Should a book be written about the history of Rugby in Guyana and the Caribbean, certainly, an entire chapter would be based on the passion and commitment of Richard Staglon.
The 32-year-old’s success in all formats of the sport both locally and overseas is not by luck and today Staglon is probably one of the most recognisable and respected rugby player in the Caribbean.
Staglon recently starred for Guyana in their quest to defend their Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s South Zone title. He scored three tries against Barbados in the Green Machine’s 31-26 win in Bridgetown.
“I actually use to do track when I was first introduced to Rugby in 2003 by my friend Travis Eastman, who told me to try out the game. I told him the game was too tough and looked wild, but before you know it, I started playing touch rugby, then full contact and it started getting addictive,” Staglon claimed, as he chronicled his entrance into the game that he said made him into the man he is today.
“The same time I started they were looking for players for the U-18 National team, and coming track, I was fast and I was fit, so it was easy for me to try out for the team, and from then, it was no turning back,” Staglon said, who played as a flanker in the 15s format and a ‘hooker’ in the 7s.
Staglon believes that he owes much of his success in the sport to his mother, calling her his number one fan, stating “especially when I first made the senior team, she would ensure that I don’t miss training, she would be at practice, she would be at every game if she could, so, she was like the biggest rugby fan for me.”.
“But you know, I must say, when I wanted to stop do track complete and play rugby full time, I told my father and he said to me that the decision was on me because he was the one pushing me on the track but he said something I’ll never forget: ‘Be someone that people will talk about and not someone people will have to ask about’.”
“I was doing really well in track and field at the time, I won medals at the CARIFTA Games, I never missed Nationals (Schools Championship), and so my dad just wanted me to be committed to rugby if I’m leaving athletics, because he wanted me to do well. So I started playing rugby and became a fanatic,” said Staglon.
Staglon’s obsession for the game would result to his being one of the new faces for the sport locally at the time, and as he put it, switching from track to rugby was one of the best decisions he has made.
“My biggest accomplishment in the sport would be winning that 15s championship hands down: that’s something I will cherish for the rest of my life!” Staglon exclaimed, speaking profoundly of the joy he felt when Guyana toppled USA (South) 30-27 in 2014 to win their maiden NACRA (now known as Rugby Americas North) 15s title in Atlanta.
“Besides winning that first Sevens title in 2006, that 15s trophy, I remember when Ryan (Gonsalves) was taking that penalty kick, I was on my knees praying for it to go through because if it did, it meant that we won,” Staglon said.
Eight Caribbean 7s title, one 15s title, Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Gold are all listed proudly on Staglon’s curriculum vitae, even though he also played, with success in the professional leagues in England and Canada.
“Rugby is the sport that is played in heaven. Rugby is beyond other sports; the respect, the love … it’s totally different. I could compare because I would’ve played a lot of sports; football, table tennis, basketball, track and field … I could compare,” Staglon noted.
Staglon said the stigma attached to rugby is their heavy use of alcohol and seemingly hooligan-like behaviour on the field, but he explained that it comes with a culture.
The Caribs Rugby Football Club player believes that the sport and the players, really don’t get the respect they deserve in Guyana, but the players are fuelled by their passion and more so love for the game.