Competitive Sevens club rugby returns to the National Park today with the staging of the Flavor’s Fish shop Creole Food and Food Bar tournament.
The one-day tournament which will see both male and female participation is scheduled to kick off at 1pm.
The Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) men’s outfit are the favourites having won all of the tournaments played to date this year at the National Park defeating rising young stars the UG Wolves in the Banks 7’s and the mighty Hornets in the Caribs anniversary 7’s finals respectively.
During intervals, there will be special prizes for spectators who can kick the ball over the goal posts. There will also be medals and trophies for the winning teams.
The soldiers consider today’s tournament as another opportunity to demonstrate their superior firepower prior to the hosting of their own 48th Anniversary rugby sevens tournament next Wednesday at Camp Ayanganna ground where rugby will be making a historic comeback. Under-19 players coached by Youth Development Officer, Troy Yhip are also expected to be on show as they continue to hone their skills in anticipation of the upcoming 2014 U/19 NACRA Tournament in Miami, United States of America next July.
In an effort to leave no stone unturned with respect to regaining regional supremacy in 2014 the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) will also be sending the national women’s team to the Tobago 7’s in December where they are expected to clash with teams from Scotland, the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.
Moreso they will be coming up against the top six teams from the recent North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 7’S tournament with a chance to exact revenge and prove themselves as the true holders of the crown. The GDF men’s team will be making their maiden trip to the Tobago sevens as well.
Meanwhile, the men’s national team continues to hone their skills in anticipation of competing at the prestigious Las Vegas World Sevens Championships in January next year (funds permitting) which will give them the opportunity to improve their World ranking (the best amongst the Caribbean Nations) despite being omitted from the recent NACRA tournament through a technicality. The additional goal of the team will be to prepare for the 2014 NACRA Sevens tourney tentatively fixed for Mexico which will be the qualifier for the Pan American Games in 2015 and a precursor to the RIO 2016 Olympics. They are also aiming at recapturing their 15s title with the first game scheduled for May 17 next year against Barbados in The Land of the Flying Fish. On May 31 the will play against Trinidad at home and on June 28th against the winner of the North Zone most likely the USA South in Miami.
