The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) wants corporate support to assist them in sending the national Sevens team to the International Rugby Board 2013 Rugby World Cup Regional Qualifier and North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Caribbean Championships to be held at the Twin Elms Grounds, Nepean and Ottawa, Canada on August 25-26.
At a press conference held yesterday at Olympic House, High Street, GRFU president Colonel John Lewis, called on corporate Guyana for assistance.
According to the GRFU president, the men’s team will participate in the tournament but unfortunately the women’s team will be unable to go.
“We have a shortfall in finances but the good news is that the men’s Sevens team will go to Ottawa. However, the bad news is the women’s team could not raise the amount so their tour has been canceled.
“I am calling on corporate Guyana to assist the team in realizing the shortfall,” he added.
Leonardo Butcher, treasurer of the GRFU, said that despite receiving some 75% of the US$36,000 from NACRA and some sponsorship the team could not meet the budgetary allocation of US$23,717 adding that there was a shortfall of just about US$6,800 to send the National Sevens Rugby team to the championships.
Manager of the team, Mike McCormack, said this will be the most challenging tournament for the team in the last four years adding that apart from the lack of finance, the team’s preparation has been hampered by the weather while two players Richard Staglon and Ronald Mayers are having visa issues.
Head Coach Theodore Henry, like Mc Cormack also pointed out that the team’s preparation suffered.
“The venue was the main setback for our preparation. We were forced to move away from the National Park because it is in an unplayable state following the heavy rains and were training at the National Stadium. But we could not enjoy the use of the entire stadium because of other activities there,” said Henry.
Team Captain Ryan Gonsalves too also expressed his displeasure with the situation.
“We are in a state where we have to make use what we have at the moment. “To be honest everyone in the camp is up and down in terms of confidence but I am hoping that we could put it together because we still have a goal, that of making Guyana proud,” he said.
The Rugby World Cup will take place in Moscow, Russia, next year.
