Local ‘ruggers’ depart for national duties in optimistic mood

Jan 28, 2012 Sports

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A team of this country’s leading rugby players will depart these shores for the

United States of America to compete in the Las Vegas Invitational Sevens Rugby Championships scheduled to get underway from February 9-11 in the USA. The championships will also be used as preparation for the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong to be staged from March 23-25 next.
President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union, Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimiento convened a press conference at the Olympic House, High Street, Kingston yesterday afternoon and was very upbeat about this country’s chances of procuring honours at the championships. He was joined by Captain and Director of the sevens team, Theodore Henry and Mike McCormack respectively as well as team manager, Robin Roberts.
Mr. Nascimiento admitted that the local players would be required to diligently apply themselves if they are to cart off the honours. He said that he is wary of several top teams the likes of Froggies and Pops, two top class units out of Europe. He said that these are experienced units with the latter participating in all of the tournaments played in the United Kingdom. He also mentioned the Dog River howlers, an invitational squad out of Canada that would field top players from other countries. “Nevertheless, I think the high level of competition would serve us well,” exhorted Nascimiento.
Further, the Rugby Union boss is adamant that irrespective of Guyana’s placing at the championships, much experience would be accrued by the local squad. He also disclosed that all of the players had successfully uplifted the relevant visa after attending the interview at the local embassy.
Mr. Nascimiento expressed gratitude to the officials at the American Embassy but feels that the track record of the rugby practitioners acted positively on their behalf.
The Guyana team comprise of Theodore Henry, Rupert Giles, Valon Adams, Dwayne Schroeder, Ryan Gonsalves, Rickford Cummings, Claudius Butts, Elwin Chase and Peabo Hamilton. The reserves are Walter George, Troy Bascom, Avery Corbin and Rodwell Hutson. Three other players are currently living in Trinidad and Tobago will fly into Guyana over the weekend to join their teammates. They are Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers and Ryan Hinckson. The three officials that will be travelling with the team are: Robin Roberts – Team Manager, Barrington Browne – Physiotherapist and Kenneth Grant-Stuart – Asst. Coach.
Meanwhile, Mr. Henry has commended the application of the team during training sessions and feels that his boys have attained a high level of fitness. “I would say that on a scale of one to ten they are hovering around seven and a half,” he pronounced.
Guyana’s participation at the Las Vegas event should provide the Guyana team with the elite level competition essential to improve their chances of doing well at the Hong Kong Sevens.
The team recently received a cheque to the tune of $5M from President Donald Ramotar but fell short of the required amount of US$31,000.
Towards this end officials solicited the assistance of several business entities recently to ensure Guyana’s participation in the Las Vegas competition. These entities include BEV Processing, New GPC, King’s Jewelry, DeSinco Trading, Bank of Novia Scotia and Correia Group of Companies. Several individuals also came in for high praise including Marketing Director of King’s Jewelry, Ralph Persaud and Sabrina Chitram of the New GPC.
“We are indeed grateful for such kind corporate intervention and wish to express gratitude to the relevant business entities and individuals,” said Mr. Nascimiento.
Guyana and Canada will represent the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association. Rugby USA is a Core Team, while the participating teams in the Qualification Tournament are: Hong Kong, Japan, China, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Zimbabwe, Uruguay, Tonga, Canada and Guyana.
The twelve Core Teams are Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa, England, France, Australia, Wales, Samoa, Argentina, USA, Scotland and Kenya.
Beginning with the 2013 Sevens World Series, a promotion and relegation process will be implemented each year providing the opportunity for new teams to qualify.
The Sevens World Series will now become one of the tournament pathways for qualification for the twelve team Rugby Sevens competition at the 2016 Olympics to take place in Brazil.
Guyana is, therefore, the first Caribbean country to qualify for the Hong Kong Sevens World Series Qualification Tournament with an opportunity to qualify as a future Core Team providing a pathway to the Olympic Games.

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