The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) is seeking government’s support to help decentralize the sport and implement its Junior Development Programme.
Noel Adonis, president of the GRFU, told Stabroek Sport that the GRFU had had preliminary discussions with Minister of Culture Youth, Sport and Culture, Dr. Frank Anthony, on plans to take rugby to the rural communities.
“We were on the same wave-length on how to move the sport out of Georgetown but we now have to work out the logistics and emoluments. We have very limited financial resources so we will be looking forward for the ministry’s assistance,” Adonis disclosed.
According to Adonis, the Junior Development drive was more vibrant now than it was last year and he said the GRFU would be looking to expand the programme in 2008.
Adonis said the local rugby body needed to increase the number of Development Officers to send to different locations around the country to push the decentralization programme.
He said the GRFU had made similar attempts in the past but the programme had folded due to lack of funds which was why, he said, it was important to receive assistance from the Ministry of Sport to sustain the programme.
“We need people living and working in those areas and in that way they can develop clubs,” he added.
There are three active clubs at present, Yamaha Caribs, Hornets and the Guyana Defence Force and, according to Adonis, all three clubs were making moves to increase their membership.
The GRFU is currently working with 15 schools in Georgetown and the numbers are expected to increase in the new year.
Dolphin Secondary school has been dominant in schools competition over the past two years. They won their second successive tournament last month in the tournament sponsored by the visiting Caribbean Cougars Club of the United States and held in the National Park.
Adonis said the schools tournament was run off in the Under-14 division but for 2008 there will be matches at Under-16 and Under-18 categories as well.
The GRFU has embarked on a four-year programme which would see the organization acquiring its own ground and administrative office while it plans to host several major regional tournaments.
The GRFU will also be sending teams to World qualification competitions at the senior and junior levels.
The Guyana men’s team will be looking to secure a place in the World Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai in 2009 following participation at the NAWIRA (North American and West Indies Association) Sevens tournament in the Bahamas next year.
The local team has won the tournament for the past two years.
In addition, the seniors will also compete in the World Cup 15s qualifying tournament in the Cayman Islands while the juniors are set to take part in the World Under-20 qualifiers in July next year at a venue to be finalized.
Adonis said it was important for Guyana to attend these tournaments since credits were awarded to competing teams and once there was an improvement in the teams, the GFRU would be in a position to attract developmental grants.
