TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: MY DAILY LIFE IS 100% RUGBY. AND I CAN’T WAIT FOR IT TO BECOME THE SAME FOR MORE.

1. When did the women’s rugby movement start in your country and what is its history? How is rugby structured in your country?

The earliest records of rugby in Trinidad and Tobago date back to the late 1800s; the sport even appeared in an early version of the crest of Queen’s Royal College (QRC). Rugby has maintained a constant presence thanks to its lively, dedicated, and evolving community. Although the exact date of women’s participation in local rugby is unclear, women began training informally with men during the 1990s, forming official teams only in the early 2000s. A milestone for women’s rugby development came with an impromptu friendly match against Venezuela, played on September 16, 2001. The first match between local women’s clubs took place in June/July of that same year. Despite the heavy defeat in the international friendly (75–0), the women’s league continued to grow, gaining momentum in 2003. The first international test matches of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national team were played in Port of Spain on December 3 and 4, 2003, against Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago won both games, 20–0 and 10–0.

The first club to form a women’s team was Northern RFC, founded in 1923 and boasting over 100 years of history. Later, Caribs RFC established a rival team and eventually absorbed its players. Over the years, many other clubs created women’s teams: University of the West Indies (UWI) RFC, Tobago RFC, Rydeus RFC, Eastern Graduates RFC, Harvard RFC, Northerns RFC, Royalians RFC, Caribs RFC, the Trinidad and Tobago Armed Forces and Police teams, Rainbow RFC, San Juan RFC, South Eastern Port of Spain Secondary (SEPOS) Ruggers, as well as development programs such as the School of Rugby and Silvos Rugby Academy. Participation fluctuations sometimes led to teams merging in order to maintain competitiveness, though several key clubs consistently sustained the women’s league. Many former internationals now hold roles within the union—including coaching, management, medical support, operational committees, and currently the presidency (Maria Thomas) and vice-presidency (Kanisha Vincent) of the TTRU.

Internationally, Trinidad and Tobago had a strong women’s fifteens program within the North America and West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA), later renamed the North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) and now Rugby Americas North (RAN). In 2024, after a rebuilding phase through 10s and 12s tournaments, fifteens test rugby returned. The women’s national team ranked 28th in the world and 1st in the Caribbean, playing a decisive role in reviving women’s fifteens rugby in the region. In sevens, the national team has consistently placed in the top three of the annual RAN 7s tournament, including third place in 2024, when a development side also took part. In recent years, the women’s sevens teams have competed at the Pan American Games (2019), the Central American and Caribbean Games (2023, senior level), and the Commonwealth Youth Games (2017 and 2023, junior level).

Currently, there are three main senior women’s teams and three junior women’s teams across different clubs. The Trinidad and Tobago Schools’ Rugby Union (TTSRU) includes both girls’ and boys’ divisions. Under the leadership of Kwanieze John, the TTSRU successfully sent an All Stars girls’ team to a development tournament in Barbados in 2016. This was historic, as it was the first international women’s rugby sevens tournament ever held in Barbados. To further participation and development, the TTRU is now implementing the Rugby Rising Play and Grassroots2Global programs in collaboration with World Rugby and ChildFund Rugby, with a focus on the holistic development of women and girls. Efforts are concentrated on strengthening women’s rugby locally, enhancing participation, inclusivity, and competitiveness both nationally and regionally.

2. Do you think playing rugby has a social impact for women in your country?

Absolutely. Many athletes have stated that rugby has had a positive effect on their social and personal well-being. The sport provides a strong sense of community and a safe environment to develop physical, mental, and leadership skills. Trinidad and Tobago is at the forefront of supporting women in leadership roles, and since 2021 the TTRU has maintained gender parity in its governance and administration. Targeted initiatives by various stakeholders have offered opportunities to develop rugby-related skills that foster mutual growth on and off the field. Female players, as well as those in support roles, gain resilience, confidence, and a strong sense of solidarity that carries over into both personal and professional life.

3. In your view, what can rugby give to women in your country?

The benefits of rugby apply to everyone. The sport provides opportunities for personal, educational, and leadership development. Giving back to the rugby community creates reciprocal and multiplying benefits; thanks to individual efforts and sporting commitment, many athletes have found professional opportunities and achieved tangible success, showing rugby’s potential as a tool to build careers. Through rugby, athletes gain volunteering experience, compete internationally, and travel. Most importantly, rugby conveys core values such as Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline, and Respect—allowing women to grow and thrive both on and off the field.

1. When did you start playing rugby and how did you discover it?

 I started playing rugby in Canada, and I came to it late. I had practiced many sports before rugby… A colleague and friend noticed how active I was—always at the gym, walking, running, cycling, rollerblading everywhere—and naturally, when you’re looking for endurance, especially for fifteens rugby that lasts 80 minutes, I guess that was a resource. I think I was really “discovered”—if I remember correctly, it was because they saw me at the gym, going into my third fitness class after already having lifted weights. That was part of the process that brought me to rugby.

2. What has rugby taught you that has had an impact on your daily life? Can you give an example of when a rugby mindset has been useful to you?

My daily life is 100% rugby. And I can’t wait for it to become that way for more people—not just for those who play full-time, but also for those working in administration, as coaches, in training. I want people to know that rugby can be a job, not just a passion. When we think about sport and the pandemic, we have to ask ourselves: How can we make sure people still have access to opportunities in rugby—as players, officials, administrators—in a post-COVID world? The answer lies in adaptability, creativity, and inclusion. Part of my personal journey is also—ironically, as I put it—being “dangerously overeducated.” (…) Education is wonderful, it can open doors, but it also needs to be applicable. You need to know how to use it to help yourself, your community, and the places where you live. It’s a tool, not a destination. Rugby includes you—whether you’re on the field, behind a desk, or simply helping out.

3. Can you give me 3 words that connect rugby to freedom?

Peace: “In rugby I find my peace, because when you play—especially in technical roles like scrum, lineout, ruck, or maul—you can’t think about anything else. (…) If I can focus only on that, then I find peace.”

Belonging: “That pass represents opportunity, belonging, and support.”

Opportunity: “It’s a space where you can be active, be part of a team, learn skills…”

4. What does live in a land of freedom mean to you?

You should never limit yourself—or your involvement in the things you love—just because of age. (…) Fifteens rugby, in particular, is an environment where you can get out, be part of a team, move, and find community. The concept of freedom is linked to inclusion, accessibility, and the ability to act and contribute.

5. What object represents you and why?

My object is a pass—like a backstage pass—that I received for the Women’s Rugby Championship in Russia. It’s small, but it means a lot to me. (…) That pass represents opportunity, belonging, and support. I still keep it to this day.