THE Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) will open its 2018 Rugby season on Saturday, April 24, with a sevens tournament, featuring Trinidad and Tobago’s Harvard Rugby Club.

With the event set for the National Park, the Guyana Defence Force, Pepsi Hornets, Yamaha Caribs, Guyana Police Force and Panthers will match skills with the Twin Island Republic’s leading sevens team for a winners’ purse of $200 000.

The team to finish in second place, according to the GRFU, will pocket $100 000 and the player adjudged the most valuable (MVP) will receive $20 000.
The GRFU, in a release, also noted that the day will also see Guyana’s leading female ruggers in action in a playoff for $50 000.

Rawle Toney, vice-president of the GRFU, related that an official launch will be held on Wednesday, where details with regard to sponsorship and other information will be made public.

“This will be the maiden voyage for Harvard Rugby Club to Guyana, and with players like Claudius Butts on their roster, I believe it will be the biggest season opening ever,” Toney said.

According to Toney, local clubs are going all-out to cash in on one of the biggest takings in rugby, and with Australian-based Kevin McKenzie suiting up for Pepsi Hornets fans of the game would not want to miss out on the action.