Mens Rugby - BVI Rugby Club - The Offical Website of the British Virgin Islands Rugby Team

Men's Rugby

Men’s Rugby in the BVI has existed since the 1960’s and has seen lots of changes since then. It all began when a group of British, South African and Australian expats living in Tortola formed a team and played against a group of Royal Navy engineers who came to BVI to build the original airport. The game, played on Beef Island on a dirt and rocks pitch prepared by the engineers on what is now the site of the current airport, finished with most players losing all the skin on their knees. Since then, BVI Rugby has been played in several locations from Capoons Bay in West End to the Valley Virgin Gorda.

During the 80’s and 90’s most games were played on the A.O. Shirley Ground in the heart of Road Town but the construction of the rubberized track in October 2005 halted all use of the facility. Rugby bounced around the island(s)playing wherever was most suitable until early 2010 when the Union was finally granted access back to its home on the A.O Shirley.

At least twice a year the BVI lads get to face off against the Royal Navy as they pass through the territory and they get the occasional American team visiting. The visitors who are more familiar playing rugby much further north usually get a hiding against a BVI team that has become accustomed to the hot weather, hard ground and even harder nighttime activity. With limited facilities it has been hard to attract teams to visit so touring has become a staple. Each year we make our annual pilgrimage to Trinidad in December and usually squeeze in two more tours per year to other Caribbean rugby nations such as Barbados, St. Maarten, St Barth’s, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Venezuela and Guyana. We hope to visit more countries as the years roll on.

The team competes at both 7’s and 15’s. Players hail from all over the world at every end of the age spectrum. We currently have players on the squad from England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Luxembourg, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Guyana, St. Vincent, Jamaica and of course from the British Virgin Islands. Players must reside in the BVI for 3 years before becoming eligible for the national squad but may play club games immediately upon arrival.

The team practices every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:15 till dark on the A.O. Shirley field in Road Town. New players are always welcome. Please contact RDO Sherlock “Solomon” Sam on 284- 341-2179. As with all rugby clubs the world over there is plenty of socializing. The lads meet up at the Bat Cave in Road Town after training and the club calendar is packed with social events throughout the year.