A large, partisan crowd celebrated as Rainbow Sports and Culturual Club retained their title at the Sevens Tournament hosted by the community organisation at the Marabella Recreation Ground last Sunday.

Rainbow 1 and Rainbow 2  clashed  in the final with Rainbow 1 retaining their title with a 24-17 win.

In  the semi finals, Rainbow 1 got past Royalians, while Rainbow 2 whipped Harvard.

Royalians won the women’s division, beating Aranjuez Romans, and Rainbow also took the Under 14 title.

Absent were Stag Trinidad Northern and Carib, while Police did not participate due to CHOGM-related duties.

Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro said Trinidad Northern wrote in advance explaining  that due to a fund-raising activity on Saturday they would be unable to participate.

However, he declined comment  on the non-attendance of Carib.

Rainbow players, supporters and officials refused to allow the failure of  the no-shows to throw a damper on the day’s proceedings and Figaro congratulated Rainbow on a well-organised tournament.

Rainbow president Rudolph Jack was a happy man at the end of the day. 

’All the clubs that participated enjoyed the day. The spirit and camaraderie was good. There are those who are always quick to point out what we (Rainbow)are doing wrong. I hope our critics will acknowledge our efforts to improve. The sport is bigger than all of us. Rugby was the winner today. Those who felt within their hearts the need to punish us by withholding their support, themselves do the game a disservice.

’But why focus on the minority, the objective of positively engaging rugby and the community was achieved. On behalf of Rainbow I thank the TTRFU, the referees society and rugby clubs for their support. It is now onto the National Sevens where our goal is to retain our title,’ said Jack.