Guyana’s best Ruggers will take to the National Park Rugby field today for the annual Banks DIH 7’s tournament from 12:00 hrs, which will have four teams in Pepsi Hornets, Yamaha Caribs, University of Guyana (UG) Wolves and the Guyana Police competing in the event hosted by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU).

With defending champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) out of the tournament owing to injuries to a number of their prominent players, the door is open for a new champ to be crowned and leading up to the competition, both Pepsi Hornets and the UG Wolves were confident of doing such.

President of the GRFU Peter Green says he’s looking forward to today’s event since it will give the union and the selectors a chance to see what the local players have to offer.

Guyana will be heading to Mexico later in the year in an attempt to recapture their NACRA 7’s title and according to Green “the tournament is the best way to train. When we have constant competition, the selectors will be able to weed out the people who are fit from who are not. Remember, it’s actually 12 places and with the overseas players taking up at least seven or eight of those positions, competition for the remaining places will be hard”.

He added “It’s not that I’m going to be bringing in all the overseas players but it’s a fact that if you’re going to represent your country at certain competitions, you will have to get your best players no matter what it costs”.

The tournament is fully sponsored by beverage manufacturing giants Banks DIH and has at stake, one of the most prized trophies in local rugby. (Rawle Toney)