GDF Reserve Colonel (Retired) John Percy Lewis was a long-standing servant of rugby in Guyana and the Caribbean, serving as President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and Pepsi Hornets Club, while also contributing to the establishment of the West Indies rugby team.
Since his passing in 2020, the current administration of GRFU has implemented the John Lewis Memorial Sevens tournament, the second edition of which got underway on Saturday afternoon at the National Park, Georgetown.
The two-day tournament in Lewis’s honour will see competition from four clubs, namely the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Falcons, Panthers and the Pepsi Hornets.
Pepsi Hornets President Ryan Gonsalves
Before the action could bully off, current Pepsi Hornets President Ryan Gonsalves spoke fondly of the late Lewis, deeming him a special person.
“From what I can remember, and most of the senior players that are here too, is that John Lewis was a special person in rugby, club-wise, on and off the field, and we’re pretty much sad that he isn’t here today, but we just want to share some good moments that we had with him,” Gonsalves said at the brief opening ceremony for the tournament.
Action at the John Lewis Sevens tournament
He went on to add, “He also is one of the most successful managers for the sevens team, which I was also a part of and you know, what can we say? We can’t answer every question, but we’re happy that today we could open the sevens season with the John Lewis Sevens and we’re so happy.”
When the action finally got underway, the Panthers mauled GDF 41-5 in the opening game, with Godfrey Broomes scoring a hat-trick of tries. A win for the Police Falcons followed, as they eased past a young Pepsi Hornets team 24-12.
The Rugby action continues today, Sunday March 17 in the National Park from 15:00h.
