Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
‘Green Machine’ confident of maintaining dominance over Bajans
Rugby Americas Northern (RAN) Zone 15s’ Championship…
-female referee set to officiate for first time in Guyana
Guyana’s ‘Green Machine’ will spring into action to regain the Rugby Americas Northern (RAN) Zone
Haylee Slaughter
15s’ Championship when they face Barbados in the opening fixture of the South Zone Division on Saturday, at the National Park Playfield.
The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) held a Press Conference at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) yesterday to update the media about the preparations to host the Barbadians and in attendance were President of the Body Peter Green, Team Manager Robin Roberts, Head Coach Laurie Adonis, Captain Richard Staglon and other members of the team.
Green in his remarks gave a synopsis of the new dispensation within the rugby fraternity which included the North American & Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) being replaced by RAN that has now been divided into the Southern and Northern Zones with one winner emerging as the qualifier for the 2019 World Cup after the winners of the two zones meet for the right to represent RAN.
He also disclosed that the Southern Zone has one additional country with Jamaica joining Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and Barbados.
Commenting on Saturday’s game, Green said he was optimistic that Guyana will prevail over Barbados a team that they’ve beaten numerous times in the past, adding that while the year is 2016 and they are not cognizant of what calibre of team the visitors will present the result will be the same.
Green added that the winners of the South Zone will face the winners of the North Zone with Mexico being the current champions of that zone, while T&T are the title holders of the South.
He urged all Guyana to come out and offer vocal support to the Green Machine as they commence their quest to regain the championship and a spot at the 2019 WC.
Officials and players from the GRFU and national team pose for photo op yesterday at the GOA Head Office.
Adonis in his presentation said the team was beginning to gel as a unit and he expects them to defeat the Bajans.
He revealed that the team has intensified preparation after a slow start and with the arrival of Staglon, Peabo Hamilton and Ronald Mayers, all experienced players who’ve played at the highest level, there has been an increase in intensity.
“The guys know the importance of the game and what it means for the sport in Guyana,” Adonis said.
Staglon, who has been at the helm of the team for a number of years and a very experienced campaigner in his remarks told the media that he is satisfied with the make-up of the team which according to him is a mixture of experience and youth and they intend to continue their dominance of the Bajans.
He said that while he understands that every tournament is getting harder and harder to win he is confident that Guyana will put up a good showing in front of the anticipated large turnout.
“The young players are keen to learn from us, they are asking a lot of questions and that to me is a very good sign,” Staglon noted.
The Bajans will arrive in Guyana tomorrow at 14:15 hrs at the Ogle International Airport.
Meanwhile, the occasion will be an historic one with USA’s Haylee Slaughter, a female referee slated to become the first female official to officiate here in Guyana.
Starting time is 16:00 hrs.
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