The Guyana Rugby Football Union’s (GRFU) preparations for the upcoming Grenada International Sevens tournament has gone in full swing with the commencement of national trial matches last weekend that saw keen competition by the players.

A total of thirty persons are in training, trying to make the final 13-man squad. They turned up last Saturday at the National Park rugby ground, showcasing scintillating skills, trying to get the attention of newly appointed coach, Claudius Butts.

Some of the better local players in the training squad include Godfrey Broomes, Jamal Angus, Lionel Holder, Owen ‘Subs’ Adonis, Michael Barrow, Shawn ‘Juggernaut’ David, Renaldo Niles, Jonathan Garnett and D’Arcy Durant.

Before actual play, the Union had their squad of senior players undergo a beep test one week earlier to gauge their level of fitness. Butts had noted that he, “Had recorded the average fitness level (of the team) being between 8.1 to 12.2, which was below the required level that we would like to be at the end of the first six weeks; 13.5 to 14.” However, he noted that, “Once the players commit, we will reach that level 13.5 to 14, which is very competitive.”

President of the GRFU, Ryan Dey, posited that, “The tournament (Grenada International Sevens) is a well-run tournament that sees players from the World Sevens Series come to represent country and club and it will be a great opportunity for our young and developing squad to be exposed to this high level of competition, which will definitely sharpen their skills. So, it is important we are at our best.”