Driving for five!
THEY are sometimes referred to as the ‘All Blacks’ for Sevens Rugby in the Caribbean but to them they are simply the four-time winners of the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) title and with the 2010 version of the championships set to start today, Guyana will be ‘driving for five’ as they seek to win their fifth consecutive title.
The Guyana National Stadium will be the battleground where the home side will come up against seven other Caribbean countries and Mexico over the next two days with an aim of also representing Guyana at next year’s PanAm Games.
It was at the last tournament in Mexico where Guyana defeated Trinidad and Tobago 12-10 to win their fourth Championship and also book a spot at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in India.
The local ruggers’ historical gold medal win in the CAC Sevens Rugby Tournament last Sunday is still fresh in the minds of those who attended the championships and were entertained with some clinical displays of the game and would be hard-pressed to see Guyana’s men replicate that performance.
To make sure the Caribbean title stays at home, the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has released an almost identical side for NACRA Caribbean championships, with Walter George coming in for Elwin Chase.
Regarded as one of the best wingers in the Caribbean, Claudius Butts has once again been named as the captain of the 12-man squad and according to the 25-year-old skipper, Guyana are once again 100% ready to deliver.
Speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Butts who also stands as captain of the West Indies side said that he was happy that they are fielding a healthy side for the championship especially coming off of a rigorous CAC Games.
“I’m happy to say that we have no injuries so we are 100% ready for the championships. I think the team selected is no different than the one last week, and all these guys are just happy and ready to go again.
“After Sunday we did some light training and hydro and so on, and we had some practice session, so it’s just now to go out there and play hard rugby,” Butts said.
Butts and his colleagues were on hand to see the Guyana women retain their championship title. He was asked if that has placed additional pressure for the men’s team to do the same. Team captain said “No”.
“You see the thing is, we’re at home, and are the top-seeded team in the competition and every one is coming here to beat us. We just have to go out there like I said and play to our game plan because we are not under any pressure. They want to win more than we actually,” he noted with a chuckle.
Trinidad and Tobago by virtue of finishing as runners-up in last year’s tournament is seeded atop of their group which has the likes of Bahamas, Mexico, Barbados and the British Virgin Island.
Guyana will be joined by the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and St Lucia.
According to NACRA fixtures released, Guyana will play the third game of the opening day against Jamaica, with their other matches today being against St Lucia and the Cayman Islands.
The Guyana team reads: Claudius Butts (capt), Richard Staglon (vice-capt.), Theodore Henry, Dwayne Schroeder, Rupert Giles, Ronald Mayers, Walter George, Dominic Lespierre, Christopher Singh, Ryan Gonsalves, Dane Parks and Kevin McKenzie.
Troy Bascom, Elwin Chase, Leon Greaves, Avery Corbin, Peabo Hamilton and Ryan Hinckson were named as reserves.