The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT WAS an unwelcome return to the international rugby scene for the Bahamas in the NACRA Championships, the opening round of IRB World Cup 2015 qualification.

The Bahamas fell 27-7 to the Cayman Islands in Group Stage II of the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers Saturday.

Devon Woodside's late minute try in the game's waning moments prevented the shutout and placed the Bahamas on the scoreboard.

It was the first time Cayman had beaten the Bahamas since 2003.

Cayman surprised the NACRA region with a surprising 43-16 victory over Mexico last month which led to their stage II berth and altered what was expected to be another tough match in the Mexico-Bahamas series.

Cayman played a tough opening match in qualification but lost 7-3 to Bermuda.

A win for the Bahamas in Cayman would have made the upcoming home game against Bermuda on June 9 the North Caribbean Final.

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 but fell to 87th 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.

Ranked

Trinidad and Tobago is ranked fourth, while Mexico rounds out the top five.

The Bahamas will now turn its focus to the Men's teams looking to qualify in international sevens play.

The regional qualifier for the 2013 RWC Sevens Finals is scheduled to take place at Twin Elms Rugby Park in Ottawa, Canada, August 25-26.

Two teams - from the men's tourney and the women's tournament - will emerge and qualify for the finals set to be held in Russia.

Canada and the US will be strong favourites in the men's tournament, with expected opposition from Caribbean champions Guyana. The Bahamas will join the field which also includes Bermuda, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Originally formed in March 2001 under the name of North America and West Indies Rugby Association ("NAWIRA"), NACRA is one of the six IRB regional associations.

NACRA is the governing body of the 13 Unions in the North America Caribbean Rugby Association. Its membership is diverse and currently includes the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the US.