‘Definitely the guys are going to go out there and give it their all’
By Emmerson Campbell
The local men’s Sevens Rugby team will open their Las Vegas Invitational tournament campaign this morning at 8:40am against the Force XV Froggies (a French team).
They play their second game later in the day at 11:40 am against the Social Vibe Pups (an English team).
The six-time North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) champions are using the three-day tournament as a warm-up ahead of the team’s participation at the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong from March 23 to 25.
The local ruggers earned a place at the HSBC Sevens World Series after they won their sixth consecutive NACRA title last November in Barbados by demolishing the Cayman Islands by 29 points to nil.
The team held its final practice last evening and according to player/head coach Theodore Henry, the players look fit and are confident ahead of the games today.
“I would say that the team is looking pretty good moving into tomorrow’s (today) game,” Henry said in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport.
”Definitely the guys are going to go out there and give it their all and represent Guyana to the best of their ability. We are focused, confident and we will take one game a time,” he added.
The national team, which is seeded fourth in the Invitational Tournament, will be seeking to come out on top against the 15 other teams.
The 16 teams competing in the tournament will be divided into four pools. Guyana will head Pool C which will include Mexico, Force XV Froggies and Social Pups Rugby team.
Pool A is headed by Spain and will include Bermuda, the Chicago Lions and Peru. Chile heads Pool B followed by the Philippine Pacific, Tiger Rugby and Alaska Golden Bears while Pool D is headed by Romania which includes Dog River Howlers (a Canadian team), Denver 7s and Columbus Rugby Club.
The team is made up of Captain Ryan Gonsalves, Elwin Chase (vice captain), `Henry (player/coach), 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.
Henry, will be assisted by Shane Grant-Stewart. The team will be managed by Robin Roberts with Barrington Browne, the team’s physiotherapist.
The team’s participation at the Las Vegas tournament has been made possible by the government with President Donald Ramotar handing over the sum of five million dollars to the Guyana Rugby Football Union.
