Former GRFU President Dey highlights roadmap for strengthening rugby

Former Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) President Ryan Dey believes local rugby is positioned for growth but says focused improvements in administration, grassroots systems and long-term planning will be critical to sustaining progress.
They pointed to positive signs within the current administration, noting that “the current administration demonstrates strong potential to build a more effective and unified organisation”, supported by “a team of young, vibrant, and motivated individuals eager to contribute”. He also identified the union’s growing digital footprint as a step forward, explaining that “the union’s social media presence has grown considerably, serving as a valuable tool for engagement and communication.” At the same time, he acknowledged that “the number of financial contributors within the union has seen a significant decline compared to previous years”, highlighting an area requiring attention.

Central to his recommendations is the strengthening of clubs and grassroots structures. They emphasised that development must begin at the foundation, stating, “I have consistently worked to strengthen the clubs, recognising them as the foundation of the sport.” He added that increased focus on youth systems would allow for more efficient national preparation, noting, “Valuable training time is often spent revisiting the basics, which limits the team’s ability to progress at a higher level.”
He also pointed to the role of competition in raising standards, indicating that “increasing the number of local tournaments will be a key step”, as “a more competitive domestic environment will better prepare players, ultimately leading to stronger performances at higher levels of the game.”
On the administrative side, Dey stressed the importance of clear direction, explaining that “long-term planning and a clear strategic vision are essential for sustainable growth in rugby, as they provide direction, consistency, and measurable goals across all levels of the sport.” He advocated for “a clear multi-year development plan” supported by regular monitoring and accountability, alongside “consistent communication and alignment between clubs, coaches, and administrators”.
Among the systems he believes can strengthen trust and performance is a transparent selection process. They noted that “it is essential that personal bias and human emotion are minimised when choosing the best team to represent us”, adding that “by maintaining an objective, merit-based system, the union can build trust among players and stakeholders while ensuring that the strongest possible teams take the field.”
At the grassroots level, he highlighted structured school programmes as a practical model but pointed to human resources as a constraint. “The primary challenge remains the availability of manpower to consistently execute these programmes,” he said, while calling for wider support from the rugby community. They urged former players to contribute, stating, “There is a strong need for former players to give back to the sport by supporting these grassroots and school initiatives,” emphasising that such efforts should be “in the spirit of growing the game, without expectation of personal gain.”
He also addressed the need for broader financial backing, noting that “it is important for corporate Guyana to come on board and play a more active role in supporting the development of rugby.” While commending state support, he added that private sector partnerships are crucial, particularly to support international competition beyond regional tournaments.
Reflecting on challenges during his tenure, Dey acknowledged that unity remains important in a small sporting environment, explaining that “one of the most significant challenges has been internal conflict within a relatively small group”, which can slow progress.
Despite these challenges, Dey maintained that the sport is moving in a positive direction, suggesting that with structured systems, stronger collaboration and sustained investment at all levels, rugby in Guyana can continue to develop both on and off the field.