Twenty-three member squad ahead of Ran C/Ship

Jul 04, 2023 Sports

Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s National Men’s Under-19 Rugby team is set to travel to Jamaica for the Rugby America’s North (RAN) U-19 championship, which is scheduled to take place at University of the West Indies, Mona Campus ground in Kingston, Jamaica from July 12-16, following an official announcement of the twenty-three member squad, over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Elisha Crawford is the sole surviving member from Guyana’s previous participation in a RAN tournament as a 16-year-old in 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted sporting and social activities in Guyana. Led by Dakari Martindale, this team will be the first to represent Guyana in the tournament since the Covid-19 outbreak. Last year, Guyana was unable to compete in the RAN U-19 competition due to insufficient funds.

The team consist of 23 members and four standbys, and was announced after a practice session at Rugby Field (National Park). Guyana’s group includes host Jamaica and Bermuda, while the other group consists of Trinidad & Tobago, the Cayman Islands, and the USA South. According to Manager Sherlock Solomon, “This will be the first time representing Guyana for all but one player. However, we have been training and practicing for the last four months, and the boys are improving and getting fitter.”

He mentioned that the team has been focusing on practicing and doing laps at the National Park, as well as light weight training in the gym to ensure the younger players do not engage in heavy lifting. Solomon also highlighted that the team’s strong point lies in its powerful backline, while the main challenge is helping the forwards understand the rules of rugby.

Sneak peek! Few members of the National U19 rugby squad pose for team photo.

The team has been preparing under the guidance of Coach Larry Adonis, with assistance from former Guyana Captain Jamal Angus. Angus, the son of former Guyana Cricket Captain Jerry Angus, who resides in England, is aiding the team’s preparations.

Notably, Guyana senior players David Garnett, Gordon Brooms, and Scott Garraway are also assisting in the team’s preparations. Solomon expressed his belief that the team will gain valuable experience from this trip, contributing to their overall development. He also extended his gratitude to the main sponsors, including Modern Optical, P&P Insurance Brokers, Ansa McAl, Cummings Electrical, NAMILCO, Vish’s Pharmacy, SNL Electrical, Massy Gas Ltd, Wilfred Neblette (NY), Freddy Fish Shop, the GOA, and the NSC.

The squad consists of: Dakari Martindale (Captain), Nihil Carter (Vice-Captain), Dion Softley, Vidal Narine, Tashenia Leitch, Gavin McPherson, David Massiah, Anton Bernard, Sylvester Fraser, Elisha Crawford, Melson Moe, Omarion Leitch, Ephrain McLennan, Shaquan Adams, Tion Mars, Daniel Deheart, Samuel Bellang, Tion Luke, Renson Branch, Treville Weeks, and Darian Bentick. The standbys are Cadem Hollingsworth, Samuel Nicholas, and Jamal Johnson.

Sherlock Solomon will accompany the team as the team manager. Alongside Coach Larry Adonis and several senior players, Solomon has been working to ensure the squad is well-prepared for the challenging trip to Jamaica.

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