By Emmerson Campbell
Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) president, Kit Nascimento yesterday underscored the need for the full support of both government and the corporate sector to get the national ruggers to the international level.
“As you know it is impossible for us to play at this international level unless we get the full and absolute support of both the government of Guyana and the corporate sector, they make it possible for us to have our players on the world stage and we are extremely thankful for their intervention,” Nascimento said during a press briefing yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association building on High Street.
The media briefing was held to highlight the corporate funding that the GRFU received to aid with the local rugby team’s participation at the Las Vegas Invitational Sevens Tournament from February 9 to 11.
The Las Vegas tournament will serve as a warm-up ahead of the team’s participation at the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong from March 23 to 25.
Earlier this month the team was funded to the tune of five million dollars by President Donald Ramotar to participate in the Las Vegas Invitational Sevens Tournament, fully covering their air fare and accommodation.
Rising costs
However, the five million dollars was budgeted since in November when the Union first indicated to the government that they were invited to Las Vegas and since then the cost of air fare and accommodation has risen, leading the GRFU to seek further corporate support.
Nascimento said: “With the intervention of President Ramotar we benefitted from five million dollars from the government to help us get to Las Vegas, but we had prepared a budget since in November when we first indicated to the government that we had been invited to participate in this elite level tournament as a preparation for Hong Kong and that US$25000 (five million Guyana dollars) would have covered that budget. However when the government did intervene and we confirmed our participation, two things happened, the cost of air fare and accommodation went up so the bill went up to an excess US$31,000, fortunately we were able to turn to the corporate sector.”
Nascimento disclosed that King’s Jewelery World, New GPC, DeSinco Trading, BEV Processes, Bank of Nova Scotia and Correia Group of Companies were the companies that aided the team in off-setting
the rising costs.
Marketing Director of Kings Jewelery World, Ralph Persaud was present at the briefing and he noted that he is happy to be part of the rugby team’s sponsorship and will continue to give his support in the future. Marketing Assistant of New GPC, Sabrina Chitram, was also at the briefing and she noted that her company is sponsoring rugby for the third occasion and will continue to do so. Chitram also wished the ruggers well in Las Vegas.
Nascimento praised the corporate sponsors for their support for the six-time NACRA champions, but he disclosed that the GRFU will need funding to purchase international insurance for the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong. He said that although the team’s accommodation and air fare is covered by the International Rugby Board (iRB) their insurance is not.
The GRFU boss stressed that only international insurance will cover the team in Hong Kong and will cost in the vicinity of US$2500 (half a million Guyana Dollars).
The team which will wing out for Las Vegas on February 6 will be made up of Captain Ryan Gonsalves, vice captain Elwin Chase, Theodore Henry, Claudius Butts, Valon Adams, Dwayne Schroeder, Rickford Cummings, Christopher Singh, UK-based Rupert Giles and the trio of Trinidad and Tobago-based players Ryan Hinckson, Richard Staglon and Ronald Mayers.
The reserves will be Walter George, Breon Walks, Avery Corbin and Rondell Hutson.
Henry, who is also the head coach, will be assisted by Shane Grant-Stewart. The team will be managed by Robin Roberts. Barrington Browne is also the team’s physiotherapist.
