Punta del Este Sevens tourney…
THE West Indies Rugby Select Team which contested the just concluded Punta del Este Seven-a-Side tournament in Uruguay, failed to reach the final of the Shield (Estimulo) Round of the Punta del Este Seven-A-Side tournament in Uruguay.

According to a release, the West Indian team defeated Carrasco Polo, Uruguay’s Eastern champions to reach the semi-final round, but went down 7-19 to Uruguay’s Clover Paysandu, in the last game of the tournament.

The release stated that the Rugby West Indies Select Team were most impressive in their game against Carrasco Polo with Guyana’s Kevin McKenzie, St Vincent & the Grenadines’ Hollis Green and UK-based Jamaican Luther Burrell, having an outstanding game.

McKenzie who plays professionally in Ireland for Bective Rangers, scored the lone try for West Indies in their semi-final loss to Clover Paysandu.

Pacific team, Samoa, defeated Argentina 34-14 in the Cup final.

The release went on to state that head coach of the Caribbean side, Joe Whipple of Barbados, plans to hold a final trials camp in Trinidad and Tobago in March this year and the camp will include players from the Select Teams that participated in the Punta del Este and Trinidad & Tobago Enthusiasts tournament, prior to selecting a West Indies Team to play in the International Rugby Board’s Sevens World Series Hong Kong tournament from March 27 to 29.

The Rugby West Indies Team is sponsored by Butterfield Bank, Conyers Dill & Pearman, Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company, the Bahamas Rugby Football Union, the Bermuda Rugby Football Union and a number of private individuals.