Preparations are complete for one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated annual rugby events, as international squads began touching down on Saint Lucian soil for the fifth edition of the Saint Lucia International Carnival Sevens – branded as Rugby in Paradise. Local organizers from the Saint Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) have framed the 2025 tournament as a landmark moment, marking steady progress for both rugby development and sports tourism on the island.
The Canadian Pirates Rugby squad was the first international team to arrive on Tuesday, four days ahead of the tournament’s opening kickoff on Saturday, August 1. All men’s and women’s matches will be hosted at the Francis Baba Lastic Grounds in the northern coastal town of Gros Islet. In addition to Canada, the tournament will welcome competing sides from seven territories across the Caribbean and Americas: Martinique, Guyana, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Wayne Pantor, technical director of Saint Lucia Rugby, shared his enthusiasm for the event in a statement ahead of kickoff. “This tournament has grown to become one of the Caribbean’s leading rugby festivals, drawing together players, match officials, and passionate fans from across the region and across the globe,” Pantor said. “This year, we are thrilled to host teams and participants from seven distinct territories, coming together for a dynamic celebration of sport, culture, and the iconic hospitality that the Caribbean is known for.”
Host nation Saint Lucia will field a multi-generational roster of local squads, highlighting the country’s ongoing investment in grassroots rugby development. The local line-up includes the senior men’s Saint Lucia Select Team, age-group sides including the Saint Lucia Academy U23, U19, and U16 squads, and two women’s teams: Blue Ice and Blue Flames.
Pantor, who has led a targeted youth rugby development program centered on school partnerships across the island, emphasized the unique value the tournament brings to local emerging athletes. “This competition gives our homegrown players an incredible opportunity to test their skills against high-quality international opponents, while also showcasing how far rugby has grown on our island over the past years,” he explained.
Beyond the on-field action, the tournament is designed to advance every layer of rugby in Saint Lucia. It supports expanded youth participation in the sport, targeted training for referees and coaches, engagement with community volunteers, and the strengthening of collaborative partnerships across regional rugby governing bodies. Economically, the event delivers a tangible boost to Saint Lucia’s local economy through growing sports tourism, drawing hundreds of international visitors to the island for the weekend of competition.
True to its Carnival Sevens branding, the event blends elite rugby with full immersion in Saint Lucian culture. Off the pitch, all participants will have the opportunity to join Gros Islet’s ongoing Carnival celebrations, including iconic local traditions such as the Oil Down J’Ouvert, Knight Mas, and a full slate of community cultural events taking place across the northern town throughout the weekend.
For Saint Lucia’s senior national squads, the 2025 Carnival Sevens also serves a critical preparatory purpose. The tournament is a key part of the country’s build-up to the 2026 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Qualifiers, scheduled for November 2026. Competing against top international sides this weekend will provide Saint Lucia’s national players with critical match experience to prepare them for the tough regional matches ahead.