FORMAT AND POOLS ANNOUNCED FOR 2019 RUGBY AMERICAS NORTH MEN’S UNDER-19s AND WOMEN’S 10S

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS —Today, event organizers officially announced the format and pools for the annual weeklong international competitions for Rugby Americas North (RAN) Men’s Under-19s and Women’s 10s slated for July 18 to July 21 in Bridgetown, Barbados.In its 17th year running, the Men’s U19 will shift from a week long competition to four days of matches. The new festival style format will allow for teams to play a greater number of matches, with each match being 40 minutes long, except for the finals which will have 35-minute halves. Mexico and USA South Panthers have traded the Men’s U19 title back and forth since 2015.The Women’s 10s tournament remains an important development tool for the women’s game around the region. In its fourth year, the number of teams competing, and the caliber of play continues to increase. The Women’s 10s tournament will take place on July 19th and 20th.Entering its 17th year, the Men’s U19 tournament is an important development tool for the region. For many young athletes it’s a first introduction to the international stage and the year’s only chance to compete against high caliber teams in a condensed tournament format.The Women’s 10s tournament is entering its fourth year and is part of RAN’s strategy to encourage unions to establish 10s and fifteens domestic programs. This year the eight teams have been separated into two pools: USA South, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia & Curacao in Pool A with Pool B being Jamaica, Mexico, Dominican Republic & hosts Barbados.Barbados hosted last year’s successful 2018 RAN Sevens, and have a long history of hosting international rugby dating back to 2005.“We are thrilled to once again host our RAN teams in Barbados,” said Niall Brooks, Rugby Americas North General Manager. “The Bellevue Plantation Polo Fields will provide an ideal location for the matches and the action will be streamed on our Youtube channel so that it can be seen throughout the region and world. We wish the very best to all teams and players.”

Format and Pools for the 2019 RAN U19s and Women’s 10s

Men’s U19s

An 8 team tournament, consisting of:

1. Mexico
2. USA South
3. Jamaica
4. Cayman
5. Trinidad & Tobago
6. Bermuda
7. Barbados
8. Curacao

Pool APool BMexicoUSA SouthTrinidad & Tobago Bermuda Curacao BarbadosDay 1 (Thursday, July 18th):8 matches in all with each team playing 2 matches of 2 x 20 minutes halvesPool AMexico v Trinidad & TobagoCayman v CuracaoMexico v CuracaoCayman v Trinidad & TobagoPool BUSA South v BermudaJamaica v BarbadosUSA South v BarbadosJamaica v BermudaDay 2 (Friday July 19th) :Last match of pool round and knockout tournament => 8 matchesPool AMexico v CaymanTrinidad & Tobago v CuracaoPool BUSA South v Cayman; Bermuda v BarbadosCup SF1: Winner Pool A v RU Pool BCup SF2: Winner Pool B v RU Pool APlate SF1: 3^rdPlace Pool A v 4th Place Pool BPlate SF2: 3^rdPlace Pool B v 4^thPlace Pool ADay 3 (Sunday July 21^st): All matches are of 35 minutes halves 7/8^thPlay Off Match: Loser Plate SF1 v Loser Plate SF2Plate Final: Winner Plate SF1 v Winner Plate SF23^rd/ 4^thPlay Off Match: Loser Cup SF1 v Loser Cup SF2Final: Winner Cup SF1 v Winner Cup SF2

Women’s 10s

An 8 team tournament, consisting of:

1. USA South
2. Jamaica
3. Mexico
4. Trinidad & Tobago
5. St. Lucia
6. Dominican Republic
7. Barbados
8. Curacao

Pool APool BUSA SouthJamaicaTrinidad & TobagoMexicoSt. LuciaDominican RepublicCuracaoBarbadosDay 1 (Friday, July 19th): Pool AUSA South v St. LuciaTrinidad & Tobago v CuracaoUSA South v CuracaoTrinidad & Tobago v St. LuciaUSA South v Trinidad & TobagoSt. Lucia v CuracaoPool BJamaica v Dominican RepublicMexico v BarbadosJamaica v BarbadosMexico v Dominican RepublicJamaica v MexicoDominican Republic v Barbados