TV at 5pm (local time).

The 22-member team is led by a core group of national team stalwarts: Jeremico Cooper, Duran Beadle, Garfield Morrison, Dorian Roach and Kevin Salabie.

The team also includes a cross-section of national team newcomers which should add athleticism and depth to the squad.

Last month, Cayman surprised the NACRA region with a surprising 43-16 victory over Mexico which led to their stage II berth and altered what was expected to be another tough match in the Mexico-Bahamas series. They also narrowly lost 7-3 to Bermuda, the current Caribbean champions.

The Bahamas defeated Mexico 17-12 in the last meeting between the two - the NACRA 15s Championships last May. Their previous win over Mexico came in 2008.

Expectations may be even higher heading into the match against Cayman who has not beaten the Bahamas since 2003.

A win for the Bahamas in Cayman will make the home game against Bermuda on June 9 the North Caribbean Final.

The winners progress to play the South Caribbean Champions in July.

In preparation for the qualification rounds of the RWC Sevens Finals and the World Cup Qualifiers, Team Bahamas has been training over the past few months on the path to qualification and will take the programme to another level now that club play has concluded.

In April, the 2015 World Cup Qualifiers began with the opening game between Mexico and Jamaica - a match which Mexico won 68-14.

The North Caribbean region has a pre-qualification group which includes Mexico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Cayman was the winner of that group and advanced to compete with Bermuda and the Bahamas.

In July, the winner of that round is scheduled to play the winners of the South Caribbean Group for the title of Caribbean Champions.

The Bahamas is ranked third overall in the Caribbean and 86th overall in the International Rugby Board rankings. Bermuda is currently the top-ranked side with an IRB ranking of 48 and Guyana second with a ranking of 48. Trinidad and Tobago is ranked fourth, while Mexico rounds out the top five.

TEAM BAHAMAS

Anthony, Craig

Anthony, Jamie

Beadle, Duran

Butler, Dorian

Charlton, Kacy

Cheetham, Marcus

Cooper, Jeremico

Cunningham, Justin

Curry, Jamaal

Davis, Bovair

Gates, John

Johnson, Giovanni

Boyd, Levar

Kemp, Shawn

Morrisson, Garfield

Oliver, Carlton

Roussos, Manny

Salabie, Kevin

Smith, Charles

Thurston, Earl

Watkins, Michael

Woodside, Devon