January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Healy, Furbert help West Indies to victory
The Windies squad won all eight matches as they romped to a second successive victory in the annual tournament.
Renegades scrum-half Healy scored two tries in the semi-final and laid on the match winning try for Antonio Gibbons as the Windies sealed the title in over-time after a thrilling final against US club side Atlantis.
The tournament was used by West Indies coach Joe Whipple as a warm-up for next year's prestigious San Diego international sevens tournament - one of the world's toughest events.
It was also a chance to try out some new players ahead of that tournament, which features the likes of New Zealand and England.
And the two Bermuda representatives put themselves in the frame for selection with solid performances throughout.
Healy, in particular, was earmarked by the selectors as a genuine prospect.
The Irishman, who was making his debut for the Windies after becoming eligible through living in Bermuda for three years, said the level had been a step above what he was used to.
But he felt he did enough to have a chance of making the final cut.
"Those guys were all natural athletes. They were fast and strong and the standard was far greater than out here.
"I was not able to have the same influence as I do in Bermuda rugby, but I certainly didn't see myself as a weak link.
"They were built for speed, they were built physically, but they were not rugby players through and through.
"The coach wanted me to get them playing more tactically and working as a cohesive unit.
"I just hope what I bring to the team is considered enough to get me in."
Healy, the only expat in the side, said it had been an odd feeling as a white Irish guy to be representing the West Indies in international competition.
But he said he had been accepted into the team and it had been an honour to play in-front of such a passionate crowd.
Healy, who went to a rugby school in Ireland and saw three of his class mates go on to represent their country at full international level, said representing his 'adopted country' was the next best thing.
"It's every players dream to compete against the world's best and to play for their country. I didn't make it in Ireland but I'm getting a second chance here.
"They are mad about sport in the West Indies. The feeling and the passion is huge and I got to experience some of that down in Trinidad.
"This weekend it was rugby. We played an American team in the final and we had 1,000 people screaming for us.
"People were running on the pitch and slapping me on the back. It continued in the nightclubs afterwards - I guess I was pretty easily recognizable.
"It's great to play for a country with that amount of passion for sport."
Healy added that his Bermudian teammate Kris Furbert, who was still in Trinidad yesterday, had done himself proud in the tournament.
Furbert played a key role as a forward in the run up to the final, but missed out on the 17-12 win over Atlantis.
But Healy said the fact that Furbert had made the squad at such a young age showed what a talent he was.
"It's a superb effort to get to this level. There's guys that have played all their lives and not got there, for him to do it in the space of a few years is amazing. That's just natural ability."
West Indies Coach Joe Whipple, whilst delighted with retaining the title, remained tight lipped regarding selection for the IRB Sevens Series tournament in San Diego.
"I am very pleased with our performance, and we learned a lot about the players we brought in for this weekend."
Bermuda-based selector Jonathan Cassidy added: "This tournament was more about preparation for the IRB (Sevens) Series.
"Joe (Whipple) was able to work with a number of players for the first time, and they certainly justified being giving the opportunity.
"There were, of course, a number of players that had to be excluded from our squad for this tournament.
" They are all still very much in the picture for San Diego, the Cayman 7s in June and the ongoing development of West Indies rugby."
Bermuda skipper Derek 'Bobby' Hurdle and young star Tom Edwards, who is away at Reading University, are also in the wider training squad and could play in the IRB tournament.[[In-content Ad]]
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