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Rugby Americas North (RAN) may expand in 2017. Both Aruba and Belize are moving towards gaining membership status.
Since founding Rugby Belize in 2012 Tony Gillings has seen encouraging progress. He has introduced the game to community groups, police cadets and schools. It is the schools which mark the greatest breakthrough. Youth can go on to play at senior level, a sustainable path for Belize to compete in international competition.
Gillings’ trainings have increased in participation to now have 16-20 kids regularly involved. Moreover there are plans to set-up three school-based clubs in the city, with the possibility of another school in February.
The Belize Olympic Committee has also expressed interest in further supporting and establishing rugby in Belize.
Across in Aruba the sport is also developing well. Former members of the Dutch Police Force, Firozh Moeharram and Gijs Van der Pol helped establish an international police competition in the Netherlands.
Their law enforcement jobs took both of them to Aruba and they set about building rugby on the island. Now that the sport is taking off in Aruba they aim to establish a national 15 a-side competition and get involve in Olympic Rugby 7’s qualifiers.
Aruba is hoping to participate in the World Police and Fire Games in the summer of 2017 and in the fall host the first Arubian Beach rugby tournament.
By 2019 Rugby Americas North aims to have 20 members. At present the entity has 13 members and two Regional Development Unions. Unions must apply for Associate Membership of RAN and after one year are eligible to apply for Full Membership.
Full Membership is contingent upon several key performance indicators, including adherence to government structures, development strategy, financial considerations and evidence four teams competing annually in a fifteen-a-side league.
Upon obtaining full RAN membership unions are then free to apply for World Rugby membership after one year.
