Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Rugby World Cup 2019’s qualification process got underway this past Saturday in the Caribbean. Jamaica’s impressive away defeat over St. Vincent and the Grenadines began what is a three month qualifying process in the region.
Seven other countries join Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Americas Round 1 qualifying phase. They are: Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago.
The countries will compete in a total of thirteen qualifying matches, the second of which will be played later this month with Jamaica again being involved. Jamaica will face Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday March 23.
The Americas Round 1 qualifying will continue in April and will conclude on July 02 with Mexico being the setting for the final fixture, against the Cayman Islands. The complete fixture list is as follows:
| Date | Fixture |
| March 05 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines 0-48 Jamaica |
| March 23 | Trinidad & Tobago vs Jamaica |
| April 23 | Guyana vs Barbados |
| May 07 | Bahamas vs Mexico |
| May 21 | Guyana vs Jamaica |
| May 21 | Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago |
| May 21 | Cayman Islands vs Bahamas |
| May 21 | Mexico vs Bermuda |
| May 28 | Jamaica vs Barbados |
| June 04 | Bermuda vs Bahamas |
| June 18 | Trinidad & Tobago vs Guyana |
| June 18 | Cayman Islands vs Bermuda |
| July 02 | Mexico vs Cayman Islands |
By virtue of having won and scoring a bonus point Jamaica is in first position of the qualifiers. St. Vincent and the Grenadines will play no further part due to the loss also representing elimination. The following table details the current standings of the Americas Round 1 qualification series.
| Table | Played | +/- | BP | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 1 | +48 | 1 | 5 |
| Bahamas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barbados | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bermuda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cayman Islands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guyana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 | -48 | 0 | 0 |
