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Rugby Sevens' Olympic push has received a further boost with the news of provisional approval for inclusion on the programme of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC).

Following the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CASCO) general assembly held January 29-31 in Vera Cruz, Mexico, a conditional agreement was reached that sevens will be included as an official sport at the 2010 CAC Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. This is provided that the International Rugby Board (IRB) can meet certain criteria.

That includes presenting to CASCO within 90 days the list of a minimum of 16 Central American and Caribbean rugby unions who are members of their respective national Olympic committees.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee President Larry Romany attended the meeting and believes the pending inclusion is a timely boost for the sport in the region.

However, he called on the West Indies Rugby Union and the North America and West Indies Rugby Association to step up their efforts to grow and spread the sport in the region.

"Rugby sevens has an opportunity through its inclusion on both the Pan Am and CAC games programme to enhance its status in the Americas region. I encourage the international, regional and national rugby bodies to grab the opportunity with both hands," he said.

Romany believes the Caribbean, possessing some of the fastest athletes in the world, are well poised to contest for rugby sevens medals at the CAC. With sevens also set to make its debut at the 2011 Pan American Games, sevens’ ability to fit into a multi-sport platform is obvious. Watch this UR7s space as the Olympic campaign builds.