RAN C/ships – WC, CG & CAC Qualifiers …Women’s Sevens leaves today; Men departed yesterday as President Granger intervenes

Nov 21, 2017 Sports

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The timely intervention of His Excellency President David Granger along with a number of other stakeholders have afforded the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) the opportunity to have its respective male and female teams attend the RAN Sevens Championships in Mexico where the male team is the #1 and defending champions, while the females are ranked fourth.
The male team left these shores yesterday to defend their title, while the female team will wing out today where the two-day competition will scrum off on Saturday with round-robin play.
The GRFU in a press release said on behalf of the players it wishes to express gratitude to President Granger along with the Guyana Olympic Association, Noble House Sea Foods, Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister Joseph Harmon and Minister George Norton, among others for their contributions.
It further noted that despite not attaining the targets the teams are prepared for sacrifices to bring glory to their country. The union released the names of the respective teams, it was noted that with 2018 beckoning, it is anticipated to be an extremely active international year.
The goal of the Union is to rotate its experienced players to ensure that the National sevens and 15s teams are adequately stocked and the nation well represented.
The RAN championships will serve as World Cup Qualifiers, Commonwealth Games and Central American and Caribbean Games, 2018.
The Men’s Sevens team that departed yesterday reads: Dwayne Schroeder – Captain (Guyana Defence Force), Avery Corbin (Guyana Defence Force), Patrick King (Guyana Defence Force), Rondel McArthur (Panthers), Jamal Angus (Panthers), Lancelot Adonis (Panthers), Rickford Cummings (Pepsi Hornets), Peabo Hamilton (Pepsi Hornets), Richard Staglon (Trinidad based), Claudius Butts (Trinidad based), Ronald Mayers (Trinidad based), Dominic Lespierre (England based). John Lewis (Manager), Laurence Adonis (Coach) and Philip Browne (Physio).
Women’s Sevens Team set to leave today reads: Collette Hope – Captain (Pepsi Hornets), Tricia Munroe Pepsi (Hornets), Alisha Mentore (Pepsi Hornets), Latoya Cordis (Pepsi Hornets), Cloetta Dublin (Pepsi Hornets), Kean Andrews (Pepsi Hornets), Mandy Browne (Guyana Defence Force), Abioce Heywood (Guyana Defence Force), Sasha James (Guyana Defence Force), Shonette Mc Farlane (Guyana Defence Force), Sabola Gray (Yamaha Caribs) and Cindy Fraser (Police Falcons). Petal Adams (Manager), Theodore Henry (Coach) and Abiola Blair (Physio).
The tournament commences Saturday and ends on Sunday. The Men have been divided into three groups with Guyana heading Pool A and includes Barbados and Cayman Islands. Jamaica heads Pool B which has Bermuda and the Dominican Republic. Trinidad and Tobago is atop Pool C along with Mexico, Curacao and the BVI.
The Women will play in a round-robin format, three matches each on Saturday and Sunday with the winner being decided on amount of wins. The current rankings are Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Bermuda, Dominican Republic and French Guiana.
The stakes
1. 2018 World Cup – Winner qualifies
2. 2018 Commonwealth – Winner qualifies
3. 2018 Central American and Caribbean – top 4 men and top 3 women
4. 2018 Hong Kong Sevens – Top two men
1. 2018 Atlanta Sevens – Top women
With the extreme importance of this championship series looming skipper Ryan Gonsalves has been mandated with full time responsibilities as National 15s Captain spearheading a formidable side which will include the likes of USA based Vallon Adams, Ahmad Isaacs and Trey Selman along with latest local sensation Osei McKenzie as the Green Machine venture into deeper waters participating in the Americas Rugby Championships for the first time with one other North American team (Mexico or Trinidad) along with two south American teams to be named in the B Tier Tournament in August.
Prior to that the Green Machine will be locking horns in the Tier 1 grouping comprising USA South, Mexico and Cayman Islands prior to participating in the Americas Championships over the coming months, April – July.
Successful participation will see Guyana being promoted to play against the likes of Argentina, Canada, Chile, USA and Colombia. Guyana is currently ranked 9th in the Americas and 49th in the world.
The rosters for 2018 will be released shortly. It is to be noted that the senior players will find themselves being rotated between the 7s and 15s squads and even playing in both formats if needed as the union’s Technical staff strive for the right balance to achieve success.

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