THE Guyana National Men’s Rugby team tackle Barbados today in round two of the South Zone in the NACRA Senior Men’s 15s Caribbean Championships at the National Stadium from 16:00hrs. Guyana, the South Zone defending champions will be looking to keep their hopes alive in their hunt for success against North Zone’s champions, Bermuda, who defeated them for the past two consecutive years. Bermuda have to battle South USA to claim the North Zone title for the third consecutive year.
Yesterday at a simple press briefing held by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), they updated the media about their status going into the event. Director of Sport Neil Kumar was also present and pledged the Government’s unwavering support to the sport.
Kumar said, “We are very confident in our players and I am certain that tomorrow (today) Guyana will beat Barbados. I know for a fact Guyana tied with them in Barbados last year but I know tomorrow a win is on the cards”.
On a separate note, the Director of Sport disclosed that the Government will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Argentina to help Guyana develop Rugby. “Argentina would like to start a rugby training programme in the schools as soon as possible. I think that if we get rugby in our schools and communities the sports is sure to develop in the future.”
Peter Green, president of the GRFU, expressed gratitude on behalf of the union for the support received by the Government and in the process made an appeal to the public and private sectors for their support also.
Meanwhile, the team’s head coach, Theodore Henry, is very optimistic of a victory, revealing that Guyana have their superior speed to work with against the physically larger Barbados counterparts.
He said that the team has done all the work they could have done in the time given and that the fitness level is high.
Guyana’s mental preparation is also a factor working in their favour since, according to Henry; his players have bigger hearts than the opposition.
Guyana team reads: Ryan Gonsalves (captain), Rondel McArthur, Rickrord Cummings, Jason Tyrell, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroder, Dillion Downer, Richard Staglon, Cloyde Prowell, Pebo Hamilton, Breon Walks, Elwin Chase, Claudius Butts, Ronald Mayers, Lancelot Adonis, Delroy Gordon, Jacques Archibald, Kevon David, Grantley Williams, Carl Lewis, Christopher Singh and Akeem Fraser. Coach – Theodore Henry; Manager – Robin Roberts.    
Barbados team reads: Dwight Forde (captain), Neil Forde, Jeren Clarke, Caston Howard, Christian Preece, Antonio Gibbons, Raj Edwards, Stephen Millar, Kevin Murrell, Adon Rogers, Shaun English, Irfan Khan, Marcus Harewood, Nico Blunt, Kevin Carter, Stephen Atwell, Nicholas Jackman, Sean Ward, Ramoun Downes, KevinChobam, Anthony Bynoe and Dario Stoute. Coach – Stuart Copland; Manager – Romeo Mayers
The following appointments have been made by NACRA for the South Zone Round 2 Guyana versus Barbados match: Jason Brewer (Barbados) – Match Commissioner, David Ardrey (USA) – Referee, Anthony Pontifleete (Trinidad and Tobago) – Assistant Referee 1/Replacement Referee, Carlton Heywood (Guyana) – Assistant Referee 2, Shebana Daniels (Guyana) – Fourth Official, Sabola Gray (Guyana) – Fifth Official, Terrence Grant (Guyana) – Coach of Match Officials.
This round of the event has been sponsored by Banks DIH Limited under its brand Malta Supreme. Entrance to the event is free and all supporters are urged to wear green to support Guyana.