Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
A significant feat and an amazing achievement-Adonis
-World Sevens Tournament preparations to commence shortly
President of the GRFU Noel Adonis (centre) flanked by national captains Sabola Gray (left), Theodore Henry (right), Team Manager Robin Roberts (second left) and Men’s Coach Laurie Adonis (second right) yesterday, at Olympic House.
By Rawle Welch
“A significant feat and an amazing achievement,” was what President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Noel Adonis announced in recognition of the Guyana teams that successfully defended their North American & Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Sevens Championships titles in Mexico recently.
Adonis along with Manager Robin Roberts, Men’s Coach Laurie Adonis, Men’s Captain Theodore Henry and Women’s Captain Sabola Gray were briefing the media about the teams’ performance yesterday, at Olympic House.
Guyana’s Men won the title for the fourth successive time, while the Women are now two-time champions, having won the title last year.
The Men have now qualified to compete at the IRB World Sevens Tournament in Las Vegas next February and their outstanding achievement has also made them eligible for the Commonwealth Games and the CASCO Tournament scheduled to be staged in Guyana next year as well.
Adonis speaking on the teams’ performance in Mexico said that they played outstandingly and with cohesion and admirably supported each other despite missing a few key players on both units.
Both teams played unbeaten throughout the competition and must now be reckoned as the best in the Region.
Guyana Men beat Trinidad and Tobago in the final 12-10, while the Women remained unbeaten in the round robin format of the tournament.
The Women’s display was so dominant according to Manager Roberts that they did not concede a single point to any team on the final day of competition, while the Men, though, missing their original Captain Claudius Butts due to injury, Albert La Rose and Dane Parks for personal reasons saw the stand in players lift their game appreciably when it mattered.
Men’s Coach Laurie Adonis in his remarks said that the tour was a tough one, referring to the games being played at high altitude, conditions totally opposite to what the teams are accustomed to.
He added that the loss of Butts was also significant, but showered praise on the guys that stepped in to fill his shoes.
“The team showed depth and composure and really played as a team and I must say that the players adapted very well and for this I want to commend them,” Adonis stated.
Adonis mentioned their opening day clash against Bermuda as a real test, while the encounter against T&T in the final really showcased the team’s quality and depth.
He, however, singled out the women for special praise, recognising their focus and maturity in defeating their opponents twice over the two days as well as battling the weather.
Henry, who had to deputise in the absence of Butts after he returned home to undergo immediate surgery on his knee said that the tournament was one of the toughest assignments to date.
“First it was tough to lose Butts on the opening day and that was in addition to the absence of Albert La Rose, who did not attend the tournament, however, we did not let those developments influence our performance, rather it made us more determined to win the tournament,” Henry noted.
He added that playing in high altitude for the first time was a new experience for all of them, but after they had gotten over that initial hurdle, they felt confident.
“Our work rate and condition was superior to all the other teams.”
He said that the game against T&T had become a battle of egos where the high intensity took away the some of the quality, but came down to a matter of will.
Gray in her brief comments congratulated both teams, calling the performances a good show.
“We went out with a team strategy which we stuck to and never strayed,” Gray informed.
She extended thanks to Coach Alton Agard, who returned from the USA to spearhead their defence and members of the business community for their crucial support and the nation at large.
Gray promised an even better performance come next year.
The President thanked the Business Sector for its support and whose investments have been fully rewarded, Technical Director Joe Whipple, who according to him helped significantly in the outcome of the teams’ success.
The Men’s team will commence preparations shortly to contest the World Sevens Tournament which will be staged from February 14-15 in Las Vegas.
At that event, they will be confronting the best Sevens nations in the world including France, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, New Zealand and England among others.
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