THE Guyana Lottery Company (GLC) yesterday affirmed its alliance with Guyana’s National Women’s 7s rugby team who are currently preparing for the NACRA Championship and Olympic Qualifiers at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina USA on June 13-14

Formerly known for their no-nonsense approach and toughness on the pitch, Guyana had the best 7s Rugby team in the region. Winning the 2008, 2009 and 2010 North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 7s Championship was a tale of a team with immense potential but, for reasons unknown, the Guyanese women vanished from the international scene.
Sporadic sighting of the females at various men’s matches sparked conversations of what would have happened if they (women’s team) had stayed on course, while some would argue that the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) had failed them.
But, behind president Peter Green, the women’s sevens team were given another chance to reclaim their place at the top of the rugby food chain as they now prepare for the NACRA Women’s Championship in June which also serves as qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
At a simple but significant handing-over ceremony yesterday at the GLC’s Lamaha Street head office, Managing Director Tracy Lewis said that it was a pleasure to assist the female team in their quest not only to go to the top of NACRA, but also to become the first team sport in Guyana to qualify for the Olympics.
Should Guyana’s women come out victorious at the NACRA 7s championships or place second or third, they then qualify for a playoff against similarly placed teams from the other Regional associations early in 2016.
Canada and USA are the main threats to Guyana’s success, but with the current placing of both teams on the world circuit there is a very good possibility that they may pre-qualify without having to participate at NACRA in June.
According to the GRFU, a cost of US$43 000 will be needed to send the women to the tournament.
The players in training are: Carren Carter, Tricia Munroe, La Toya Hamilton Cordis, Collette Hope, Nicole Nero, Natasha Andrews, Alicia Fortune, Shennel Daniels, Alicia Mentore, Carren Skeete, Sabola Gray, Andrea Lashley, Grace Jarvis, Princesa Wilkie, Vionette Profitt, Cloetta Dublin, Theresa Torres and Cindy Fraser.