Local ruggers eager to recapture lost glory

May 13, 2014 Sports

– B/dos game crucial

When the national 15’s men’s rugby squad departs tomorrow to contest the NACRA Championship game against Barbados it could mark the start of the team’s quest to regain its dominance in the sport on the regional circuit.
The Guyanese relinquished the title to Trinidad and Tobago 20-0 last year, while its absence at the NACRA Sevens Competition due to late registration meant that for the first time in many years Guyana was without a regional title.

On the attack: A member of the national team seen on the offensive during a practice game last Saturday.

Kaieteur Sport visited one of the training sessions last week and judging from the intensity of the game simulation it was clear that the national ruggers were determined to recapture lost glory and this weekend’s game against the Bajans at the Garrison Savannah will definitely indicate the sort of hunger and finesse they possess and whether or not they are still capable of dominating the game regionally.
The Bajans are usually a formidable side in 15’s rugby; they bring a lot of bulk and strength in this format of the game, but the Guyanese superior fitness and speed, the two qualities that have made them so tough in the Sevens version, have proven to be effective and advantageous against them.
What was witnessed during the team’s preparations gave an unmistakable hint about the enthusiasm and desire within the camp and combined with the confidence that was oozing from the players’ responses and Barbados will have to produce an astonishing performance to get past the Guyanese.
For someone who has had the privilege to observe numerous team preparations in the past, at no time did the sessions take on the kind of focus and force that was on display last Saturday.
Many players risked being injured before departure, but fortunately that did not happen and the coaching staff and technical team must have been heartened by what they saw.
As Technical Committee Head, Mike McCormack revealed, the Barbados game is a must win for Guyana, especially with the intention of NACRA to make the competition into a two-tier system that will see losers playing against countries considered minnows in the sport in the Region.
Guyana has been bolstered by the inclusion of foreign-based players such as Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers, Peabo Hamilton and Claudius Butts.
The players named are: Ryan Gonsalves (Captain), Richard Staglon (Vice Captain), Chris Singh, Ronald Mayers, Claudius Butts, Rondell McArthur, Rickford Cummings, Grantley Williams, Jason Tyrell, Dwayne Schroeder, Filon Thompson, Clive Powell, Avery Corbin, Theo Henry, Ryan Dey, Delroy Gordon, Jacques Archibald, Jamal Angus, Kevon David, Cyon Kitt, Carl Lewis and Leon Greaves.
Head Coach is Clinton ‘Stiffy’ Clarke of GDF, while the Manager is John Lewis, and Physio-Barrington Browne.