THE Vigie Beach will come alive today as Saint Lucians and visitors alike will witness the first ever Beach Rugby 5s Tournament.
The event is hosted by the Saint Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) and aims to expose the exciting variation of the sport to both rugby enthusiasts and sports enthusiasts. The one day tournament is scheduled to commence from 10:00 a.m.
According to the SLRFU, beach rugby is worth exploring, this variation of rugby is increasing in popularity in the UK, Italy, Brazil and Argentina among other countries. The Union sees potential in growing the interest among athletes and sports enthusiasts.
This fast paced variety is a scaled down version of the conventional rugby game. It is played on a smaller pitch with lesser number of players, reduced scoring system and shorter period of time. This format will require players to be quicker, be multidimensional in their skill sets and in sync with their teammates. For this tournament, the teams will be composed of rugby players and interested individuals. There will be female and male categories vying for the cash prizes to be awarded to overall winners for each category.
Meanwhile, SLRFU aim is to break the misconception that rugby is a violent sport. This event will demonstrate that just like any other sport training determines performance. But unlike any other sport, rugby is more fun especially after the games.
The SLRFU like previous tournament is inviting members of the public to join the fun on the sand.