BANKS DIH Limited will bring the energy and excitement back to rugby with the Inaugural Guinness VII’s tournament set for tomorrow at National Park’s rugby field. Launched yesterday at the company’s Thirst Park office, the tournament will feature in excess of $300 000 in prizes and will see action in both male and female divisions.
According to Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, the initiative which was in the pipeline since 2016 was birthed following a recent trip to Ireland, the home of Guinness.
He added that “Banks DIH as customary is paving the way to promote the sport and to improve on the spectatorship of the sport. We want to ensure that we grow the sport throughout the length and breadth of Guyana; as a spectator sport and as a national sport also.”

Meanwhile Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) president Peter Green was on hand to thank the sponsors, adding, “It gives rugby more than a chance; it gives rugby the opportunity now to display at a national level.
Competition manager Kenneth Grant- Stuart contended that the tournament is expected to feature the top names in clubs with some overseas players coming in ahead of Sunday’s game.
Secretary Petal Adams said her push for the inclusion of female teams has been realised and Saturday’s tournament will present a chance for other women to see how the game is played.
The male competition will feature five teams in Pepsi Hornets, Yamaha Caribs, Police Falcons, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and a newly-formed club – the Panthers, which features ex-UG students. The winning team will pocket $150 000.
The Falcons have brought in two brothers from Trinidad and Tobago namely, Jeron and Leon Pantor.
On the distaff end, the Pepsi Hornets and Yamaha Caribs will do battle..
In the opening fixture of the evening, the Yamaha Caribs will play GDF while the Pepsi Hornets go toe-to-toe with the Panthers
There will also be novelty events for fans.