For the first time since 2019, the Guyana National Rugby team, fondly called the “Green Machine”, will suit up for action today when they face Trinidad and Tobago’s national side in the first leg of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s Championship.
The game, which will kick-off at 4 pm, is slated for the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago with the return leg to be hosted in Guyana at a time and date to be announced.
Incidentally, Jamal Angus who was named skipper of the Green Machine in 2019, will retain his post with USA-based player Vallon Adams as his deputy. Included in the 24-member squad also is the experienced Rondel McArthur, Godfrey Broomes and three other USA-based players in Matthew Talbot, Godfrey Pollydore and Kevin Braithwaite while Adam Yhip who is based in Canada has also received a call-up.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport ahead of today’s clash, President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Ryan Dey, expressed confidence in the selected squad. He said; “This is one of the best teams we could have sent to represent our 83000 square miles, we have a mixture of experience and youth in this team”.
Speaking to the large number of players selected for today’s match, Dey noted; “For the first time in history we have a bigger pack than Trinidad and this is something that has never happened. Our chances of winning this game are very high and I do expect great things from this squad”.
The Guyanese squad was selected after a series of practice sessions and games at the rugby field in the National Park. Guyana has won the RAN 15s Championship twice, most recently in 2014 when they defeated USA South in the final.
The RAN 15s Championship is the premier competition for Tier 3 members of Rugby Americas North.
The full squad reads:
Osbert Robertson – GDF
Owen Adonis – Police Falcons
Rondel McArthur – Panthers
Makayah Smith – Panthers
Kelvin Grant – GDF
Shawn David – Police Falcons
James Osborne – Police Falcons
Jamal Angus (C) – Panthers
Lionel Holder – Police Falcons
Godfrey Broomes – Panthers
David Garrett – GDF
Elisha Crawford – CARIBS
Michael Barrow – Police Falcons
Lancelot Adonis – Panthers
Scott Garraway – Police Falcons
Daniel Anderson – Panthers
Odidia Douglas – Police Falcons
Sean Phillips – GDF
David Waldron – GDF
Vallon Adams (USA)
Matthew Talbot (USA)
Adam Yhip (Canada)
Godfrey Pollidore (USA)
Kevin Braithwaite (USA)
