The Jamaica Rugby League Association (JRLA) have qualified another batch of Level 1 coaches after an intense two day coaching course held at Mico University College.

The course was conducted by Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) and JRLA coaching tutors Roy Calvert and Romeo Monteith and twelve candidates were successful in earning their rugby league badges.

They are now able to coach at any level of the game in Jamaica including high schools, universities and colleges and community clubs.

“Most of these candidates are university students training to become teachers and they are looking forward to taking rugby league into whichever schools they find employment,” said Monteith. “They demonstrated real passion throughout the course and will become great coaches of the game.”

One of them, Andre Hill who has visions of taking the sport to the rural areas of Jamaica, including his native St. Elizabeth, said, “It is much different from playing the sport, learning to coach rugby league has made me much more of a critical thinker.”

Another candidate, Dain Vassell, who is already a teacher at the Kingsgate Preparatory School in Kingston added, “The course has aided my understanding of rugby league and opened me to new perspectives, I am looking forward to utilizing my knowledge with my students.”

The JRLA was founded in 2004 and now has around 1,000 participants in all age groups. Its programmes are supported by the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) and the RLEF.

Meanwhile, for the third year in a row, Jamaica will be represented in the prestigious USA Rugby League 9s tournament in Conshohocken, Philadelphia. This time, it will be the National ‘A’ Team that will take part. The tournament will run from 10am to 5pm at the A.A. Garthwaite Stadium  tomorrow, May 16 and will feature two groups.

Group 1- Philadelphia Fight, Brantford Broncos (Canada), Jamaica Reggae Warrior ‘A’, Brooklyn Kings
Group 2- New England Echidnas (Australia), Ontario Royals (Canada), DC Slayers, Delaware Black Foxes

Jamaica national  coach Monteith, who will accompany the development  team, sees participation in the tournament as a useful way to exposing local players to higher quality rugby league.

“This tournament will allow our development players to face quality teams in our region,” he noted. “They can use it as a benchmark to test themselves both mentally and physically. In addition, we want to continue to spread the Jamaica Rugby League brand and draw attention to the strides being made developing the sport here.”

JAMAICA A
Antonio Baker, Carlyle Burger, Chevaughn Johnson, Demetrius Campbell, Garvin Kemp, Kevin Howard, Jonoi Messam, Leon Thomas , Nathan Campbell , Nicholas Wright, Peter Tapper, Renaldo Wade, Ricardo Osbourne,  Robert Rodney