… needs $$$ for 2010 international  engagements
THE Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) is in the red and urgently needs sponsorship for its international engagements.
Addressing members of the media yesterday at Olympic House, newly elected president of the Union, Christopher `Kit’ Nascimento, who also heads the North American West Indies Rugby Association informed that Guyana’s ruggers are expected to participate in a number of international tournaments this year, but the GRFU is in the red as far as finance is concerned.
Nascimento pointed out that Guyana has qualified to represent the Caribbean and North American Regions at the upcoming Commonwealth Games which is set for Delhi (India) in November, but for Guyana to effectively participate in the Games, the Union needs to acquire approximately US$60-65 000.
“We have a team that can win games and even qualify for the quarter- and semi-finals. The challenge is to get there, so we’ll be turning to the Guyana Olympic Association and the Guyana Government for assistance,” Nascimento stated, adding “Guyana’s rugby team is the only one that has qualified to represent Guyana at the Games, and probably the only one to represent the Caribbean.”
The North America and West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) president said the estimated cost to participate in the Commonwealth Games includes two warm-up matches against advanced level teams from the United Kingdom.
He also stated that the GRFU is exploring the possibility of being involved in a joint training camp with Rugby USA and Rugby Canada.
Nascimento said Guyana’s participation in the recently concluded International Rugby Board’s (IRB) World Sevens Championship, which was staged in Los Vegas, was realised at a great cost and it was corporate Guyana and the IRB that made the local ruggers’ participation possible.
He reminded that the Guyanese team held the IRB #4-rated France to a draw, but lost their other four games.
France, he said, is a founder member of the IRB and for a team from this part of the hemisphere to record such a feat is a great achievement.
Guyana, he said, has three clubs as against France which has 1 274 clubs.
Guyana lost against Australia, who are rated number three in the world, as well as world champions New Zealand, number eight-rated Scotland and number 12-rated US.
Nascimento said for Guyana to participate in that tournament, the Union had to spend approximately US$35 000 since they went to Mexico and the US for warm-up matches.
“Corporate Guyana and some other smaller institutions rallied to our cost and the IRB’s subsidy carried us the rest of the way. The government did not support us last year, but we are hoping they will support us this year,” Nascimento disclosed.
The GRFU boss said he would be meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday to discuss what assistance the Union can get from the government to ensure Guyana’s participation in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games as well as others tournaments that the GRFU would be involved in this year.
Guyana will be hosting the Central American and Caribbean Rugby Championship at the Guyana National Stadium from July 24 to 31.
According to Nascimento, the GOA would be assisting with the cost of hosting this event and the government has committed itself to be a partner.
He said an organising committee has already been identified by the GOA and that committee has already started working.
The former racing driver said apart from those two championships, the GRFU would have to find funding for its Under-19 Boys’ and Women’s 15s teams to participate in the Caribbean championships which are scheduled for the Bahamas and assistance is expected from the IRB, but more funds would be needed for Guyana’s participation to become a reality. “So it’s a huge year ahead of us and Guyana enters it swimming in the red.”