The Guyana Government has given Gy$2 million to the Guyana National Men’s Rugby Sevens team which will be participating in the Pan American Games and the NACRA Sevens Champions.
The Pan American Games will be held in Guadalajara Mexico from October 17 to 30, while the NACRA Men’s Sevens Championships will be in Barbados on November 12 and 13.
From left: John Lewis (team manager), Mike McCormack (director of Sevens Rugby), Christopher Nascimento (president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union), Theodore Henry, and Troy Yhip (youth development officer)
President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union, Christopher Nascimento said the cost of participation is very high and sponsorship is vital. In addition to the government input, Edward Beharry and the International Rugby Board donated Gy$1 million each.
Nascimento also said that Rugby Sevens has placed Guyana on the world stage and he is disappointed that the MYS& C has not been placing much emphasis on it. However, Nascimento expressed gratitude that the president has recognised the achievements of the local ruggers and has come on board to support them.
According to Nascimento, if the president did not sponsor the team, they would not have been able to participate in neither the Pan Am nor NACRA games.
Nascimento said he believes that any team that represents Guyana at the international level and succeeds deserves recognition and support. He added that he hopes the MYS& C would make rugby one of its priorities in the near future.
At NACRA Guyana will be represented by a male and a female team. Guyana are the defending champions in both categories. The females have won the title three times while the males have won it five times.
Presently, Guyana are ranked number one in NACRA. According to Nascimento, fitness is the major challenge for the women but they are working hard on it. He pointed out that funding is a major issue for the Rugby Union, so it is hard for them to hold onto the players.
Nascimento proudly stated that women’s rugby in the Caribbean is growing, even though they are not that competitive on an international level. He believes that with time and commitment the Caribbean girls would become a force to be reckoned with.
There is a two week gap between the NACRA and the Pan American Games which is a unique position for Guyana, since the same set of players would represent Guyana at both games. “This brings fitness into question,” said Mike McCormack, director of Rugby Sevens.
But the team’s current head coach, Theodore Henry, believes the short span of time between the two tournaments is an advantage for Guyana when it goes into NACRA. According to Mr. Henry, the Pan American Games would be an ideal preparation since its level is higher than that of NACRA. At the Pan Am Games, Guyana would be in Pool ‘A’ with the U.S.A., Uruguay, and Mexico. Pool ‘B’ comprises Argentina, Canada, Chile, and Brazil.
Three professional players are expected to join the team. Kevin Mckenzie, who plays for Queensland in Australia, is expected to be in Guyana today, while Rupert Giles, who plays in England, and Dominic Lespierre who plays for Perth Australia would join the team in Mexico on October 17.
The squad reads: Walter George (Yamaha Caribs), Richard Staglon (T&T), Rupert Giles (England), Ryan Gonsalves (Hornets), Claudius Butts (Yamaha Caribs), Kevin McKenzie (Australia), Dominic Lespierre (Australia), Vallon Adams (Yamaha Caribs), Dwayne Schroeder (GDF), Leon Greaves (Hornets), Ronald Mayers (T&T), and Breon Walks (GDF).
The reserves are: Troy Bascom (Hornets), Avery Corbin (GDF), Rickford Cummings ( Hornets), Blaize Bailey (Hornets), Rondell Hudson (GDF), O’Neill Charles (Yamaha Caribs), and Elwin Chase (Hornets).
Former player Theodore Henry will serve in the capacity of manager/assistant coach; overseas-based Guyanese Spencer Robinson has been appointed head coach, while Arian Mangar will be the physiotherapist.
