A strategic draft plan dubbed ‘Road to Rio’ will be revised by the executives of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) this weekend and subsequently presented to the Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony next week.
Following Guyana’s below par performances over the past year which included losing their North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Sevens and 15s Southern titles, the plan was drafted by the executives to restructure the sport and return it to the championship winning days.
According to newly elected president of the GRFU, Peter Green, the plan is aimed at giving Guyana its best chance to medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil where rugby will be making its Olympic debut.
Green noted that short term plans encompass the further promotion and development of rugby in schools; decentralizing the sport; fulfilling the commitments by the previous administration and using the International Olympic Committee (IOC) grants to import foreign technical directors and coaches to work in tandem with the local coaches.
Green told Stabroek Sport yesterday that “discussions are ongoing with Argentina and the National Sports Commission (NSC) to fund the cost of importing international coaches with the modern expertise to strengthen our coaches we have here and at the same time fast forward the skill level.”
“We are building for the long term and at the same time we have to try and bridge the gap to get results,” he said.
If Guyana, the former six-time champions regains the NACRA Sevens title in November, the locals will qualify for the Central American and Caribbean, the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
Short term strategic plans will also include starting a league for the female ruggers and raising funds for the under-19 players who will compete in the NACRA 15s tournament in Trinidad next month.
Green further revealed that the lack of finance is the biggest problem the current executives face after it inherited a debt of $1.2M when they were elected in April and they “had to sort out the financial tangle and create a strategic plan which was missing from last year.”
The GRFU head also noted that upon acceptance by the minister, the plan will be given to the media.
After six consecutive years of ruling the NACRA Sevens kingdom, Guyana, the former regional kings of rugby were dethroned by Mexico last year.
Two weeks ago, the then reigning NACRA Southern Caribbean 15s champions were thrashed 20-nil by the Calypso Warriors in Trinidad.
