Jamaica Rugby League
Head coach of Jamaica Rugby League World Cup team Romeo Monteith said he is “good” with how the team performed at the World Cup in Birmingham, England notwithstanding the Reggae Warriors’ three lop-sided losses in the competition.
Playing in their very first Rugby League World Cup, Jamaica were beaten 48-2 by Ireland on October 16 and 68-6 by New Zealand on October 22. They concluded their maiden world cup appearance with a 74-12 drubbing at the hands of Lebanon.
Monteith, however, remains optimistic about the team’s progress and believes the team will continue to get better as it begins preparations for the next qualification process in November 2023.
Overall I’m good with the team’s performance,” he told Sportsmax.TV.
“As a coaching staff, we spoke to the players about effort and I think in each game there was plenty effort from us as a collective. Of course, the results didn’t go our way and we wanted to put more points on the board and get a win or two.”
The reality, Monteith explained, is that Jamaica’s Rugby League development is still in its infancy and it will take time and resources to bridge the gap between the Reggae Warriors and the best teams in the world.
“At the end of the day, our squad had two full-time players and the other three teams had either all full timers or at least half as full time,” he said.
“It’s extremely difficult to bridge that gap; over 80 minutes the difference in conditioning will show. What we can control is our effort, output when faced with such quality and that’s what we will continue to work on as we can control that. For the next qualification journey, I think we have enough experience and know how to put ourselves in a good position to qualify.”
He said Jamaica Rugby League will do a review of the campaign, identify areas to strengthen and implement whatever change is needed as the Reggae Warriors head into 2023.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Olympic silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith ties knot with partner Antonia Tyson
British sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith tied the knot with partner Antonia Tyson in Birmingham over the weekend.
Hudson-Smith and Tyson, a health care worker, got engaged back in 2023.
Guests at the weekend’s festivities included six-time World champion Noah Lyles, World Championship relay medallist and girlfriend of Lyles, Junelle Bromfield, 2019 World 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith, former World U-20 100m champion Adam Gemili and World and Olympic heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
The 29-year-old Hudson-Smith set a British record 43.44 to take 400m silver at the Paris Olympics in August behind American Quincy Hall.
This came a year after Hudson-Smith won silver at the World Championships in Budapest behind Jamaican Antonio Watson.
Canada to host Jamaica in Toronto in men's senior international in October
Lamport Stadium in Toronto is to again host a senior men’s rugby league international for ranking points, when Canada face Jamaica on Saturday 19 October 2024. It is part of a reciprocal agreement between the nations which will see the Wolverines travel to the Caribbean island next year.
Jamaica are building up for their appearance as the Americas representative in the inaugural 2025 World Series, as they attempt to qualify for a second successive men’s World Cup to be held in Australia in 2026.
“Playing annual internationals is crucial to engaging our playing community, sponsors and fans,” said Jamaica RLA director of rugby, Romeo Monteith. “We won't improve as a nation unless we have regular games. It is a priority for us to play Canada and the USA in men and women fixtures annually.”
Montieth added: “It's always tough playing on the road, we have to contend with visa issues, time off work for players and of course the costs. However, the challenges make those games even more special. We have never won away versus Canada and so we expect another tough assignment.
“Roy Calvert and I are open to selecting players from all competitions, however, the majority of the squad is expected to be from the Island. I think both squads will be highly motivated to perform and this should make it another entertaining game for the fans.”
Canada men’s head coach, Aaron Zimmerle, noted: “We look forward to welcoming Jamaica to Toronto. Apart from meeting at the Americas Championship, geography makes playing regularly difficult for both nations. The dual game agreement allows our ever-improving Wolverines to plan for more challenges which is just what we need and want.”
CRLA chair, John Cameron, added: “We’re excited to enter into this home and away series with Jamaica, where our women already were welcomed with such warm hospitality last autumn. We hope to share the same spirit of friendship with the Jamaica men as they visit the heart of rugby league in eastern Canada.”
'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle to captain West Indies Champions in World Championship of Legends 2024
Chris Gayle, the T20 cricket sensation and former West Indies star, has been named captain of the West Indies Champions for the upcoming World Championship of Legends 2024. This thrilling competition, set to begin on July 3rd in Birmingham, UK, promises to be a memorable event for cricket fans around the globe. Gayle is an ambassador for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup being staged in the West Indies and USA.
Ajay Sethi, Chairman of Channel 2 Group Corporation, has taken ownership of the West Indies Champions franchise, bringing a new level of excitement and anticipation to the league. “I am thrilled to be part of the World Championship of Legends and to lead the West Indies Champions,” Sethi stated. “This league is a fantastic opportunity to unite some of the greatest cricket talents and provide fans with a nostalgic yet thrilling experience.”
Joining Gayle on the team are cricket greats Dwayne Smith, Samuel Badree, and Daren Sammy, making the West Indies Champions a formidable force in the tournament. Gayle expressed his excitement about leading the team, saying, “I look forward to rejoining my family in our quest to win the cup. It’s a delight to play more matches in prestigious tournaments like the World Championship of Legends and reconnect with our fans through this exciting format.”
The World Championship of Legends, approved by the England and Wales Cricket Board, will feature six prestigious franchises: India Champions, Australia Champions, England Champions, Pakistan Champions, South Africa Champions, and West Indies Champions.
Fans can expect an unforgettable experience with cricketing legends like Yuvraj Singh, Brett Lee, Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis, Shahid Afridi, and Chris Gayle showing off the skills that made them champions of the sport.
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