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Women’s Rugby squad intensifying preparations for title defence

Oct 05, 2009 Sports

National Women’s Rugby Coach Alton Agard, who returned from the USA to spearhead preparations, told Kaieteur Sport that even though the squad is behind schedule in comparison with last year, he is optimistic that he could whip them into the kind of shape required to retain their title.
The defending champions who’ve seen little on-field activity for the year is intensifying preparations ahead of the defence of their regional title planned to be staged in Mexico from November 14-15.
“You’ve got to remember that women’s rugby has not been played on a big scale this year and I’m basically trying to get them into Sevens mode right now,” Agard said.
The Guyanese Coach was confident that the team could reach the level of preparedness of last year because they are about 65% fit which is just a fraction of the desired level at this stage, but with the commitment that they’ve shown, they will leave here a well prepared bunch.
He said that his biggest obstacle right now is to get the ball handling and tackling right and in those two areas they’ve shown remarkable improvement since the sessions started.
Another setback he mentioned is the absence of three key players Latoya Hamilton, Carrin Carter and Trisha Munroe, all of who had played integrally in the team’s success last year.
He called on the players to make sacrifices to attain the level of fitness required for such a tournament, indicating that from the commitment that he is getting at attendance, there is no reason for him to believe that this team cannot successfully the title.
Presently domiciled in the USA, Agard was asked the question of why he returned to coach the squad, and in his response he revealed that he had made a pact with the Guyana Rugby Football Union to return if time permits so he’s here to fulfil his promise.
“More than anything else I’ feel happy to return to coach rugby in Guyana and from the feedback I’d been receiving via e-mail urging me to return I think that I’ve made the right decision,” Agard told this newspaper.
He said that he is not oblivious that the task of whipping the team into winning shape is huge, but he is willing to take the risk.
“We’ve been given a good programme to work with from Technical Director and West Indies Coach Joe Whipple and that is what we’re working with,” Agard informed.
He mentioned that it is entirely up to the players to fulfil that mandate.
Meanwhile, both teams held game simulations Saturday at the National Park.

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