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Sudamérica Rugby’s Regional North Development Manager Alberto Ruiz Lucahas been in Honduras and Nicáragua visiting the respective national governing bodies – the Federación Nicaragüense de Rugby (FENIRUGBY) and the Federación Hondureña de Rugby (FHR).
The visits to both countries consisted of work-focused meetings with the local managers. The purpose being to seek and to aid the growth of rugby in all countries which aspire to be above to obtain associated membership with Sudamérica Rugby in 2016.
In addition Ruiz Luca de Tena ran workshops for coaches, referees and managers in both countries and a Get Into Rugby Course. The programs took place in Nicaragua from April 25-May 01 followed by Honduras from May 11-16.
Nicaragua
With a population of 5.9 million Nicaragua currently has a total of five rugby clubs based in the cities of Total, Ruva and the capital, Managua. The rugby commuity includes 164 active people of whom approximately 32 are women.
Rugby activity within Nicaragua is presently focused on shortened versions of the game – both Rugby 7’s and 10’s. This is true both at club and regional level. The largest annual event is the Granada 7’s which involves teams from throughout the remainder of Central America.
The national women’s team are already involved in international competition. They participated in the South American C women’s Sevens late last year in El Salvador.
Sudamérica Rugby’s visit to Nicaragua also established contact with the Olympic Committee of the XI Central American Games which will be stages in Managua in December 2017. For the first time in history Rugby Sevens will be a sport at the region’s premier sporting event.
Honduras
Honduras’ 8.7 million population is notably larger than that of Nicaragua. The country has five men’s and two women’s clubs which are based in Tegucigalpa, La Esperanza and Roatán. Collectively they give Honduras 190 rugby players, of whom 60 are women.
Involvement in the country is both in the form of Rugby Sevens and 15’s. Domestic competition is played both in regional and club formats with the Roatán 7s being a noteworthy event of substantial potential for the future of rugby in Central America.
Honduras has a test team which debuted after Rugby World Cup 2015, taking on Guatemala. The union has previously expressed interest to Americas Rugby News in joining Sudamérica Rugby and playing in the South American C Championship.
Sudamérica Rugby officials met with the FHR, the Honduras Olympic Committee and the Secretary of Cultive, Arts and Sports. During the meeting support was given from the Olympic Solidarity movement and an elementary and high school project from Tegucigalpa.
