The national men’s rugby team will be playing St Vincent, Cayman Islands and the host and title holders, Mexico in Group C in the upcoming NACRA 7s Championship. The draw that was released recently, has 12 nations in the men’s event where the teams have been divided into three groups of four.
Pool A includes Trinidad, Jamaica, Curacao and Mexico B while Pool B is made up of Barbados, Bermuda, BVI and St Lucia.
The women’s competition on the other hand has eight teams with two groups of four. Mexico, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahamas comprise Pool A and T&T, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos and St Lucia make up Pool B.
Unfortunately, Guyana’s female ruggers will not compete in this year’s championship.
However, the men’s national team are the six-time (2006-2011) champions of the event and will open their quest for their seventh title against the hosts. They will then play Cayman Islands and St. Vincent with their minds on qualifying in the top eight.
The top eight teams go through to KO competition on Day 2 (Cup / Plate) while the bottom four teams go through to a round robin Bowl competition.
The two-day NACRA 7s will start on December 3.
Once the team is victorious, it paves the way for them to compete at the Hong Kong 7s in March free of cost which will then serve as the perfect warm up for the NACRA Championships in June, a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Winning also ensures that Guyana qualifies for the Pan Am Rugby Championships slated for Canada next July.
The squad wings out in five days with a lot at stake. (Emmerson Campbell)
