`Preparations are going very well’ – Nascimento
After five days of British hospitality, the national rugby Sevens team departed England yesterday for India where they will be representing Guyana in rugby Sevens at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from October 3-14.
The national Sevens team arrived in England on September 24 to continue their preparation for the rugby Sevens events at the Commonwealth Games scheduled for October 11 and 12 at Delhi University Sports Complex. In addition to their training regimen, while in England the team participated in trial games and a rugby Sevens tournament, which was organized by their host Loughborough University and the BOOST (Building On Overlooked Sporting Talent) Coaching Academy. Team manager Kit Nascimento who is with the team expressed satisfaction with their preparation when contacted by Stabroek Sport via email: “The preparations are going very well.”In addition Nascimento said that on September 26 the national Sevens team came up against three select teams from Loughborough University in a tournament held to aid their preparation. Loughborough’s teams could not contain the Caribbean’s best as the national team ran through all three teams by convincing margins of 43-0, 31-14 and 24-7 to come out on top of the tournament.The national team was invited by the Leicester Tigers Rugby Club, one of the oldest rugby clubs in England, to witness a development game between the Leicester Tigers Club and Leeds Rugby Club.“The team was a guest of the Leicester Tigers, one of England’s Premier Clubs on Monday and was introduced at half time on centre field amid cheers and applause to the large crowd at the Tigers’ game against Leeds Rugby Club,” Nascimento related via email.
“This will be seen worldwide in the rugby world giving Guyana much positive publicity,” Nascimento further noted.
The team moved their practice to Guildford on Tuesday where they competed in three trial games against the Guildford Rugby Club. After the impressive display at the tournament, observing English rugby clubs compete and contesting the trial games, the team spent the remainder of the days practicing at the Loughborough University.
In closing Nascimento also pointed out that the team is “not concerned” about the recent issues surrounding the Commonwealth Games Village. “We are not concerned over the media reports on the games. We are confident that the games will be held successfully and look forward to being part of the Guyana delegation representing Guyana and the Caribbean at the Rugby Sevens,” the email read.
