FOLLOWING Guyana’s ‘Green Machine’ final-round victory over Trinidad and Tobago and defending champions USA South’s win over Cayman Islands and Bermuda respectively, both sides set up an interesting clash in the North American Caribbean Rugby Football Association (NACRA) 15s championships this Saturday in Atlanta.

The ‘Green Machine’ first defeated Barbados 48-19 at the Garrison Park Savannah in Barbados, before T&T recorded a 38-15 victory over the same opponents, setting up the all-important final with their Guyanese counterparts, a match they lost 15-8 at the National Park two Saturdays ago.
Last Saturday, USA South, who had earlier defeated the Cayman Islands, came away with a 34-30 victory over Bermuda, who had also defeated Cayman Islands in their opening round encounter.
Yesterday at a press conference hosted by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) inside the boardroom of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), treasurer Roger Pereira said the Union, which is still in the red is short of G$2M to send the squad to Atlanta.
“As of this morning, the GRFU which is still in the red, received an email from NACRA, who has promised to cover the airfare and part of the accommodation cost for the team to travel to Atlanta, USA to take on the defending champions there,” said Pereira.
Prior to Pereira’s announcement which was done in the presence of the president and vice-president of the GRFU, Peter Greene and Mike McCormack, an anxious Greene said help of corporate Guyana and the Government to get the team to Atlanta, would be needed.
“Following our win over T&T, the confidence of the players is at a high. Their training is intense and Guyana have jumped to number 53 on the International Rugby Board (IRB) rankings and we at the GRFU don’t intend to slow down as there is much more hurdles to cross.
“We intend to approach the major sponsors within corporate Guyana and even hold fundraising exercises, while an approach to President Donald Ramotar for his help is also on the cards, as rugby is on the move here in Guyana,” said Greene.
The burly president took the time to call on President Ramotar for his help, saying, “We saw the Government assisting powerlifting and basketball and I wish them all the best. However, rugby’s track record is tried and proven over the years and can be deemed elite, so we are in need of his help at this time.”
According to McCormack, the GRFU’s 15s team, led by Ryan Gonsalves, has two players in T&T whose visas have to be renewed while another eight on the team have their visas, leaving approximately 13 without documents to travel to Atlanta.
“All expenses for travelling to Atlanta will be taken care of by NACRA, who has asked us to use an airline of their choice.
“We are in a similar position in comparison to 2012, when our 7s team was struggling to get to Bermuda, where eventually we lost those championships and up to a day like today unable to regain it. I don’t wish to see a reoccurrence with this 15s team who is riding high on confidence,” stated McCormack.
Greene believes that the time is right for corporate Guyana and the Government to get on board with the GRFU and its developmental plans which they have in place, adding that accountability dating back to 2011 is available for scrutiny by anyone who wishes to go through their books.
If all goes well between the GRFU and the United States of America Embassy here in Guyana, then the ‘Green Machine’ will be able to keep their appointment with the defending champions USA South this Saturday in Atlanta.
However, if the GRFU is unable to secure visas at an early date for their team members, then they will be making an application to NACRA to have the match shifted to a later date, while at the same time they will be seeking compensation from NACRA for funds spent to acquire visas.
Written By Calvin Roberts