-appealing for funds for US$21,000 participation fee
The fitness levels of Guyana’s male and female ruggers are high and recovery rate is fast as training intensifies for the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) qualifying tournament, however, the team is trying to source the US$21,000 needed for participation.
As the tournament date looms, it is appealing for funds to meet its $4.2M or US$21,000 costs. The tourney will be held in Mexico City on November 14 and 15.
In a brief interview at the National Park on Saturday, the coaches and Technical Director of the Guyana team, Barbados-based Joe Whipple told Stabroek Sport that “There is no question about the team’s commitment and their fitness levels being high. Five weeks before the tournament we are where we want to be.” However, Whipple who is also the West Indies rugby coach added that, “There is need (for the players) to do some more work in the basic games skills.”
Meanwhile, National Head Coach Laurie Adonis said that the men are working hard and their recovery rate is faster than before. He expects the skills and other technical stuff to follow. “While there is a lot more work to be done,” he said, “The guys were showing a lot more progress. We are where we want to be at this stage because we do not want them to peak too early.”
Speaking of the women ruggers, New York-based women’s coach Alton Agard said that he was working with a team that is currently without three of its star players – former captain and scrum half Carrin Carter, winger Tricia Munroe and centre Latoya Hamilton. Munroe is currently on study leave; Carter is recuperating from illness and Hamilton is on maternity leave. Agard said that it was difficult to find suitable replacements for the three, especially the scrum half.
With five weeks to go, he said that the women were 65% prepared; their fitness levels are good but a lot of practice is still needed in ball passing and tackling, which are now the focus areas. The major problem, he said is that even though the team is the current Women’s Sevens Caribbean champions; the women’s champions of the Trinidad and Tobago 2008 Carib/LIAT International Invitational Sevens and the first runner-up in the Caribbean 15s, they have not played much club games locally this year neither have they taken part in any regional or international tournament for the same period.
As defending Caribbean champions, the Guyanese rugby players are favourites to win this crucial tournament which will see the winning Caribbean male and female teams qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in India in October 2010 as well as the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series set for Las Vegas in February. The Las Vegas tournament involves the top teams from around the world and is now considered the pathway to the Olympic Games where rugby will be played for the first time from 2016.
In preparation for the tournament, Whipple and the local coaches have developed a strategic training programme which they have been delivering. Whipple was in Guyana three weeks ago to assess the team. He worked with them over the weekend and is expected to spend a longer period on his return leading up to the NACRA Championships.
Meanwhile, West Indies rugby executive and past president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Kit Nascimento said the Mexico championship “is an enormously important tournament since the IRB Sevens World series in Las Vegas is one of eight series sponsored by the IRB which attracts leading teams from around world and it is equivalent to the Rugby World Cup Series. Guyana is the favourite to win the men’s championship having won the Caribbean title over the past three years.”
Nascimento noted that preparation and participation in the games will cost the GRFU $7 million (US$35,000) of which the IRB is providing US$14,000. To meet this financial target, it has appealed to corporate Guyana. Nascimento noted that raising $4.2 million is a big challenge for any sporting team in Guyana. This newspaper understands that financial assistance has been sought from the government but to date the GRFU has had no response. The union also approached 25 companies but has received limited support from 12 to date. It is therefore still appealing for corporate sponsorship.
However, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company which has been a major sponsor of Guyana and West Indies rugby, is once again on board. This time around, Stabroek Sport understands that the Beharry Group of Companies and the Queens Atlantic Incorporated have come on board as major sponsors. On Sunday, Gem’s Theatre in collaboration with the GRFU sponsored the Paul Keens-Douglas show at the National Cultural Centre and some of the proceeds will be donated to the Guyana’s teams.
