The locally based national rugby players, from left, Christopher Singh, Vallon Adams, Ryan Gonsalves, Theodore Henry, Claudius Butts, Rickford Cummings, Elwin Chase and Walter George pose for a photo op following the naming of the team for Hong Kong yesterday at the National Stadium, Providence
A 12-man squad has been named by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) to participate in the Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012 which will be staged from March 23-25.
The squad, which will be led by half-back Ryan Gonsalves, was announced shortly after a rigorous practice session at the National Stadium yesterday. The squad comprises Walter George, Rupert Giles, Richard Staglon (vice- captain), Vallon Adams, Theodore Henry, Christopher Singh, Claudius Butts, Kevin McKenzie, Rickford Cummings, Ronald Mayers and Elwin Chase.
The reserves are: Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder, Peabo Hamilton, Blaize Bayley and Rondell Hutson.
Meanwhile, the team is expected to hold its final trial game on March 10 at the National Stadium prior to their departure on March 12 for Chula Vista, San Diego, where the team will be encamped with Rugby USA for one week.
Overseas players, Ronald Mayers and Richard Staglon, will arrive in Guyana on March 9 to join the team for its final practice before the team’s departure from Guyana.
Meanwhile, overseas players Kevin Mc Kenzie, who is currently playing Rugby League in Brisbane, Australia, and Rupert Giles, who is currently at Loughborough University in England, will join the team in San Diego. The team will depart Chula Vista, San Diego, for Hong Kong on March 17.
Guyana, after recording victories at last year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) tournament, earned the right to represent the Caribbean in the annual HSBC Sevens World Series Qualifiers which are scheduled to take place from March 23-25 at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Guyana, along with eleven other teams, are in the hunt for core team status to compete in the next Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in 2013.
The local ruggers are in Pool F with Portugal, Russia and Japan; Pool E consists of Canada, Spain, Zimbabwe and Philippines and the final Pool in the Qualifiers, D, has Tonga, Uruguay, Hong Kong and China.
The core teams competing in the Hong Kong Sevens are Samoa, England, Argentina and Kenya who are in Pool A; New Zealand, South Africa, Wales and United States are in Pool B and Fiji, Australia, France and Scotland comprise Pool C.
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