– Jamaica trounce Mexico 14 – 0 in final to reclaim title

It certainly wasn’t the return to international Rugby coach Theodore Henry envisioned, but the Green Machine will leave Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, with a fifth-place finish at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 7’s championship.

This year’s RAN tournament marks the return of international rugby to the Caribbean for the first time since the COVID-19 global pandemic began in 2020 and acts as a qualifier for next year’s World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.

Jamal Angus captained coach Henry’s team which includes Godfrey Broomes, Osei McKenzie, Rondel McArthur, Lancelot Adonis, Avery Corbin and Peabo Hamilton.

Phibian Joseph, Tyresse Prescod, Oniel Charles, Jonathan Garnett and Lionel Holder are the other players on the team that were tasked with reclaiming the RAN trophy since Guyana surrendered the title to Jamaica in 2017.

Guyana opened the tournament with an impressive 36 – 5 trampling of newcomers Belize but ended day one with a 7 – 15 defeat to Bermuda.

Yesterday, in a clash with nemesis Jamaica, the Green Machine failed to score while giving up 24 points to the ‘Reggae Ruggers’.

In their encounter with the men from the ‘Land of the Flying Fish’, Guyana surrendered 26 – 5.

However, in the team’s final game on the day, the Green Machine stormed to a 43 – 0 win against the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

“I’m a little disappointed as a successful outing at these tournament for us was at least a top four finish,” Coach Henry said.

He added, “however, I’m satisfied with the performance of our debutants who in my opinion is the next generation of Guyana rugby. They proved my confidence in them right and I’m excited to see what the future holds for them. In my honest assessment, Guyana rugby will be a headache for opposition sooner than they think.”

Meanwhile, the men from the ‘Land of Wood and Water’ played undefeated to claim their fourth RAN 7’s title, having won their first in 2005.

In fact, the BVI is the only team to score against Jamaica in this year’s tournament, as the 2017 and 2018 winners edged Mexico 14 – 0 in the finals.