TWENTY-SEVEN coaches from high schools, clubs and colleges have participated in a Level One course on the developing sport of Rugby League at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport.

The course was organised and structured by Rugby Football League coaching manager, Martin Crick, whose expertise will facilitate the delivery and expansion of the sport particularly outside of Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine.

Evaluation and monitoring of coaches will also take place, targeting, too, match officials and offering refresher courses to expose more Jamaicans and the Caribbean to arguably the toughest and most physically demanding of team sports.

Coming to a fruition under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Jamaica Rugby League Association (JRLA) and the GC Foster College, the Easter weekend (April 7-8) coaching course was held in accordance with the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF).

The RLEF, the driver of the local programme, is empowering local governing bodies by equipping them with tutors, local and overseas, for the growth of the sport.

American Michael Shammass, Ventley Brown, Roy Calvert, and Romeo Monteith, all Level Two coaching tutors, made presentations at the course.

Meanwhile, Brown, chairman of the JRLA and RLEF and coaching/match official tutor, noted that the tertiary institution and sporting body would now be focusing on the parish of St James.

“Outside of players, we need coaches, managers and match officials to drive the sport; we will also include Rugby League on the college’s curriculum so that our teachers in training will be properly armed to deliver,” he said.

In coming months, the national Rugby League team will get some international competition when a BARLA (British Amateur Rugby League Association) team from England visit Jamaica from June 6-17.

They will play Jamaica twice and take on an an intercollegiate all-star team during their three-match tour.

The national Rugby League team will then visit Canada in July and Norway in September, contingent upon financial support from Corporate Jamaica.