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Sevens team commence Phase Two of preparation
Theodore Henry
Ryan Gonsalves
By Rawle Welch
The players shortlisted by the Guyana Rugby Football Union to undergo training to participate in the IRB World Sevens Series in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA have just commenced Phase Two of their preparations according to Head Coach Theodore Henry.
Henry, who has been appointed to spearhead the team’s preparations until Canadian Spencer Robinson arrives later this month, was speaking with Kaieteur Sport on Tuesday afternoon shortly after the conclusion of a training session at the National Park.
He said that the current phase includes more fitness conditioning and ball handling will continue over the next week, adding that the preparations are on course as scheduled by the coaching management following the completion of work in the gym that entailed lifting weights to get physically stronger which is vital for competing at the international level.
“It is extremely important for us to get our bodies prepared to undertake the rigors of playing rugby at the highest level which such a tournament demands,” Henry pointed out.
He stated that the training regimen is more high intensity and it involves rigorous preparation of the body as well as the mind that is preparing mentally.
Henry disclosed that the team’s preparation this time is a whole lot better and totally different than before, citing the experience gained at the Commonwealth Games as the primary reason.
Peabo Hamilton
“In the past, we were just preparing the body through improving our fitness levels, but India taught us that when teams are equal in ability, it is the mental superiority that separates them and could prove the vital factor between winning and losing a game,” he noted.
Quizzed on the effects of losing three very important players to suspension, Henry responded by saying that the absence of three players who were amongst the best on the team in their respective positions will always prove to be a setback, but they have the capacity to field a strong team on the pitch.
“The lost of those three players (Kevin McKenzie, Albert La Rose and Dwayne Schroeder) have provided us with the opportunity to increase our players’ pool which will evidently expose more players, who will then have to dedicate themselves to training hard to make the final selection,” Henry felt.
Guyana will be coming off a disappointing performance in India and Henry was asked whether they could produce an inspired display to reassure skeptics that Guyana could play at the international level responded by saying that Sevens rugby is similar to that of T20 cricket where the team that gives 100% is likely to be the winner at the end of the day.
Though not offering a reason (s) for the absence of former Technical Director Joe Whipple, who is being replaced by Robinson, Henry reminded that the Canadian had done stints here in the past and is no stranger to them and he is optimistic that he will do a marvelous job this time as well.
Robinson according to Henry has a vast amount of experience in the coaching department, having coached the Canadian men’s and women’s Sevens teams.
He is expected to arrive on January 28 or 29 and stay with the team until the end of the tournament which runs from February 12-13.
Guyana has never won a game at the Series, but earned a creditable draw against powerhouse France last year.
Meanwhile the 18-man team continues daily training at the National Park and those called are: Claudius Butts, Walter George, Ryan Gonsalves, Leon Greaves, Cyon Kitt, Joseph Rahaman, Elwin Chase, Avery Corbin, Peabo Hamilton, Dane Parks, Jason Tyrell, Chris Singh, Troy Bascom, Claude Alexander, Vallon Adams, Oneil Charles, Jermaine Prowell and Kevin Jordan.
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