Latest update January 15th, 2025 3:26 AM
Change in fortune
By Rawle Welch
At one time they were among the most dominant teams in local sports stretching their dominance well beyond these shores, racking up six NACRA titles during the period 2006-11, but it seem as though the sport of rugby has fallen on hard times, especially since the exit of former Presidents Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento and Noel Adonis.
For the first time, last year saw Guyana fail to attend the NACRA Championship due to alleged late confirmation by the local governing body of the team’s participation, but even before that unfortunate occurrence, the sport had begun to take a nose dive in terms of activity and popularity.
NACRA Champs
NACRA Champs
The sport enjoyed sparse activity last year with two 10’s and three 7’s tournaments listed as the only competitions to be played during the period and while the inclement weather had some amount of say, how you explain the absence of action among the women.
Clearly there needs to be a more concerted effort by the Union to attract more females to the sport and while this is not an indictment on the current administration exclusively, it is their responsibility to formulate new strategies to entice more females to the game.
Previous administrations could boast about how they were able to not only attract females to the sport, but win Caribbean titles as well. .
This segment of the sport is no longer attractive, many of the former female nationals would tell you and this is mainly because of an absence of a clear policy to attract new recruits, while the nonexistence of tangible rewards such as a tour has also acted as a disincentive for the sacrifices that they made previously only to hear that the insufficiency of funds caused them to miss international engagements.
The current administration already has one major blemish on its record and while it will not be easily forgotten, in attempting to move forward with its mandate, fulfilling all regional and international obligations this year could commence the healing process.
The players and coaching staff were left disappointed last year when they were told that Guyana would not be attending the NACRA Tournament due to late confirmation of participation and this came after months of intense training.
This year is definitely the litmus test for the administration failing which they should step down and allow a new group of personnel the opportunity to advance the sport.
Speaking with one official, he said the Union has started to address the need to be more decisive and productive this year which has commenced with National Coach Theodore Henry’s attendance at a NACRA-organised one-week Coaches Workshop in Las Vegas, USA, while the domestic season is set to begin on February 8 with a 15’s tournament.
Guyana then open its regional campaign against Barbados on May 17 in the NACRA 15’s and that will be followed by a clash against long time rivals Trinidad and Tobago in the same competition with the winner to play the North America champions.
In order for the Union to fulfill these obligations and change the game’s fortune, it must start preparations very early and by this I mean not only on-field, but early notification to the Government for its support, fund-raisers etc.
Much is at stake here, Olympic berth, global recognition and a return to regional dominance so there is much needed urgency to get on with it.
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