June 19, 2017
USA Rugby South Travel to Guyana for 2017 Rugby Americas North Championship
Doug Coil
Update: Championship date changed to July 29.
The USA Rugby South Panthers won the Rugby Americas North – North Zone as the result of a walkover win over Bermuda, coupled with the Cayman Islands defeating Mexico 39-17 Saturday, with bonus points determining the title.
The USA Rugby South, Mexico and Cayman Island each had 2-1 records with Bermuda win less at 0-3. During the round robin competition, the USA Rugby South had 11 total points picking up 2 bonus points of tries and 1 losing bonus point. Both Mexico and the Cayman Islands picked up 1 try bonus point to finish with 9 points. Mexico had the better point differential at +37 to +1 for the Cayman Islands to take second.
The USA Rugby South Panthers will travel to play Guyana the South Zone Champions on July 1 at the Providence Stadium in Providence, Guyana. The Panthers are the only non-national team to play for the Championship and can only do so in non-World Cup and qualifying years.
Guyana went 2-0 to win the South title after defeating Barbados May 13th 34-26 and on June 10th came back to win 24-17 over Trinidad and Tobago. On May 27 Trinidad and Tobago defeated Barbados 36-16 and finished second.
Rugby Americas North – South Zone Results
- May 13 Bermuda 5-59 Mexico
- May 14 USA Rugby South 39-5 Cayman Islands
- May 27 Mexico 36-29 USA Rugby South
- June 3 Bermuda 15-28 Cayman Islands
- June 17 USA Rugby South walkover Bermuda
- June 17: Cayman Islands 39-17 Mexico
World Rugby Rankings
- 50 Guyana 46.56
- 54 Trinidad and Tobago 45.51
- 55 Cayman Islands 45.20
- 56 Mexico 45.12
- 76 Bermuda 37.39
- 83 Barbados 36.48