Chairman of the selection committee and Senior Vice President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Colonel John Lewis has named a strong 12-man squad for the all-important NACRA 7s Championship next month in Mexico.
The squad includes the cream of Guyana’s experienced overseas ruggers, returning locals and some fresh faces.
“It has a balance of experienced players, mixed with a couple of significant returning players and the elevation of some exciting youth” was how Lewis who will also act as Manager for the December 3-4 championship described the squad yesterday at the GOA building.
After announcing the squad in the presence of the GRFU’s top brass and the media, Lewis reiterated that “It is the best 12-man squad.”
Captain Ryan Gonsalves who led the squad that lifted the 15s championship after 43 years in June will be tasked with leading his charges once more. This time on a quest to win their seventh 7s trophy.
The formidable squad comprises Trinidad and Tobago-based Claudius Butts, Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers and Peabo Hamilton, U.S.-based, Vallon Adams and Isaiah Allen, Australia-based, Kevin McKenzie and Patrick King, Leon Greaves, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder.
King and Allen will be getting their first caps for the Green Machine.
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.
A lot is at stake but a confident McKenzie stated “We have done it for six years in a row (2006-2011), I don’t see why we can’t do it another year.”
President of the union, Peter Green stated that the players that did not make the final roster should not hang their heads since “the GRFU has an eye on the future.”
“We’ve got half an eye on the future and our succession planning, and have recruited some young guys we hope will grow and develop around our strong core of senior players.”
Guyana’s 12-man NACRA 7s squad which leaves for Mexico on Friday comprises:
Ryan Gonsalves (Captain), Richard Staglon (Vice Captain), Isaiah Allen, Vallon Adams, Kevin McKenzie, Claudius Butts, Ronald Mayers, Peabo Hamilton, Rickford Cummings and Lance Adonis. (Reserves)
Coach Theo Henry
Manager Col. John Lewis
Trainer/Physiotherapist Barry Brown
The contingent’s sojourn is being made possible by the support of the GOA, the Government of Guyana and the private sector. (Emmerson Campbell)
