The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), led by Peter Green, hosted a press conference at the Guyana Olympics Association on Thursday last.
At the press conference, it was revealed that Jamal Angus will lead the National 15s team that will play the defending champions, Cayman Islands on Saturday, February 9, 2019. The Guyana 15s Rugby team will travel to the Cayman Islands
Members of the head table at the rugby press conference
under Coach Grant Stewart to play in the Rugby North Americas (RAN) eliminator match.
The newly-appointed captain, who came through the ranks having played at the Under-19 level, is confident of taking up the leadership role. Angus has over 11 national caps and has shown progress over the years, which saw him gaining selection as captain.
Coach Stewart highlighted that Angus has shown tremendous success and the
National 15s Head Coach Grant Stewart, National 15s Captain Jamal Angus and GRFU President Peter Greene
selection panel saw him as a suitable captain.
Angus explained that he was fully equipped to lead the team to victory, highlighting that he was ready for the challenge. Among the challenges Angus face is the reality that the rugby season in Guyana has been a stop-and-start process; however, this time around, the team have been training on a consistent basis.
In terms of preparation, Head Coach Stewart sees his team as a 95 per cent fit unit and the players are fully aware of the mistakes made previously. The team will be aiming to step-up against the Cayman Islands and have been undergoing various training sessions at the National Park, where Stewart is fine-tuning the players’ role within the team.
The National 15s team will be looking to play a positive brand of rugby when they meet the Cayman Islands in February 2019. Stewart, who was not permitted to list the final 23-man squad, stated that four overseas-based players would join the 23-man squad.
The GRFU President is looking ahead to the match: “The Cayman Islands track that the match is expected to play is not up to standard, and it is a small pitch that will suit most of the players,” Greene explained. However, the Cayman Islands players may be at an advantage with the match playing at home and all of the players being familiar with the conditions. According to Greene, the GRFU has not raised funds and the players would wing out with Caribbean Airlines, but some eight players are expected to overnight in Jamaica owing to financial issues.
Meanwhile, the GRFU is aiming to develop rugby; in the year 2019, the organisation will be hosting beach rugby and numerous youth rugby competitions. The GRFU will be aiming to spread awareness of the game, by hosting competitions outside the capital city, Georgetown.
The names of final 23-man squad will be released in early February; the four overseas players that are expected to join the team in Cayman Islands are Blaze Bailey, Valad Adams, Richard Stagnan, and Ronald Myers. (Brandon Corlette)
