By Stephan Sookram

THE Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) is sweating on the United States VISA review of two key players ahead of their departure for the 2016 edition of the Rugby America North Men’s U-19 Championships.During a press briefing yesterday, manager of the team Col. John Lewis contended that those two are integral parts of the unit and their absence would have an obvious effect.
“They are very important to the team. They both play in the pack as wing forwards and second rows and one, particularly, is a very skilled tackler. They are very important for the team,” Lewis said.
When quizzed about a back-up plan, the manager added, “At this point in time, the only contingency plan that we have would be to find a player who already has a U.S. VISA. Having found that, we then have to find a seat on the plane to take him there. Those two problems will be very difficult to overcome if we have to go that route.”
Underlining the importance of the tournament set to run from July 9 to 16 in Miami, Florida, Lewis said, “We are in tier two with three other teams and above us, there is another group that is above us, U-19 tier ones, six teams.
“Once we are successful at our levels and beat the other three, we will be promoted next year to the top tier. It is a step up once we win.”
Currently, Guyana will play in the same Group with St Lucia, Jamaica and the Bahamas but promotion will put them against the likes of the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda among others.
Meanwhile, coach of the unit, Troy Yhip, contended, “Our strength in the team is the back line. Our forwards are coming to scratch with what they have to do but our strength is our tackling ability. We are going to win.”
“We have very good players who are talented and well skilled in the positions that they play and once they play to our game plans, we could overcome the teams that are there,” he said.
Guyana open their account on Sunday July 10 at 16:00hrs when they play the Bahamas before playing on Tuesday at 14:00hrs against Jamaica.
They return on Friday, July 15 to play St Lucia from 13:00hrs.
Apart from Yhip and Lewis, Claudius Butts will act as assistant coach.