Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts Over-35 rugby players arrived in Guyana yesterday for their one-off match against their Guyanese counterparts this afternoon at the National Park rugby field.
Team Manager Kevin Edwards, a former national player, disclosed that only 14 enthusiastic players made the trip but they will be teaming up with players from the Caribbean Cougars Rugby Club of New York who are here for the Yamaha Caribs Rugby Club’s 15th Anniversary celebrations.
Edwards said that there is an important match in the Trinidad and Tobago senior league so some players opted to remain for the game, in addition, some Trinidadian rugby players have just returned from the Rugby World Cup in France and decided not to make the trip here.
“The important thing is that we are here in Guyana once again and this is our fifth year running. We have always come to lend support to the Caribs Sevens tournament and have some fun,” he added.
The team includes several former nationals of Trinidad and Tobago including Anthony Aleong, Alvin Maraj, Wayne Baptiste, Jerry Legal and Gavin Clark .
Referee David Hinckson, who will be officiating in the match also arrived with the team.
The Guyana Over-35 players have been dominant in their two previous encounters and will be looking to secure their third win.
The local players have been hard at training over a month and a half and will feature several former nationals.
Today’s match will be played in four quarters with the first two quarters being of 20-minute durations, while the final two will be of 10 minutes duration each.
Alton Agard will lead the Guyana side which is being coached by national coach Sherlock Solomon.
The other players named in the squad are Curtis Jacobs, Peter Campayne, Conrad Arjoon, Bartram Taylor, William “Billy” Blackman, Vernon Duncan, Troy Yhip, Stuart May, Terrance Mc Almont, Chris O’ Donaghue, Wesley Licorish, Robin Roberts, Alex King, Kenneth Grant-Stewart, Stephen Butcher, Leonardo Butcher, Gregory Wills, Alair George, Ray Warren, and Noel Adonis.
The manager is Terrance Grant.
The other referee for today’s match is George David of the United States.
Scrum down time is 4pm.