Rugby U19 team off to contest RAN c/ships

The national U-19 rugby team is scheduled to depart this morning for Miami, Florida where they will contest the Rugby America’s North (RAN) Championship from July 9-16.

According to manager, Col. John Lewis, the contingent will assemble at Olympic House from 07:30hrs before departing from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 11:30hrs on Suriname Airways.

Troy Yhip
Troy Yhip

Lewis also told this publication that “barring a miracle” the two key players who were denied visas by the US Embassy will have to remain home.

Coach of the teen ruggers, Troy Yhip, stated that he is still confident in his charges ability to compete during the U-19 tourney.

Yhip opined that “We have very good players who are talented and well skilled in the positions that they play and once they play to our game plans, we could overcome the teams that are there.”

Guyana will play in the second tier group which includes, St Lucia, Jamaica and the Bahamas but promotion will put them against the likes of the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda and others.

Action for Team Guyana kicks off on Sunday when they tackle Bahamas. The players and the coaching staff will return to the field on Tuesday to play Jamaica at 14:00hrs.

Their third game will be against St. Lucia on July 15 from 13:00hrs. (Emmerson Campbell)