The top brass of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and the Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., held fruitful talks Tuesday for the advancement and resuscitation of the discipline.
During the meeting which was held at the National Resource Centre, the minister listed rugby as a ‘core sport’ and said that as a result, it will be a priority to garner assistance, including funding.
According to a release, the union’s president, Ryan Dey, informed the minister of the current state of the rugby field in the National Park and requested that it be properly fitted to accommodate the sport once again.
The ground was earmarked for rehabilitation by the former Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, but was neglected after heaps of mud were dumped on the ground in 2016.
Ramson Jr., promised to conduct a site visit with the aim of reforming the rugby pitch. He also requested a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) be signed between the GRFU and the National Parks Commission for the use of the ground.
Dey also underscored the intention of the union to decentralize rugby from Georgetown, stating that plans are in the pipeline to establish clubs in Linden and Berbice.
The minister reminded of the construction of the multi-purpose complex in Linden, stating that it “may be of use” to the GRFU.
He posited that there should be a nursery for every sport association/union in the country. Dey then pointed out that there is a current system of youth training in rugby, but revealed that funding hinders exponential expansion.
The minister assured the union that his ministry intends to forge a partnership to elevate the core sport in Guyana. To this end, he urged for there to be a “national tournament” to showcase the sport.
Along with Dey, the GRFU team comprised, Senior Vice President, Joshua Griffith; Secretary, Terrence Grant; Sevens Coach, Theodore Henry and Female Coach, Kenneth Grant-Stuart.
