Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Southern Caribbean Qualifying Round for the Rugby WC 2015…Preparations in overdrive-Henry
Quizzed on the state of affairs in relation to the national team’s preparations for their upcoming engagements against Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in the Southern Caribbean Qualifying Round for the Rugby World Cup 2015, Head Coach Theodore Henry told Kaieteur Sport on Wednesday afternoon during a practice session at the National Park that they are currently in the overdrive phase.
Guyana is scheduled to play Barbados on May 19th in Barbados and Trinidad on June 2nd, at the National Stadium, Providence.
Should Guyana win both encounters it would set the stage for a further game against the winners of the Northern Caribbean Qualifying
Members of the National Rugby squad seen doing some strengthening exercises during a practice session on Wednesday afternoon at the National Park.
Round scheduled for July. The winner of the finals of the NACRA RWC 15s Qualifier will go forward to the next Round of the RWC 2015.
Henry said that because there are only three weeks remaining before the Barbados game, they’ve had to incorporate all the phases including fitness and tactical into one to ensure that the players are fit and ready for the matches.
Asked whether they’ve had any major challenges during the preparatory period, Henry responded by saying that the only one he could think about was that the fact that the players who did not make the Sevens team that went to the World Series in Hong Kong came into the Camp at an undesired level of fitness and that caused a slowdown in the implementation of the tactical phase.
“The guys that went to Hong Kong apart from a couple of days off went right into preparation mode and has been doing great under Fitness Coach Barrington Browne, who was also present at the World Series,” Henry related.
However, Henry did disclose that Guyana will be hampered by the absence of three key players in Kevin McKenzie, who is now resident in Australia and has declared his unavailability, Richard Staglon and Ronald Mayers, who’ve both indicated to the Union that due to non permission of time off from work, they would not be able to make the Barbados leg of the campaign at least.
Flyhalf Christopher Singh is still nursing an injury that he sustained even before departing for Hong Kong, while experienced former Captain Claudius Butts will be absent after suffering rotator cuff damage during the same tour and has been advised to miss the two games.
However, the Head Coach stated that even though the players are all key components in the side, he feels that there is sufficient depth in the squad to go through Barbados, but agreed that it is important that they return for the Trinidad encounter.
He said he was 80% satisfied with the players’ commitment, but urged those who did not make the Hong Kong sojourn to show more focus and dedication during the preparations.
Those called are: Jason Tyrell, Walter George, Dwayne Schroeder, Avery Corbin, Jermaine Prowell, Vallon Adams, Cyon Kitt, Delroy Gordon, Rondel Mc Auther, Elwin Chase, Ryan Gonsalves, Leon Greaves, Peabo Hamilton, Ryan Hinckson *, Lance Adonis, Troy Bascom, Claude Alexander, Rodwell Hutson, Blaise Bailey, Brian Walks, Kevin Joseph, Rickford Cummings, O’Neill Charles, Tristan Fraites, Danny Anderson and John Mars.
*Overseas Players
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