… Technical Director optimistic of success but makes no predictions
A CONFIDENT Guyana Men’s 7s Rugby team  departed  this morning for the USA all brimming with confidence as they engage the world’s best in Las Vegas, in this year’s International Rugby Board (IRB) USA Sevens World Series at the Sam Boyd Stadium from February 12 to 13. Appointed Technical Director Spencer Robinson, prior to the team’s departure, was very optimistic but made no predictions, stating, “We’re going there to be competitive and to give our best.”
Guyana will open their campaign against current joint World Series leaders England, followed by Argentina and then France to round off their Group stage matches.
Last year, the team sprang one of the tournament’s surprises when they drew 12-12 against the French, after being drawn in what was called the ‘Group of Death’ with eventual overall winners New Zealand and Australia.
However, since the announcement of their placing this year, several of the game’s pundits have declared it ‘easy’ but Spencer begs to differ.
The Canadian coach, who has over two decades of experience under his belt, said that “in rugby there’s nothing like an easy group, especially in 7s. The game is short, only 17 minutes, but when you’re out there (playing) that’s a pretty long time and anything can happen. It all depends on which team wants it more on that day. I know this team has the potential like any world-class team, so we’re going there to display our potential”.

SETBACKS
The team will be without winger Dane Parks, who dislocated his shoulder at the team’s final practice session on Sunday and Robinson is calling it a “major blow” to the already weakened unit.
“Dane has something you can’t coach; which is speed, so the team has lost a major component in our plan because he has what you call breakaway speed,” Robinson said, in a sorrowful tone, adding “but it happened in a funny way because coaches like to know that their players can take a hit since this game is mostly physical, so he got injured in a simple exercise”.
“But this is Rugby,” he continued, “most of the teams participated in the other phase of the world series last weekend, so hopefully they picked up a few injuries as well,” he jokingly stated.
Robinson, also revealed that the team would be without some of its key players – Kevin McKenzie, Albert La Rose and Dwayne Schroder – who are all serving suspensions handed to them by the GRFU for indiscipline during the team’s outing at the Commonwealth Games in India last year and Richard Staglon is currently on a try-out with a top English professional Rugby Club.
The team will be led by captain and coach Theodore Henry, Claudius Butts and Ryan Gonsalves, who Robinson says will have to shoulder most of the responsibilities in the absence of the named players.
Speaking with Chronicle Sport, Robinson noted that the exclusion of the said players should not go unrecognised, given the abundance of talent and experience they all would have brought to the side, but noted it creates space for other players to “step up to the plate”.
“Those guys will be missed, I must say, because they have what exactly we’re looking for – like McKenzie and La Rose’s toughness and speed and great knowledge of the game while Staglon is probably one of our toughest players. Don’t be fooled by his size. So now guys like Theo, and Corbin (Avery) who are very physical will have to do doubly” Spencer said.
“The good thing is that Guyana  are the  underdogs,” Spencer said with a big smile. “But however,” he said “after that performance last year, they will look at us kind of differently. Better yet I think the team has gained tremendous amount of experience and confidence since then, so I think the performance this year will be better – I’m sure.”
Upon arrival in Las Vegas today, the team will begin acclimatising and then will play three warm-up matches prior to the start of the tournament on Saturday.
Players are: Theodore Henry (captain), Claudius Butts, Ryan Gonsalves, Chris Singh, Avery Corbin, Ronald Meyers, Elwin Chase, Walter George, Pebo Hamilton, Rupert Giles and Dominique Lespierre.