On Saturday, December 11th, international men’s 15s rugby made its return to action from the COVID-19 global pandemic when Mexico defeated Cayman Islands 39 – 13 at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.
The hosts scored four tries, including a brace from powerful winger Fharid Sámano, and inside-centre Franco Geurrero was good for 11 points off the boot.
Cayman Islands got on the board early through a penalty from number 8 Christof Du Toit and scored their lone try, which was a highlight reel effort, in the final minutes of the match through replacement winger Zach Hutchinson.
Cayman Islands’ roster boasted 18 new caps on the day.
Mexico were dominant winners by a score of 105 – 7 the last time these two sides faced off as part of the 2019 Americas Rugby Challenge in Medellín, Colombia.
Mexico Points – 39:
Tries: ALEJANDRO CHÁVEZ, FHARID SÁMANO (x2), JESUS ALEJANDRO RICO, ALAN GUTIERREZ
Conversion: FRANCO GUERRERO (x4)
Penalty: FRANCO GUERRERO, CARLOS MANUEL GARRIDO
Cayman Islands Points – 13:
Try: ZACH HUTCHINSON
Conversion: CONAL KEANE
Penalty: CHRISTOF DU TOIT, CONAL KEANE
Quote from Cayman Islands Coach, Jovan Bowles:
“Obviously very disappointed with the result but looking at what we have provided for the FFP Cayman National XV players is immense. We hope that the boost of 18 players to the squad will be beneficial to our development going into 2022. We look forward to continuing this out of competition with Mexico Rugby and we thank them for hosting this event very well!”
Quote from Mexico Coach, Ruben Duque:
“Today Rugby won. After 29 months with no 15s Rugby Competition it was amazing to prepare the national Team and to play Against Cayman Islands because it is always a huge Challenge. 29 months where the players had to prepare by themselves in their places. Some of them lost their jobs and some of them also lost someone from their families. To have the posibility of coaching them and to look at their faces with a big smile and pride in their hearts after the final whistle was something amazing. Thanks players, Staffs, Unions, RAN, World Rugby for making this happen and this spectacular Sport for making our lives better”
Cayman Islands Roster:
1 HUGH MCBRIDE
2 ALEX MANFIELD
3 RONAN MACMAHON
4 DYLAN BOSTOCK
5 MARK SOTO
6 MARNUS EHLERS
7 RANDY HENDERSON
8 CHRISTOF DU TOIT
9 JUSTIN MAY
10 CONAL KEANE ©
11 BOBBY SPIERS
12 MIKE LUXTON
13 MIKEY WILSON
14 BLAKE EGELTON
15 MARTIN PACAUD
16 JOE BROWN
17 STEVE OWEN
18 PETER SHERWOOD
19 JEFF ROBINSON
20 VENASIO TOKATOKAVANUA
21 TOMMY KEHOE
22 ZACH HUTCHINSON
23 TOMMY SPERANDEO
Mexico Roster:
1 JESUS ALEJANDRO RICO MORENO
2 MIZAEL LOREDO RETA
3 MAXIMILIANO DOUEK ©
4 ABUBACAR SIDIKI CONDE SÁNCHEZ
5 TOMÁS ALLEN
6 DAVID TOBIAS HERNÁNDEZ NÚÑEZ
7 NICOLÁS FALCÓN IZQUIERDO
8 ALAN GUTIERREZ GAONA
9 ANDRÉS RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS
10 LUC ALEXANDRE MARTIN
18 FHARID SÁMANO GARCIA
12 FRANCO GUERRERO
13 JUAN PABLO MARTINEZ ELHORE Y ALVA
14 SEBASTIAN GARZA ALVARADO
15 ALEJANDRO CHÁVEZ CERVANTES
16 ALEJANDRO PRADILLO MACIAS
17 JORGE CORTES HORTA
22 CARLOS MANUEL GARRIDO ZAMUDIO
19 BORJA MANDALUNIZ ZUZAETA
20 LUIS ROSETE HALLYBONE
21 MAURICIO MORENO MARTÍNEZ
11 PATRICIO FALCÓN IZQUIERDO
23 LUIS ANGEL GALINDO LANDA