– Harvard Rugby Club to arrive today for engagement

 HARVARD Rugby Club will arrive in Guyana today ahead of tomorrow’s showdown at the National Park, in the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU)/Hairoun Beer Sevens tournament.

Claudius Butts, the lone Guyanese on the team, stated that they have been preparing for their trip to Guyana since last year, and as such, will be taking the tournament seriously, but at the same time they are coming to have fun.

Butts, a long-standing member of Guyana’s Sevens and 15s National rugby teams, is one of the most recognisable figures in the sport and he highlighted his excitement of playing against his ‘Green Machine’ teammates.

The winger named Wayne Kelly, Shaquille Dyte, Keston Earl and Nigel Barrington; all national players of Trinidad and Tobago, who will be making the journey with Harvard Rugby Club to compete against Pepsi Hornets, Yamaha Caribs, Guyana Police Falcons, Panthers and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

With $200 000 set as the winners’ purse, this will be the most lucrative rugby tournament ever held in Guyana, and Butts believes the attractive prize money will no doubt bring out the best in the players.

“This is a touring team and the guys have been putting in some work to come to Guyana and put on a good show. They will be taking this very seriously and are coming here to win, but at the same time, we want to have fun, so it will be good for people to really come out and see some good rugby on Saturday,” Butts said.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the GRFU benefited from more corporate support for the event, when ‘FireSide Grill N Chill’ handed over an undisclosed sum.

The entity, located on Garnett Street, Georgetown, known for its tantalising and tasty grill food, noted that when approached, the managers were more than willing to help what they regard as one of the country’s most successful disciplines. This is their first time sponsoring rugby and pointed out that it will not be their last.

Rawle Toney, GRFU vice-president, upon receiving the sponsorship, thanked ‘FireSide Grill N Chill’ for its support, calling it a timely one.

The tournament will ‘scrum off’ at 11:00hrs and the team finishing second will receive $100 000 and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will pocket $20 000.