The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Rugby Union (SVGRU) National Men’s 15s Team delivered a dominant display in their international friendly against Grenada Rugby on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the Sion Hill Playing Field. Backed by a passionate home crowd, SVG stormed to a resounding 51–5 victory, demonstrating pace, physicality, and cohesion throughout the 80 minutes.
From the opening whistle, SVG asserted themselves with aggressive forward play and quick ball movement. The breakthrough came early as Kenmore “Kit” Horne sliced through the defensive line to register the first try of the match, igniting cheers from the home supporters. That early momentum set the tone for what would become a one-sided first half.
Moments later, Cornelius “CJ” John pounced on a loose ball off a broken play and to try under the posts. With SVG now fully in control of territory and possession, Dugal “Youth-I” James showcased his speed and footwork on the wing, beating three defenders to score an electrifying try in the corner.
As Grenada struggled to slow SVG’s relentless pressure, Dimitri “Puss” Samuel capitalized on a quick tap penalty near the try line to power over and extend the lead. By the halftime whistle, SVG had built a commanding 25–0 advantage, with the home side firing on all cylinders in both attack and defense.
Grenada showed some fight early in the second half and were rewarded with a penalty try after sustained pressure deep in SVG’s territory. But the visitors’ hopes of a comeback were short-lived.
SVG responded immediately. Youth-I grabbed his second try of the match with a burst down the flank following a slick backline move. Kevin Cain soon added his name to the scoresheet, sprinting clear from midfield and then converting his own try to push SVG further ahead.
The energy remained high as Tonye Robert Ogolo finished off a rolling maul to score near the posts, followed shortly by Bazid “Teddy” Delpesche, who powered through contact for the final try of the day. Cain added multiple conversions with accuracy and composure, padding SVG’s lead with every opportunity.
Throughout the match, Leonardo “Policeman” Caine was a force on both sides of the ball, delivering bone-rattling tackles and gaining crucial yards with each carry. For his outstanding all-around performance, he was rightfully named Match MVP.
Final Score: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 51 – Grenada 5
SVG Match Day Squad:
- Benson “Drips” Nanton
- Adam Cuffe
- Dugal “Youth-I” James
- Frankie Joseph
- Paul “PJ” Kirby
- Cornelius “CJ” John
- Jean “Sleepy” Samuel
- Lenardo “Policeman” Caine – Match MVP
- Kevin Cain
- Jonte “Brodda” Bowens
- Dimitri “Puss” Samuel
- Kenmore “Kit” Horne
- Richard “Richie” Morris (C)
- Bazid “Teddy” Delpesche
- Sydroy “Pimpin” Bentick
- Kemi Francois
- Orr Miller
- Tonye Robert Ogolo
- Jude Glasgow
- Raydony “Kiki” Laborde
- Klyvert Browne
- Timol Guy
- Mekhi Smith
Coach: Ricardo “Yellowman” Dallaway
Referee: Justin “3Feet” Tittle
Team Manager: Brian “Soap” Alexander
Looking ahead, SVG Rugby is preparing for its next set of fixtures in Saint Lucia. The U23 male team will participate in the Saint Lucia Carnival Rugby 7s tournament, scheduled for the weekend of August 1st. Following that, the Senior Men’s 15s team will face Saint Lucia in an international Rugby 15s showdown on August 8th, 2025.
The SVG Rugby Union thanks the fans, match officials, and visiting Grenadian team for their continued support and commitment to growing rugby in the region. This victory reflects the discipline, preparation, and heart of Vincentian rugby.
Comments from the President:
Dellon D. Durrant, President of SVGRU, commented on the match:
“This performance is a reflection of the hard work, discipline, and growth within our rugby program. I’m incredibly proud of the team’s execution on the field and the way they represented our country. It was a dominant display from start to finish, and the players truly showcased their potential.
Special congratulations to Leonardo ‘Policeman’ Caine for a well-deserved MVP performance. His defensive effort and ability to gain ground with the ball were outstanding.
We now look forward to carrying this momentum into Saint Lucia, where our U23s will compete in the Carnival 7s and our Senior Men’s team will face another big challenge on August 8th. SVG Rugby is on the rise, and we’re just getting started.”