Rugby season kicks off

The new Trinidad and Tobago rugby season kicks off at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar  today with arch rivals Caribs RFC and Trinidad Northerns RFC squaring off for what promises to be a titanic clash between two powerhouses. The Robert Farfan Cup usually pits the knock-out winners against the League title-holders of the last season as the curtain raiser for the new season. Caribs having won both titles last season will be up against the League runners-up Trinidad Northerns. Caribs have won the title eight times in the last nine years, releasing their hold on the trophy two years ago. Then Northerns had a banner year by their standards, taking the League Cup, Bruno Browne Cup but were denied the Marcus Minshall Cup by a last minute penalty place kick by Caribs to deny the sweep. Both teams are manned by players with national and international experience and should make for an exciting encounter.

Expected to be in the line-up for the Northerns will be national vice-captain and Rugby West Indies selectee Adam Fredericks, Under-23 captain and Youth World Cup participant Justin Macauley, Commonwealth Games participants Kurt Collier, Marcus Knaggs and James Walkins, national player Dexter Snaggs and promising speedster Nyeon Franco under the guidance of TT team and Northerns coach Rhett Chee Ping. Caribs will be without veteran international player Sean O’Farrell and how much he will be missed will depend on his brother of similar playing status Brendan O’Farrell, West Indies and national team selectees Brent Barry and Ronald Silverthorne and Caribbean Champions David Apang, Ronald Annandsingh, Dale Trotman, Jonathan O’Connor and Don Rojas. Promising youngster Atiba Nicholas is also expected to be in the line- up. The feature match kicks off at 7 pm following a women’s encounter scheduled for 5.30 pm.