Manager of the Local Organising Committee of the Rugby Barbados World 7s (RBW7s), George Nicholson, has travelled to the USA to attend the prestigious annual Rugby Development Summit with the aim of expanding the reach of local rugby into the international arena.
In partnership with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) and Go Play Sports Tours, Nicholson attended the Summit last month in Denver, Colorado, to promote this year’s RBW7s Tournament to be held from 8th to 9th December, as well as to highlight Barbados as a premier sports tourism destination. Attended by over 450 rugby coaches, executives, administrators and exhibitors, the Summit also gave Nicholson the chance to brush up on the latest global trends in rugby, as well as explore new opportunities for the growth and development of the sport in Barbados and beyond.
Director of the BTMI USA office, Petra Griffith-Roach commented, “We believe that it is essential for a member of the relevant sports federation to be present at these sorts of events, because they can speak to the participants in terms of their sport. To have the opportunity to have George present at the USA Rugby Summit alongside Go Play Sports Tours, who have recently shifted their focus from Europe to the Caribbean, was an opportunity that we felt that we had to take,” she said.
Nicholson echoed these sentiments. “It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the wider USA Rugby membership in an environment where they were open to new ideas and concepts,” he said. “We appreciate the support from the BTMI and Go Play Sports Tours in our efforts to promote both rugby in Barbados and our highly anticipated annual Tournament on a global scale. Our presence at the USA Rugby Summit is certainly going to assist with these endeavours.”
The RBW7s Tournament is the longest running Club Rugby 7s Tournament in the Caribbean and features some of the best men’s and women’s club teams from all over the world. Teams from Canada, USA, United Kingdom, Europe and other Caribbean islands such as Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia have already indicated their intention to participate in this year’s 2018 Barbados Tournament.
Caption: Manager of the Local Organising Committee of the Rugby Barbados World 7s (RBW7s), George Nicholson (centre), with Marc Amigone of Go Play Sports Tours (left) at the USA Rugby Development Summit last month.
For more RBW7s information, connect on Facebook www.facebook.com/BarbadosSevens,
or email George Nicholson gdougnich@gmail.com or Brian Stollmeyer Baxterslimited@gmail.com.