The story of Hollis Green

When you think of endurance, persistence and a burning desire to attain the heights of great men in one’s field, Hollis Green is an exemplar in the local and regional Rugby community.

Green is a graduate of the Park Hill Primary and the North Union Secondary Schools. He went on to the Technical College. At the age of 21 years, he tutors Physical Education at the George Stevens Secondary School in Colonarie under the Y.E.S Programme. {{more}}

Green is a young gentleman whom I have had the opportunity to know for the past fifteen or more years. However he has recently satisfied one of his innermost desires, this being his dream, as he considers it, to perform at the highest level in the sport of Rugby. The residents of Mt Greenan, Diamonds, and Sans Souci where Green now resides have indeed seen this young man grow, blossom and bear fruit. As far back as I can recall, Green had the correct approach to being a rising star, from as early as the times when our parents shared duties in the field of agriculture in the late 1980s early 1990s, to the present. His spirit and thirst for excellence have not diminished, hence his call to duty to the West Indies team is an accomplishment which was always in the pipeline.

His deep-seated commitment to and love for the sport of Rugby as opposed to an affinity for the more conventional sports such as soccer and cricket has assisted in his recent ascension to the status of a West Indian player. In a population where a taste is still being acquired for the sport of Rugby, Green is not afraid to break new ground in the sport, charting the way for younger players.

Green has recently represented the West Indies in the Rugby World Cup Sevens Tournament in Los Angeles playing matches against Australia, New Zealand and Tonga. In fact he was actually singled out for praise for his excellent defense against both Australia and New Zealand where he played skillfully. Yet his humilty has remained virgin to any form of arrogance.

Green has traveled extensively in the region, USA and Europe as a sportsman, but was spotted in the Cayman Islands for his speed and defending ability, and selected to play for the West Indies. The team comprised one player from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, one from Barbados,

one from the BVI, two Jamaicans, four Guyanese and one Vincentian.

Since returning from the Rugby World Cup Finals Green is fully settled, and is ready to continue on his upward journey. As a Vincentian people however, existing within the larger revolving Caribbean sphere we must ensure that personalities such as Hollis Green are given the national encouragement and the nation’s blessing in whatever way necessary to assist in the elevation of themselves. Attaining the status of being part of any West Indies team must be an achievement that we all treasure. Many times we blind ourselves to the smaller things. Failing to get these right can be detrimental to our well being as a people. In a population of less than 150,000, we must work with all the resources we possess in order to take our nation forward.

This must be analysed in the context of other sport personalities such as Pamenos Ballantyne, which is a name which stands as an icon in the entire Region. The effect which his name has when it is mentioned as part of a marathon line up, in Trinidad and Tobago or Barbados, is a far cry from what was described by the star long distance runner recently in his effort to represent his own country. Our people appear to have a problem with continuity, we appear to have the energy to support rising stars when they make their first break and their names are fresh in our ears, but we tend to lose the fighting spirit along the way.

Green’s growing love for Rugby, having played the sport for the past seven years, carries him on. His vision is one that sees the game of Rugby becoming more popular in St. Vincent and the Grenadines though not at the expense of other sports, such as football and cricket. May excellence follow Mr. Green.