Welcome to the second part of my article on the registered rugby player numbers in the 2010 IRB report. In this second part, I will now focus on the NACRA IRB Regional Association.
NACRA stands for “North America Caribbean Rugby Association”
NACRA consists of eleven Member Unions and two Associate Unions. There have been no additions to the NACRA regional Association since 2009.
Of the eleven Member Unions, seven have shown growth, three have decreased and one has not had a recount since 2009 (St Vincent and the Grenadines – 1,036 registered player numbers).
In the NACRA Association, two members are considered the powerhouses there. They are Canada and USA, both of which have shown growth.
Canada grew from 22,218 registered players in 2009 to 23,853 in 2010, a 7.3% increase. However in my opinion Canada’s numbers should be far higher considering how long they have been playing.
More and more news from Canada seems to indicate they are focusing more on Women’s rugby (both sevens and full teams), so expect to see more registered female numbers in the future.
USA has 88,151 registered players in 2010. A 7.9% increase from last year, however recent reports from the USA rugby union themselves have shown they have over 90,000 by now with the much harder push in college and grassroots levels.
I am hoping for sometime in the future that they could at least get a professional league going very soon in the future which could at least be on par with the MLS League. This is still some time away, but here’s hoping.
Mexico has also shown a slight growth, and with the sevens being the main way of introducing the game to them, lets hope it catches on since they have such a huge population.
Of the other nations, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have all shown growth. Not earth moving, but still growth none the less.
But three unions have shown decrease. These include Bermuda and the Bahamas, however they already had small playing numbers under 1,000 so the slight decreases are inconsequential in my view.
The biggest disappointment to me however has to be with Jamaica. In 2009 they had 9,856 members, but as of the 2010 report they have only 2,090 members, a 78% decrease. How is this possible?
My theory, which is one I hope doesn’t spark a code war, is that Rugby League seems to have made a huge impression there.
I have been seeing for myself via the Jamaica League websites that one of them have become professional and they have opened a Rugby League Academy in there as well.
Could this be the reason for the huge drop off in Rugby players in Jamaica, since there seems to be no pro-rugby team there and no pathway for higher honors? I hope not. The Jamaica Rugby Union should be really selling the Olympic Sevens gold medal as the big carrot for their Rugby players and that a Semi-Pro league could start soon. Let’s hope the numbers increase this year.
Overall the region playing numbers in 2009 for NACRA were 126,750. In 2010, the Region Playing Numbers are 128,828, a 1.6% increase in playing numbers for this region.
I give the NACRA region a pass mark, however I expect 2011 to be an even better year in Canada and USA in regards to registered playing numbers. Use sevens as a growth instrument in the Caribbean and Mexico and lets all hope Jamaica can get their ship righted.
Please discuss.
Summary of NACRA
Eleven Member Unions, two Associate Unions
Region Playing Numbers 128,828
World Playing Population Percentage 3.5%
World Population Percentage 7.2%
Full List Of NACRA (with the year they joined the IRB)
Bahamas (1994) 801
Barbados (1995) 301
Bermuda (1992) 558
Brit. Virgin Islands (2001) Associate Member
Canada (1987) 23,853
Cayman Islands (1997) 2,200
Guyana (1995) 1,324
Jamaica (1996) 2,090
Mexico (2006) 3,454
St Lucia (1996) Associate Member
St Vincent & the Grenadines (2001) 1,036
Trinidad & Tobago (1992) 5,060
United States of America (1987) 88,151
jamaican rugger
Guest
Rugby League is going really well for us in Jamaica. We have played against the USA and Canada in the last three years and that gives us a big profile in Jamaica. We have been to the UK and beat a Pro team Hull FC in rugby league 9s..so its been an incredible journey to date. Our team is strong because we combine local domestic amateur players with UK based heritage players. It creates quite a stronger team. We could do the same in RU, but the people who run Union dont have the kinda insight and to do what needs to be done. I grew up playing rugby union..and still coach rugby union. However, I think league is the future because its a simpler game and we in Jamaica are quick and fast..we are not big and strong like the USA or Canadian players..but maybe with UK based heritage players..we could have a decent side. I have been to the UK and seen quite a few Jamaican and Caribbean heritage guys who would tear it up..they just needs to be scouted. anyone who wants to check out rugby league in Jamaica can visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamaica-Rugby-League-Association/80979929389?ref=ts http://jamaicarugbyleague.com/ In October Jamaica plays USA and South Africa in Philly for one spot to the 2013 RL world cup., should be great.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
If anyone wants to see some highlights of the CPL (known as the CPD) here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/user/CollegeRugbyFilms#p/a/u/2/dTlCswzpIYo
NF
Guest
Kovana Looking at the Caribbean I noticed countries such as Cuba (population of 11m), Haiti, Puerto Rico and the other Caribbean islands not on the associate list these countries also have potential also but are not a member of the IRB or have no presence at all. Since Union is played in 118 countries I think there still countries with no Union presence at all despite surrounding by countries which has some form of Union presence you would of though Union would spread through each continent through geographical rivalries. Alot of potential there through the Olympics to take up Rugby Union you think. As for Jamaica Rugby League sounds like it's going well it be nice for there admin to spread the word throughout the Caribbean if you don't mind kovana.
GavinH
Guest
played for the first time encouraged by the government now that 7s is olympic
ozxile
Roar Pro
Rocky, your mates may be the 'best' players on the team. Bear in mind that 99% of all foreign players in the US who come from a Top 10 rugby nation think that they are the best players on the team. Most (not all) didn't rate before they arrived but find the accent works wonders for their credibility. They are, without exception, great tacticians, shadow captains/coaches and laws experts. Irrespective of reality the rugby they played was a much higher standard, e.g., 'The standard is apparently similar to 5th grade school boy teams (15-16 year olds)'. This is typical nonsense, unless...did they join a women's team? If they are average before they arrive they are still average - or they would be playing A/B grade club rugby at home. The real issue with the standard of play in the US remains coaching. Even the best coaches aren't much good and on average coaching is simply incompetent. You cannot become an artist by taking an art class and a couple coaching courses don't make a coach. Few of those coaching ever had a good coach themselves. The system, such as it is, remains an 'incestuous' mess at all levels. Systemic incompetence does little for development. Even with rising numbers the players coming through remain clueless. The ones who happen to have played in high school have a little more than their peers. However, with few exceptions their development stagnates when they move to collegiate or club rugby. Their teammates are novices and the coaching (even where somewhat competent) is spread so thin. 18 year old players with no real business coaching anyone end up 'coaching' their teammates. You can be 100% certain that your mates are now 'coaching' their teammates. Do you think they should be coaching anyone?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
The IRB are actually stepping up their investment in Brazil. Add to that the Brazilian RU are undertaking a major development push with media and everything. There's actually a feeling that when the IRB add a South American leg to the World Series it should be in Brazil with an eye on Rio.
MacIver
Guest
If we want to focus on developing rugby in the Americas I suggest we look at BRAZIL. 190 millon people. They have a nationall team that plays other South American countries. I believe they play Uruguay a bit (but havent beeten them). Yes they love soccer but there are always going to be forward body shapes and people who want to play a contact sport. Also theyve got tough Brazillian Jujitssu types who would like rugby. Im sure they would love to smash some Argentinians (those countries really do not like each other). Brazil would have no shortage of people with pace and skill also. Also got Olympics in Rio in 2016 remember.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Jamaican Rugger Maybe the NACRA nations should draw up a proposal for a 15s and 7s regional Championship. Would solve quite a few issues. I'm sorry but you cannot blame the IRB on everything. Get together a call for change. Look to South America for international competition. Believe me, you're not ready for the US, Canada or European nations that are sufficiently strong enough to tour..
Working Class Rugger
Guest
The ENC is exclusively for FIRA-AER members so admission there is nigh on impossible. As for Canada having the upper hand. This is steadily changing. The teams are pretty equal at the moment, going of both their results against Georgia last November Canada lost comfortably enough to Georgia missing a few starters while the US just lost in the 10th minute of overtime against a full strength Georgia.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Rocky Are they playing in the local Colorado league or in the Mid West Division 1. There's a difference. The issue in the US is most of their player's don't come to the game until they reach High School at best. Makes development of the finer skills in the game difficult. However, much of the development being done by both USARugby and volunteer groups are focusing directly at the younger age groups in Elementary and Middle School. Many of the player's in the top 12 College programs have been playing the game since they were kids. This will continue in thr future and the standard will improve with them.
tc
Guest
To our Jamaican league friend I think the IRB is so obsessed with growing rugby in the US that it takes other parts of the rugby world for granted ,but hopefully soon they will be able to invest more in your part of the world . On the subject at hand these are interesting times for rugby and to be honest I don't think we have seen anything yet.
Brett McKay
Guest
Correct Weight, they were in the same pool as Scotland, Tonga and Samoa.. http://www.hksevens.com/Schedule-Schedule.htm
rocky
Guest
The US excites me more than any other developing nation. The numbers seem great and interest seems to be building exponentially, but how is it they are not more competitive at the moment? They have four times as many players as Canada!! My theory is that majority of rugby players in the US only began playing after the age of 15.. I have two friends I went to school with in New Zealand currently on a long holiday in the US and are playing rugby in Colorado for a Division One club team. I spoke online with one of them the other day, interested to hear what the standard of rugby is like there. He basically told me that it is alot easier than here in New Zealand, and that they are the two best players in the team. The standard is apparently similar to 5th grade school boy teams (15-16 year olds), which means they would get trounced by at least 50-0 by the equivalent mens division one club teams in NZ. Maybe Colorado division one is a weak competition? I don't know. I am planning to play in the US early next year, in a different state (midwest), so I will get to see firsthand what the playing standard at club level is really like. The future is definitely looking bright for the game in the US though, maybe the competitiveness at grass roots club level is about to greatly increase in the coming 4-5 years with all the emphasis US Rugby is putting on juniors.
Rusty
Roar Guru
this is the very reason why cricket is suffering
allblackfan
Guest
apparently, mexico was at the HK sevens. Can someone confirm?
kovana
Guest
Also it seems the Head of the UN is a rugby fan. "Rugby’s top trophy touches down at UN Headquarters ahead of World Cup 11 April 2011 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon revealed himself to be a big fan of rugby as he helped launch its premier competition today, extolling the physical and emotional health benefits that playing such sports can bring. In a ceremony at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban kicked off the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which will take place at various cities and towns around New Zealand in September and October this year." “I love to watch rugby but the truth is I do not play it too well,” the Secretary-General confessed. http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/sport/home/newsandevents/news/template/news_item.jsp?cid=25439 The link has a picture of Someone from the IRB presenting the Secretary General with an USA Eagles Rugby Jersey. :lol:
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Yes the IRB are very astute with how their money is spent. value for money is one of their guiding rules. From, what i know abotu Jamacian RL they have about 500 players. so its still very small in comparison with rugby. but it certainly has a presence and is growing on the island. the thing to remember about the carribean, and specifically Jamacia is that American culture is huge there. that means that Basketball has become huge there, along with other american sports. soccer has also made huge inroads. so the rugby codes are very low down the pecking order and will remain there. the caribean is one of the least promsing areas for growth IMO.
kovana
Guest
Anyways Bush this was all i could find on the Hurricanes Jamaican Rugby league Academy. http://www.hurricanesrugbyleague.com/news/article.php?id=1000010 They are certainly growing IMO.
kovana
Guest
I dont think this article hinted at 'bashing' league as you stated.
Wall-Nut
Guest
Interesting information. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.