On many occasions I have been asked what makes Caribs tick and be so successful.
Invariably I give the same answer - the desire to achieve and succeed. This attitude
has always been an integral part of the make-up of club members built up over
the 70 years of existence and has made Caribs arguably the finest rugby club in
Trinidad if not the Caribbean. I have been fortunate to be associated with Caribs
for the last 30 years in some form or other, first as a son of a player and then
a player. All through those years that fervor and deep desire to achieve was always
very much to the fore, and even if the focus changed, that hunger for success
never died. From this vital ingredient all our success both on and off the field
came.
As a youngster growing up I was well aware of the seventies Club motto "Caribs
Forever". In fact I remember T-shirts being stenciled and painted with
that battle cry, and going to matches watching the players wearing their white
shirts with so much pride. That pride and passion has passed on from team to
team, season after season and this is reflected in the success that the club
has enjoyed throughout the years. For me looking back and gathering information
from the rugby wags, the last three decades will be remembered as an extended
purple patch in the club's history.
In many ways, I was fortunate to start playing with Caribs when the club was
very much in its transitional and rebuilding period, after the heady days of
the seventies. This period during the early eighties proved to be the foundation
that set the club up for probably it's most successful run in its history. As
I said before, that desire to achieve is passed on and there was no exception
in the early eighties. If anything, that hunger was more evident at this time,
as the club's performances on the pitch were not as fruitful as our standards
expected but that drive never faded.
Although the club's record on the pitch was not as dominant, it made great
strides in other areas. The club acquired a home (the first club to do so).
We made our first major tour to Canada and the tour was probably the turning
point in getting our rugby back on track by coming away with one win, one draw
and one loss. Three years after Canada, Caribs made their second major tour
to Ireland and England, renewing and forging new friendships with members of
Garryowen, Bective Rangers (Ireland) and London Scottish; all three clubs had
visited Caribs at one time or another in the previous ten years. This tour definitely
proved to be the spur that was needed to put us on top of the pack again, as
it opened our eyes to what was necessary to do well and to the rapidly changing
game. With these two major tours under our belts another dimension to our club
culture and attitude was developed; one of total self-belief sometimes even
bordering on arrogance and an expectation of professional behavior. Another
major tour in 1998 to Canada again proved an invaluable experience to both the
young and the not so young, and once more the exposure gained was put to use
on the local scene on the club's return.
Another major contributing factor to Caribs' success has been the use of foreign
coaches/players over the last twenty years. This has proven to be a winner on
all fronts as the exposure gained has been invaluable. The philosophy of each
coach has been as varied as their native countries (England, Scotland, Wales,
Ireland, Australia and Canada) These coaches have made significant contributions
both to our up and coming players as well as our local coaches.
These two factors (touring and coaching) are the most tangible areas where
contribution can be measured, however there are other aspects and people that
have contributed significantly to the club's success and frequently go unnoticed.
Caribs has been fortunate to have had dedicated and capable people to take on
these tasks on a voluntary basis and I take my hat off to these men and women
who have contributed so freely of their time over the years, without on many
occasions, getting the recognition they deserve. Without these backroom men
and women, the success that the Club and players have enjoyed would not have
been possible. Caribs has also been blessed with its fair share of playing
talent over the years and obviously this makes success that much easier if things
are going well on the field.
You may have noticed that I have not mentioned any individuals by name for
their contribution to the Club. I am a firm believer that everyone's effort
no matter how small has had a positive effect in some way in making Caribs the
club that they are. May the next seventy years be as successful as the last!
