GUYANA’S men and women 7s teams have ‘scrummed-off’ preparation for the Rugby Americas North 7s Tournament slated for the Larry Gomes Stadium, Trinidad and Tobago in November.
President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union Ryan Gonsalves said they have begun work with both the male and female teams as they seek to have them deliver on the tremendous potential of the teams.
Gonsalves, a former skipper of the national rugby squad turned administrator, says the goal at the moment is to get the team in 7s mode and fit with about two months to go before competition.
He said the women are making steady improvement since relaunching their programme in 2025.
“We are happy with the performance we had from them last year. Being absent for years, they really had a good tournament, to our point of view. They could have easily brought third, but unfortunately, they didn’t reach over the line, but it was a good experience for at least 70 percent of young players’ first playing rugby.”
He said the men’s side has shown they have the ability to do well but have struggled to put together a complete performance.
‘We are happy with their performance; we have a top 7s team. It’s just about getting into winning habits, fitness, and ball handling. In terms of the team’s ability to win and to win the tournament, it is there; it’s just they haven’t crossed that hurdle yet, so we are hoping with good preparation, we are looking to win RAN this year’
He says they recognise the inexperience of the men’s unit and are working to bridge the learning curve.
‘Once they keep playing together and working together, it will be difficult, and no game is easy, but as a unit, as a young team with some core players who have been there for some time now, we are expecting top performance.’
The women’s team is being coached by Elwin Chase, while the men’s team is being guided by a cadre of coaches led by Claudius Butts, Ryan Hinckson, and Theodore Henry, with support from Ryan Gonsalves.
The men’s and women’s teams at the RAN 7s finished outside the top three positions.
