TT risk rugby sanctions again

THE TT Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) is in an all-too-familiar situation – a shortage of funds and the threat of the national men's team once again missing a crucial Rugby Americas North (RAN) Men's 15s Championship.

The local governing body is fearing another setback in the men's programme and the potential of facing more repercussions from RAN if they are unable to finance their trip to Guadeloupe for the South Championship in March.

Fortunately for the TTRFU, RAN has offered to partially subsidise the team's trip if they can source the rest of funds needed. The time needed to raise those funds, however, is limited.

They TTRFU has written to RAN explaining their current financial situation and have asked RAN to give the union until next Tuesday "to meet with stakeholders on the matter."

It could be the second straight year the local body faces punishment from RAN for its inability to fulfil its fixtures and default matches. Last year, the men's team was relegated after failing to secure funds in time to face Cayman Islands, in its last of three matches at that stage of the RAN Men's 15s Championship.

Ironically, the men's team would have been promoted if they had won that match as they were unbeaten and coming off home victories against Bermuda and USA South.

The TTRFU has lodged an appeal to World Rugby.

Hoping to avoid similar embarrassment this year, the TTRFU met with SporTT recently to discuss their trip to Guadeloupe to face their rugby team.

However, SporTT executive manager Anthony Creed crushed TTRFU's spirit in a letter last week by blanking their request for funding. He said, as articulated in the last budget speech, SporTT will focus its funding on teams attempting to qualify for the 2020 Olympics and World Championships.

Creed said, "TTRFU request for funding RANs fifteen in Guadeloupe from 16th to 28th March 2019 will not be considered."

In an interview with Newsday yesterday, TTRFU president Colin Peters said he would not blame SporTT for the TT men's 15s team's predicament, although the belief was that they would receive funding, as per an earlier verbal agreement with SporTT chairman Douglas Camacho.

Peters also lamented the unavailability of funding for other team programmes such as Under-19 men, which he reminded is a direct "feeder" to the senior team.

The rugby boss said he understands SporTT will receive only a fraction of its budget request from Government, thereby hindering their ability to aid various sporting organisations.

"I can't blame Mr Camacho because the request they (SporTT) made to the government – they got a third of it. At least that is what he said. My conversation with Mr Creed last week is that they haven't received a cent so that puts a different spin on it," Peters said.

He added, "We told them (RAN) about Government's position and that we are seeking to get financing from elsewhere, because we do not want the programme to fall down. This will be the second year we'll be denied playing in the 15s."

Fortunately, the TTRFU has not yet signed a participation agreement, which may prevent the dire implications against the men's team and national teams. Peters said RAN also offered a subsidy but the body is unsure of its value.

One national team SporTT has promised assistance to is the Rainforest women's sevens team that will be competing at the Pan American Games in July/August in Costa Rica. Camacho reiterated funding is being issued as a "matter of priority" with the priority being "the (2020) Olympics come back."