GUYANA’S Under-19 Rugby team will depart this morning for the USA to participate in the 2016 edition of the Rugby America North Men’s U-19 Championships.The players, Raschad Butcher and Ronoldo Griffth were unsuccessful in acquiring a United States Visa and will not join their teammates in the one-week tournament.
Manager of the team, Col. John Lewis confirmed that up to 15:00hrs yesterday, the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) had not received any word as it relates to a review for the said applications.
During a recent press conference, manager Lewis said, “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.”
Apart from Yhip and Lewis, Claudius Butts will act as assistant coach.
The tournament is important for Guyana according to Lewis because, “We are in tier two with three other teams and above us, there is another group 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.
The team depart this morning at 11:30 from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and open their account on Sunday July 10 at 16:00hrs when they play the Bahamas before playing Jamaica on Tuesday at 14:00hrs.
They return on Friday, July 15 to play St Lucia from 13:00hrs.