GRFU takes Beach rugby to Linden

Aug 26, 2014 Sports

With the growing popularity of Beach rugby hitting the world, the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) does not intend to be left behind and last Friday President of the Union Peter Green travelled to the Mining Town of Linden where the basic rudiments of the game were introduced to aspiring players.

GRFU President Peter Green (left) poses with co-ordinators and participants following the conclusion of the two-day Camp in Linden.

Accompanying Green were senior Youth Development Officer Theodore Henry and national Beach Rugby players Joseph Rahaman and Nicole Nero, while assistance came from Dawn Barker, who is the Get Into Rugby (GIR) co-ordinator for Linden and Rollin Tappin and Victor Wright of Beach Football connections.
According to a release from the Union, the sessions which lasted for two days had in attendance twenty-seven boys and two girls ranging between the ages of 11-15 years.
The release added that Senior Vice-President of the Union Col. John Lewis was instrumental in co-ordinating the activity which is aimed at decentralising the sport and grooming new players for the future.
The children according to the release showed a quick adaption to the rudiments of the game; displaying astute reading and dexterity skills far beyond their years.
Despite the theme being Beach Rugby the skills being taught encompassed rugby at both beach and traditional rugby.
Later on at the simple ceremony hosted by Tappin and Wright, the GRFU President gave a brief oversight into the sport of Rugby. He commended the two officials for the emphasis being placed on molding sharp minds in healthy bodies as well as applauded the volunteers who all combined to make the two-day course a resounding success and the foresight of having the children enjoy a diverse range of beach sports and heralding this as the beginning of the rebirth of Rugby in Linden.
Tappin and Wright then distributed school kits to the participants involved in the summer camp.
Green recognised the efforts of both Tappin and Wright in introducing other sport disciplines to the participants.
The unity shown between the Rugby and Football officials in promoting the growth of the game as well as the resulting pool of promising youth players with a sound education serves as a perfect example of what sport should be all about.
The Union will soon be following up with its GIR Programme in the community which is being co-ordinated by Col. Lewis and led by Barker with assistance from Henry at the start of the September school term.
Community Rugby will also be introduced / played, with plans on the cards to host competition rounds in Linden and other Regions to avoid lack of games being played due to poor pitch conditions at the only Rugby ground in Georgetown.