On August 1, the sun-drenched pitches of the Francis Baba Lastic Grounds — widely counted among the most breathtaking rugby venues in the region — played host to a landmark edition of the annual International Carnival Sevens: Rugby In Paradise. For the fifth consecutive year, the tournament brought together elite rugby talent from across the globe, wrapping up a full day of nonstop action with Martinique Jokers and Blue Ice claiming the men’s and women’s championship titles respectively.
Nearly 100 competitors hailing from seven different countries and territories took to the field across eight hours of competition, contesting 22 hard-fought matches that showcased the growing depth of sevens rugby across the Caribbean and North America. For local organizers at the Saint Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), the 2026 tournament carried extra historical weight: SLRFU Technical Director Wayne Pantor confirmed that 45 Saint Lucian youth players took part in the regional event, marking the largest single-contigent of local youth players ever to compete at an international rugby tournament hosted on the island.
The men’s championship final delivered every bit of the high-stakes drama fans anticipated, as the Martinique Jokers faced off against Canada’s Canadian Pirates in a back-and-forth thriller that came down to the final whistle. When the clock expired, the Jokers held onto a narrow 21-19 victory to claim the 2026 crown, capping off an undefeated tournament run. Martinique Jokers’ standout Fabien Da Silva earned the Men’s Most Valuable Player award, honored both for his tournament-leading point total and his role as a unifying offensive leader that drove the team’s championship chemistry.
In the men’s consolation matches, Guyana Police Falcons secured a dominant third-place finish with a 29-0 shutout win over Martinique’s MADA side. The Plate Final, a showdown between two domestic Saint Lucian squads, saw the Rogues claim a tight 5-0 victory over Saint Lucia Select in a physically demanding contest that highlighted the strength of local rugby development on the island.
The women’s division brought its own dose of excitement, with the championship decided via a best-of-three series between Blue Ice and Blue Flames. Both rosters featured rising talent from across the Caribbean, with players drawn from Saint Lucia, Grenada, Guyana, and St Vincent & the Grenadines, emphasizing the cross-regional collaboration that has become a core pillar of growing women’s rugby in the region.
After splitting the first two matches — Blue Ice taking the opener 15-5, and Blue Flames evening the series with a 22-12 second win — the two sides met in a decisive final game to determine the title. Blue Ice pulled away late to secure a 15-7 victory and claim the women’s crown. Guyana youth standout Jelena Shepherd, who finished the tournament as the leading try scorer, took home Women’s Most Valuable Player honors for her consistent dominant play throughout the competition.