Pantors, an 'essential' rugby family

THE PANTOR family is a clan of "essentials," comprising three current stand-out players for the national rugby teams (men and women). However, their careers have either been put on hold by the covid19 pandemic or have been thrown right in to the arena.

Their father Wayne, who played for TT between 1991-1997, is a 22-year army veteran. He served as both a player and a coach with the TT Defence Force between 1996-2018.

He performed technical roles for the national U-19, men's sevens and 15s teams, and was the TTRFU (TT Rugby Football Union) technical director between 2012-2019.

Pantor is currently contracted by the St Lucia Football Rugby Union as its technical director.

"Luckily everyone's home," he said referring to his three children, all of whom have made rugby milestones in their short playing careers. "Well, everyone except me."

Pantor has been in St Lucia for the past year but would prefer to be in Trinidad at the moment.

His three rugby-playing children are Nicolette (age 25), Leon (23) and Jeron (21).

Nicolette works for the TT Police Service and is captain of the Police women's team, as well as the national sevens and 15s teams. She has objectively been a staple in every club and national team she has played.

Nicolette and Leon –the latter also stand-out for the men's national sevens and 15s teams – were both nominated by the TTRFU last year as its delegates for the prestigious First Citizens Sports Foundation senior athletes of the year awards.

Leon, a former national U-19 rugby captain, is an accounting clerk at a Ministry of Community Affairs. He recently had a son.

Jeron, a fly-half, is on a rugby scholarship at Life University in the Georgia, USA. He was described by World 7s magazine in 2017 as " (...) one of the most exciting up and coming rugby players around the US.

"His athletic ability is just one of his many attributes. His selflessness, humility, humble attitude and willingness to learn and work hard are massive character traits that cannot go unnoticed."

He also played for Naparima College's first-11 football team in the Secondary Schools Football League a few years ago, featuring prominently in midfield.

Both he and Leon have played together with success in national colours.

He returned to TT on March 12 because of the covid19 pandemic and the impending border closure.

Wayne told Newsday, "Jeron's university informed them that they were closing campus and they would have to vacate. With no family support aboard, as an international student, he returned home. We're unsure when he will return (to Georgia)."

Jeron is doing classes online for the spring semester.

"Both my parents are senior citizens (and) considered high-risk," Jeron said.

"Leon has recently had a son... So I have not seen him, the legacy of the Pantor clan," he cheekily added, "due to travel restrictions."

Wayne said he considers himself stranded, "One, because of the closed borders."

"Two, due to the shut-down I am unable to gain an income. All sporting programmes are at a halt here."

Although he is without an income in St Lucia, he still faces daily and monthly overheads, such as accommodation and meals.

Wayne said he tried to leave the islands but "(there were) challenges with getting on to flights as they announced the closure of the borders."

The eldest Pantor was asked if he felt the border management was handled well through the pandemic. He replied, "Yes and no."

"I understand the nature of the beast with the pandemic. They have to make harsh decisions. But from the standpoint of begin stranded indefinitely, with not seeing any hope of returning to family and my loved ones, it is frustrating at times... As well as not hearing a clear plan to bring back persons stranded abroad."

In the same breath, Wayne said he feels safe in self-isolation, as opposed to taking a risky flight at an airport "where there is crowding and protesting."

(In any case) priority is being given to people who are citizens of countries like United States and UK over the Caribbean," he said. "With the end of this pandemic nowhere in the horizon, the harsh realities of survival are paramount. I have to ration my food and finances as no form of earning available due to national shut-down."

"I have to remain isolated and ponder when I would see my family, friends and loved ones again. In this time of despair, the only salvation is to trust and support the systems for a speedy solution."

The sport will be gravely affected to the remainder of the year, Wayne said, in St Lucia and TT, given it is a contact sport. And despite rolling back lockdown measures, it is unlikely to be given priority for resumption by the authorities.

He admits the cessation of sports is unfortunate but he is more grateful this side of the region has not been hit as badly as many other parts of the world.

"Play will be altered because rugby is a contact game in all aspects, from training to competition," Wayne said.

He also predicts that "(rugby unions) will be affected by the increased cost of travel and accommodation, plus health risk travelling to compete at tournaments.

"The short version of the game may strive with a shorter duration and fewer players," said Wayne, who noted that World Rugby is presently revisiting training and match rules to develop a protocol guideline for unions to follow, both on and off the field.

"As players and coaches we are eager to get back to the pitch."

For now, players and technical officials around the world have taken to social media platforms to practice drills at home as most remain on lockdown and practicing physical distancing.