‘Failure is not an option’

“You are going on a mission, not a vacation, the mission is to win the Southern Championship for the third time and failure is not an option”.

Words mentioned by president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Peter Green to  the national 15s rugby squad yesterday at the National Park ahead of their championship game against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday.

The ruggers winged out to the Twin Island Republic this morning on a quest to retain the NACRA senior men’s 15s Southern Championship as well as to book a place in the final versus Northern champions, USA South for the overall title.

National Rugby captain, Ryan Gonsalves passes the ball to Delroy Gordon during the team’s final practice session yesterday at the National Park before winging out to Trinidad and Tobago this morning. (Orlando Charles photo)
National Rugby captain, Ryan Gonsalves passes the ball to Delroy Gordon during the team’s final practice session yesterday at the National Park before winging out to Trinidad and Tobago this morning. (Orlando Charles photo)

“You players are playing rugby for you and your country, be ambassadors for Guyana and make this nation proud again, let us go over there and win, just win”! Green exclaimed.

Saturday’s game will be played at the University of West Indies (UWI) ground in St. Augustine.
Kick off time is 15:30 hrs.

Meanwhile national Coach, Theodore Henry told this publication that his charges are in championship mode and are focused on the task at hand.

“Besides the recent inclement weather there was nothing to complain about” Henry stated. “The guys are mentally and physically ready and the entire team is healthy.  They seem up to the task and we are in a better frame of mind than when we faced Barbados”.

In the game against the burly Bajans at the Providence National Stadium on May18, the national team clawed their way back from a nil-17 half time deficit and pulled out a stunning 19-17 win.
So what is the mindset of the national ruggers?

Caption  Pep Talk! President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Peter Green speaking to the national team yesterday ahead of their NACRA 15s senior men’s championship away game against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday  (Orlando Charles photo)
Caption Pep Talk! President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Peter Green speaking to the national team yesterday ahead of their NACRA 15s senior men’s championship away game against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday (Orlando Charles photo)

“The team’s confidence level is high and we are confident of a victory, it is just a matter of us executing our game plan” Henry added.
Guyana’s squad includes Ryan Gonsalves (captain), Christopher Singh, Claudius Butts, Kevon David, Elwin Chase, Delroy Gordon, Rondell Mc Arthur, Dwayne Schroeder, Rickford Cummings, Avery Corbin, Peabo Hamilton, Carl Lewis, Richard Staglon, Ronald Meyers, Jacques Archibald, Jason Tyrell, Cloyd Prowell, Dillon Downer, Lancelot Adonis, Grantley Williams, Akeem Fraser, Leon Greaves, Terrence Daniels and Breon Walks.