The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has embarked on a massive rebuilding process for women’s rugby.
The plan is to bring women’s rugby the success their male counterparts, the current NACRA 7s and 15s champions have enjoyed.
Guyana’s national women’s rugby team are three times NACRA 7s champion, winning the championship in consecutive years from 2008. Since then, women’s rugby locally has fallen to the wayside due to lack of funding.
The union is looking to change that in 2015.
According to a release from the GRFU, 31 female ruggers have been shortlisted for a training squad on a quest to capture their fourth title in June on US soil and also to qualify for the Olympics Games next year.
The release stated that the women are not only going for a fourth title but will be striving to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics. If successful at NACRA 7s championships or place second or third they will qualify for a playoff with the similar placed teams from the other Regional associations early in 2016.
Canada and USA are their main threats but with the current placing of both teams on the world circuit there is a very good possibility USA and Canada could pre-qualify without having to take part at NACRA in June. The National team will be sporting a blend of experienced as well as new faces.
The expenses for the women to prepare and contest the tournaments have been budgeted in the neighborhood of $US43, 000.
The GRFU has appointed the following Admin/Technical Team to achieve this objective which leads to 2016 Olympic qualification.
Former national player, Elwyn Chase has been appointed head coach of the team while Robin Roberts will undertake the duties as manager. Colonel (Retired) John Lewis is the Technical Director
The support staff also comprise Fitness Trainer Barry Brown and Physiotherapist Abiola James.
Practice sessions will officially commence at the National Park pitch on Saturday and continue until February 21 when inter-club competition matches will be played.
The training squad which is made up of experienced players and new faces is listed below.
Carren Carter, Tricia Munroe, La Toya Hamilton Cordis Collette, Nicole Nero, Natasha Andrews, Alicia Fortune, Shennel Daniels, Alicia Mentore, Carren Skeete, Sabiola Gray, Andrea Lashley, Grace Jarvis, Princesa Wilkie, Vionette Profitt, Cloetta Dublin, Theresa Torres, Cindy Fraser, Abassie Bobb, Marva Chase, Natoya Norville, Keaisha Erskine, Temika Thornman, Kateyka Jeremiah, Natyor Carbon, Sophia Vanderstoop, Kateja Hall, Delicia Harding, Nicketia Jonas, Fiona Ward and Alana Phillips. (Emmerson Campbell)
