West Kingston Hyenas Are Defending Men's Champions
February 15, 2024, KINGSTON-Jamaica: Rugby League Jamaica (RLJ) will stage its 4th annual New Year 9's Tournament on Saturday, February 17, at the Mona Bowl in Kingston starting at 10:00am. A record twenty teams will compete across Men's, Women's, High School U19, and Academy U19 categories. Among the U19 Academy contenders is guest team, Wigan-Leigh College from the United Kingdom, adding an international flair to the competition.
The Men’s bracket is divided into two groups of four teams, with the team topping each group playing for the Championship. Defending champions West Kingston Hyenas find themselves in Group A with St Bess Sledgehammers, Duhaney Park Red Sharks, and Spanish Town Old Boys. Meanwhile, Group B sees Washington Blvd. Bulls, Liguanea Dragons, Jamaica Defence Force, and St. Catherine OB Thundercats vie for top spot.
In the women’s action, Red Sharks, Bulls-Titans and Sledgehammers go for honours, whilst in the Boy’s High School U19 category, The Cedar Grove Academy, Kingston High and BB Coke go for bragging rights. In Club Academy action, there will be two groups of three teams. Group A has Thundercats, Jamaica Hurricanes B and Wigan-Leigh College, while Group B features Hurricanes A, Sledgehammers and Bulls. The top two teams will meet in the championship game.
Wigan-Leigh College U18s
Director of Rugby, Romeo Monteith, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming event, he said, "Rugby League Jamaica (RLJ) continues its mission to foster talent and promote the sport's growth through annual 9s Tournaments. They serve as a further platform for identifying potential national players and nurturing emerging talent. With the number of tournaments increasing from three in 2023 to four planned for 2024, RLJ is demonstrating its commitment to expanding the reach and impact of rugby league in Jamaica.
Our playing community really enjoys playing 9s and we are pleased to more and more activities that keep our athletes active and sharp. We're thrilled to host Wigan-Leigh College, who known for their high-level play in England. It's a fantastic learning opportunity for our Academy Teams and promises to enhance the competitive spirit of the tournament."