The great and the good of Guyanese rugby will be out in force at the country’s National Sports Commission’s annual awards for 2014 on 13 March after the sport topped the voting in five of the six categories it was nominated for.
Leading the way with the Team of the Year award is the men’s national rugby team, who, in 2014, became the first Caribbean country to win both the NACRA 15s and sevens titles in the same year.
The Guyana Rugby Football Union won the Sports Association of the Year award and the Most Improved Association, while Theodore Henry was named Coach of the Year and GRFU President Peter Green clinched the Male Sports Personality of the Year award.
National team captain Ryan Gonsalves was nominated for Sportsman of the Year, but lost out to cricketer Veerasammy Permaul.
Government backing and the support of the Guyana Olympic Association have been key to driving rugby forward, and Green is confident the foundations are firmly in place for sustained success on a number of levels.
“I am certain that rugby will continue to grow as the union has a development blueprint encompassing all playing ages, as well as coaching, referee and administration training and certification with the aid of the world and regional bodies,” he said.“But with national recognition of this magnitude hopefully more sponsors will be encouraged to be a part of an organisation that gives back value.”
Green added: “Rugby Guyana is guided by rugby values practiced the world over, which encompass Integrity, Respect, Solidarity, Passion and Discipline."
The awards ceremony forms part of an exciting month for Guyanese rugby with the defence of their NACRA Championship 15s crown getting underway against Barbados on 7 March – three weeks before the sevens team compete in the 12-team Sevens World Series qualifier at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. The winner will earn core team status for 2015-16 and replace the lowest ranked side at the conclusion of the current series.
With the women’s and under-19s team set for a return to competitive action later this year and Get Into Rugby programmes, beach and schools rugby and coaching and refereeing seminars all taking place amongst many other activities, 2015 is set to be another big year for Guyanese rugby.
