By Emmerson Campbell
The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) yesterday received a substantial cash donation and a quantity of jerseys, blazers and ties from telecommunications giant Digicel.
Public Relations Officer of the company Shonnet Moore made the presentation to GRFU’s Chief Selector and Director of Sevens Mike McCormack in the boardroom of Digicel’s head office in Kingston.
Moore, in brief remarks, stated that Digicel is pleased to support the local ruggers and she wished them the best at the prestigious tournament.
“Digicel is indeed very pleased to support the Guyana national rugby squad. We think this is a fantastic opportunity, we are very pleased to know that our boys will be participating in the Hong Kong Sevens as it will give them a competitive spirit and experience from playing world class teams and we would like to wish you all the best and we look forward to a great performance,” said Moore.
She added that the sponsorship could possibly be the first of many to come.
The donation will go towards the national men’s rugby team’s participation in the HSBC Sevens World Series which will be held 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 North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) title last year November in Barbados by demolishing the Cayman Islands by 29 points to nil.
McCormack expressed his gratitude to Digicel and noted that the team will do their best to justify the sponsorship received.
“On behalf of the GRFU I would like to express my appreciation to Digicel on this venture. I hope that we will repay the investments that were made leading up to this tournament.”
McCormack added: “Digicel has done a great gesture in supporting us, they will not be disappointed by our performance, even if we don’t come out winning, we will come out winners if we perform to the best of our abilities, so once again thanks to Digicel for their support.”
Also at the presentation was captain of the team Ryan Gonsalves. He thanked Digicel and mentioned that the team is in high spirits and will be doing their best to make Guyana proud.
The Hong Kong tournament is very important to Guyana as it is one of the pathways to qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Hong Kong will also serve as a qualification tournament that can possibly make Guyana a core team.
Players on core teams become semi-professionals and are paid as semi-professionals. Core teams are also invited and accommodated free of cost to all of the HSBC tournaments.
The team will hold their final practice session today at the Providence National Stadium before winging out tomorrow night for Chula Vista, San Diego where they will be encamped with a core team, Rugby USA before departing for Hong Kong on March 17.
At the presentation also was player/coach Theodore Henry along with players Vallon Adams, Walter George, Christopher Singh, Elwin Chase, Claudius Butts and Rickford Cummings.
The team is made up of Gonsalves, Chase, Henry, Butts, Adams, Singh, Cummings, George, UK-based Christopher Giles, Australia-based Kevin Mc Kenzie and Trinidad and Tobago-based Richard `Staggy’ Staglon and Ronald Mayers.
The reserves will be Dwayne Schroeder, Avery Corbin, Peabo Hamilton, Blaize Bailey and Rondell Hutson.
The Guyana side was also the recipient of five million dollars donated by President Donald Ramotar for their participation in the Las Vegas Invitational Sevens Tournament last month. The team was joint Bowl winners along with the Denver Barbarians.
