WITH just one week to go before NACRA Sevens Regional Champions, Guyana, defend their title which they have won for six consecutive years, the team faces tough hurdles that could hamper their performance and team strength. The Twin Elms Rugby Park in Ottawa, Canada will be the venue that stages the event on August 25 and 26 that includes powerhouses USA and Canada along with the regional teams Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
At a  press briefing held yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) made an appeal for both financial and non-financial assistance to ensure the team’s participating in this year’s tournament.
Because of the financial problem, for the first time in five years Kevin McKenzie will not be competing for the Golden Jaguars since the cost of bringing him would totally cripple the GRFU.
NACRA has given a subsidy off US$13 746 to the GRFU to meet their goal of US$23 717 to ensure the male participation. A tougher task would be to take both the male and female team which would take the price just over US$36 000.
The GRFU is currently US$6 800 off the total of getting their male team to the championships.
They also face a visa problem since senior players Richard Staglon and Ronald Mayers have not been confirmed by the Canadian Embassy. Guyana would be in a quite critical position without these three players if what is left does not go their way.
According to Chief of Selectors Mike McCormack, the Regional competition is expected to be tougher this year since West Indian coach Joe Whipple is now coaching the Barbadian side that has been strengthened with foreign based players outside Barbados.
Jamaica will be a team to look out for after their recent exposure in Canada. They’ve met formidable opponents and tighten their game.
The financial problem is more than often is the major issue that makes their participation look uncertain. But what is certain is that with the current situation, the female national side would not be able to participate in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the head coach Theodore Henry disclosed that they have been encountering a huge problem since their playfield is not fit to conduct effective trainings sessions.
As such, the captain Ryan Gonsalves said the team spirit in the camp has been fluctuating from high to low because it is quite depressing to not have a proper training ground.
The union has tried to get venues that would allow the entire field for effective training but were unlucky. However, Gonsalves disclosed that they will just have to utilize what they have and hopefully put their best foot forward when the tournament takes place.
The team reads: Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers, Rupert Giles, Vallon Adams, Dwayne Schroeder, Avery Corbin, Ryan Gonsalves, Rickford Cummings, Peabo Hamilton, Elwin Chase, Blaise Bailey, Albert LaRose and Claudius Butts.
Lance Adonis, Breon Walks, Claude Alexander, Troy Bascom and Rondel McArthur are the reserves while Barrington Brown is the physiotherapist and McCormack is the Manager.