IRB's Harland conducts Level 1 Rugby Course

IRB’s Harland conducts Level 1 Rugby Course

May 10, 2009 Sports

Visiting IRB Development Officer Scott Harland (standing) makes a point to participants during the Level 1 Beginners Course yesterday, at YMCA.

They came from various sports disciplines and numbered in the mid-thirties, but they all seemed eager to participate in the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) – organised Level 1 Beginners Coaching Course which started yesterday, at the YMCA in Thomas Lands
The Course which is being conducted by IRB Regional Director Scott Harland is geared to accredit coaches to help continue the development of the game locally.
Among those that participated in the Course were current West Indies Captain Claudius Butts, Sports Organiser Johnny ‘Overseas’ Barnwell, national players that included Theodore Henry, Sabola Gray, Junior National Coach Laurie Adonis, Fitness Trainer- Cornel Millington, Walter George, Athletics Coach- Christopher Gaskin and a host of aspiring players.
The participants listened attentively as Harland lectured to them about the rudiments of the game, while they were also exposed to various video analysis of how to coach the game.
Harland, who is based in Barbados and is responsible for the development of the game in the Caribbean territories, told Kaieteur Sport that the Course is the standard level for introducing rugby to coaching candidates.
“The Course is designed for those with no formal background in the game,” Harland said.
The IRB Development Officer revealed that he has held similar sessions in the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago is scheduled to visit the Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands shortly.
He also spoke of the new development in the sport known as Tag Rugby, adding that it caters for those who would like to play the game, but did not wish to be involved in the contact aspect.
“This kind of rugby is catching on fast in Australia and New Zealand and is rapidly spreading to other countries as well,” Harland disclosed.
Asked what he thought about the development of the sport in the region, the Director responded by saying that it has improved immensely within the past three years, especially at the Sevens level which according to him is beat suited for the fast and skilful players the Caribbean possess.