Local rugby players are due to undergo four days of rigorous training under the direction of Technical Director and West Indies Captain Joe Whipple as they gear-up for the Caribbean championships in Mexico next month.
Two of the three overseas-based players: England-based Kevin McKenzie and Trinidad and Tobago-based Richard Staglon are due in the country this week to join the squad’s preparation for the games which for the first time, will be used as a qualifying match for the Commonwealth Games set for India in October, 2010.
Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) president Noel Adonis told Stabroek Sport that the third overseas-based player Rupert Giles, may not be able to join the team until it meets Mexico as he is attending school and may not be given time-off. He expects the 12-player team to be selected at month end, two weeks ahead of the games set for November 14 and 15 in Mexico City.
Adonis said too due to the media hype about the team’s past performance and preparation for the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association Sevens Championship its fundraising efforts have netted positive gains. He said the GRFU is close to raising the US$35,000 needed for the team’s travel and accommodation expenses. “We are getting there,” he said, though he declined to give the figure raised so far. He also said government has yet to respond to the request for assistance but “we are still open to contributions.”
According to Adonis the response to the fundraising bar-b-que and the Paul Keens-Douglas show organized by Gems Theatre Productions and the GRFU have been well supported. Also, the raffle that should have been drawn on September 26 will now be drawn on Saturday at 4pm at the National Park. As regard training, Head Coach Laurie Adonis said the players practice regularly to build stamina and mental fitness. Four practice matches were held on Saturday for both the men’s and ladies teams. The head coach said the teams will be expected to play three to four games on the opening day so the aim is to get them accustomed to playing a number of matches in one day. He also said two key players; Claudius Butts and Albert La Rose, are recovering from injuries though he expects both to rejoin the team for training this week. La Rose participated in Saturday’s practice matches.
Additionally, ladies team Coach Alton Agard said their fitness levels are at a BEEP Fitness Test level seven; while team captain Sabola Gray is at level 10. Agard said fitness was key to playing well and he expects that within two weeks the core players will all be at fitness level nine. The ladies championships will comprise five teams which will be played on a round-robin basis.
