More renowned for their 7s rugby exploits, the six-time NACRA 7s champions are hard at work preparing for the NACRA senior men’s 15s Caribbean championships home game against Barbados on May 18.
Forty-seven players have been shortlisted to be involved in Skills and Fitness Training Programmes five days per week at the National Park’s rugby field and according to Coach, Theodore Henry top priority is being given to strength, speed, agility and fitness training.
“The time leading up to the Barbados game is short so we try to blend some conditioning work with the speed, strength and agility training” said Henry yesterday.
“We are really locked in and focused and working on many things like the tactical aspect of the game at the same time because like I said the time is short”.
Henry continued “Today we worked a lot on general scrimmaging, checking on body positioning and defensive alignment to get persons to understand their role on defence since we are smaller than our opposition so will really need to be locked in defensively against Barbados”.
“It is our first week practicing as a national squad and we have a lot of young talent incorporated in the programme so we still have a lot of work to do before the game but the guys are high in spirit and are looking forward to the challenge”.
Training days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Newly elected president of the GRFU, Peter Green, addressed the players last Saturday intimating that his mission is to push rugby back into the spotlight and as such players have to use their skills and knowledge to play the game and the coaches and team members must function as a unit and communicate with each other as well.
The shortlisted players are: Cyon Kitt, Delroy Gordon, Rondell Mc Arthur, Dwayne Schroeder, Kevon David, Rickford Cummings, Daniel Anderson, Clive Prowell, Ryan Gonsalves, Christopher Singh, Breon Walks, Jaryl Moore, Claudius Butts, Rodwell Hutson, Lance Adonis, Jamal Angus, Kevin Joseph, Ato Talbot, Troyton Braithwaite, Osei McKenzie, Claude Alexander, Marvin Stephens, Allien Crawford, Keifer Lopes, Walter George, Jaryl Archibald, Terrence Daniels, Ryan Dey, Jason Tyrell, Akeem Fraser, Peabo Hamilton, Troy Bascome, Elwin Chase, Godfrey Broomes, Carl Lewis, Leon Greaves, Troy Arjoon, Jason Ridley, Grantley Williams, Blaise Bailey, Andrew Jarvis, Avery Corbin, Peter Bistol, Kenroy Evening, Marvin Lawrence, Orin Williams and Clinton Mars.
Following tomorrow’s trial game the squad will be trimmed to 35 players.
