The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has named 47 local rugby prospects to commence training for the NAWIRA 2011 Men's 15's qualifiers, which will be held in The Cayman Islands from April 19- 27.


Once successful in those qualifiers the Guyana side will be eligible for participation in the 2011 Rugby Men's 15's World Cup.


President of the GRFU, Noel Adonis, said that the majority of the players who have been selected to be part of the preparatory session, had been part of the squad selected to attend the Caribbean Rugby Men's 15's in The Cayman Islands last August which was unfortunately cancelled due to the untimely occurence of Hurricane Dean in the region.

Others he said gained selection on the basis of their performance in the 15's competition throughout the year.

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Though his name may not sound intimidating, Claudius Butts' mere presence on the rugby field has been known to send a shiver down the spines of many a rugby football coach and their players throughout the region.


While fellow team-mate and close colleague, Theodore Henry, is viewed as a coach's dream for his versatility, Butts can be considered an opposing coach's nightmare.


In just seven years, this former national sprinter has managed to combine lightning quickness with determination and unmatched aggression.

The result is a deadly offensive weapon even against some of the best defence in the business.
Regional coaches will fear no more Butts' skill as his extraordinary talent will be on their side since he has been appointed captain of the West Indies Rugby Team which will compete in the 2008 Sevens World Series in San Diego, California next month.

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In just seven years, Theodore Henry has managed to become one of the most decorated and travelled local rugby player.


This, he says is as a result of him carrying his 'must win' philosophy each and every time he takes to the rugby playing fields.


Henry was a rookie to the sport in 2000, but it didn't take him very long to make a drastic impact both locally and regionally. At present, he is one of the most well-known faces in rugby in Guyana.
Many rugby players were drawn to the sport because of personal interest or the influence of a family member but not Henry.

As humorous as it may sound, Henry saw the sport as a loophole to elude having to pay gym fees.


He revealed that the owner of the neighbourhood gym had relocated and he needed to stay fit.


One of his close friends informed him that he would not have to pay to use the gym in the National Park if he played rugby.


Henry jumped at the opportunity but did not intend to fulfill the other end of the bargain.

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Guyana bids to host women's regional tournament; wants own ground and club house


The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) will shortly embark on a comprehensive four-year programme which will include bidding to host a major regional women's tournament, acquiring its own ground and administrative office and working towards qualifying for the 2009 World Cup Sevens championships in Dubai.


President of the GRFU, Noel Adonis, in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport, said that 2008 would be a hectic year for local players and officials which will get cracking as early as February when at least five local players named on a West Indies 12-man team travel to San Diego, United States of America (USA) for the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Seven Series.


The five players, Albert La Rose, Claudius Butts, Theodore Henry, Kevin McKenzie and Richard Staglon, were this week named to the regional team following their successful showing at the North American and West Indies Association (NAWIRA) Sevens championships in the Bahamas recently and subsequent trial sessions in Trinidad.


Two Guyanese players Ronald Mayers and Dane Park were also named as reserves. According to Adonis, the local body has submitted a bid to host the regional women's 15-a-side tournament in May 2008 and he noted that it would be a significant step towards the development of women's rugby in Guyana and the wider Caribbean region.

"We have put in a bid to host the regional women's tournament and it will be an achievement not only for rugby but also for women's sport in Guyana in general and a significant in the wider Caribbean region,"

Adonis said.

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Guyana's top rugby referee instructor Terrence Grant, just back from an International Referees Educators Course in Canada, is now on a mission to improve the level of officiating here.


Grant took part in the International Rugby Board ( IRB ) Referees Educators Course for instructors in NAWIRA (North American, West Indies Rugby Association) last week in Toronto. Grant said that he now planned to improve the level of local officials and project that by 2010 at least two male and two female referees would be certified to officiate at NAWIRA level.

"We will be looking to producing top referees like Conrad (Arjoon) who is the only NAWIRA qualified referee in Guyana and by 2010 we will be working towards two males and two females being accredited to the regional refereeing panel,"

Grant said.

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