Dready kicks in with rugby fundraiser
Richard Adams (left) and Shane Aquart hold the donated Dready print surrounded by members of the Cayman Rugby Sevens squad
(CNS): Local artist Shane Aquart, known for his “Dready” character, has joined fundraising efforts to help finance the Borelli Walsh Cayman Rugby Sevens team’s trip to the Hong Kong Sevens, set for 8-10 April. Aquart, an avid rugby fan and player, has created the Cayman Rugby Sevens print, “Dready”.
The team is selling 50 prints signed by all the players, with a certificate of authenticity from the artist himself, for CI$750 each. All proceeds will directly support the team.
Aquart is also offering an option of a signature-free print. “If people don’t want signatures all over their art, I will also be giving them a ‘certificate of authentic “Dreadyness”’ with each, and each player could sign that instead,” he said.
Last June, the Borelli Walsh Cayman Sevens team booked their place in the HSBC Cathay Pacific Hong Kong sevens by a successful showing in the regional Olympic qualifier.
Richard “Grizz” Adams, the director of Cayman Rugby Sevens, called the result “unimaginable”. He explained that Cayman has a relatively small number – about 30 – of sevens specialists, who have been developed over the past 10 to 15 years, and at the last minute the team only was able to send 10 players instead of the expected 12. The short-sided group, which then played their six games in two days with only three substitutes, still managed to beat Trinidad, Bahamas and Guyana to qualify for the prestigious Hong Kong tournament.
Hong Kong is just one of 10 venues on the world sevens’ circuit, where the top 16 teams compete against each other for the World Sevens Series Title.
Funds raised for the trip will cover the team’s preparations, warm-up tournaments, kit and travel. Adams added it was “wonderful” that Arquart offered his help.
To purchase a print, email Richard Adams
