By Floyd Christie
The inclement weather has yet again adversely affected another outdoor sporting event.
This time around, the dark clouds have forced the cancellation of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Seven’s Club league competition.
This was disclosed by president of the GRFU, Christopher `Kit’ Nascimento who spoke to Stabroek Sport via telephone.
The league, which began May 8 at the National Park was scheduled to run for three weeks with matches each Saturday.
After an initial postponement, it eventually began some two weeks behind schedule due to the rains.
The GRFU, however, managed to successfully stage the first day of play which was dominated by the Pepsi Hornets Rugby Club, after an entire day of sunshine.
The Hornets’ dominance was short-lived as a number of postponements followed the opening day and, as the torrential downpours began, the league was forced to come to an end.
Another major reason for the cancellation is the condition of the rugby field in the National Park which is prone to flooding. In a previous interview with Stabroek Sport, Nascimento had, lamented that after it rains…“The condition of the ground is a major handicap.”
The truism of that statement has been revealed by the cancellation. The condition of the rugby field in the National Park remains the same and, as Nascimento previously explained, “The Park is being flooded every week.”
According to Nascimento, the GRFU is currently focusing on preparing the national squads for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games to be held at the National Stadium on July 24 and 25 and the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Championships which follow immediately after the CAC games.
He further stated that four teams are to be shortlisted mid next month by the GRFU for the two upcoming events.
The teams to be shortlisted will be the national men and women’s Seven’s squad, a men’s Under-19 squad and a women’s Under-15 squad.
Also on the GRFU’s calendar prior to the CAC games and NACRA Championships is a junior tournament which will be held at the National Park, subject to weather.
This tournament will be used to get the juniors ready for the competition and weather permitting, this tournament will begin at a date to be announced later.
