GRFU gets green light for tag rugby
-Ramkaran is new Cricket Ombudsman
Competitive rugby will make its return Saturday after almost a year of inactivity due to the pandemic.
The sport’s return was confirmed by President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Ryan Dey yesterday.
Dey told this publication that the union had written to the Task Force on Monday and anticipated a ‘favourable’ response based on the nature of the tournament.
The GRFU head received a phone call from a member of the Task Force yesterday detailing the conditional permission granted to host the tag rugby tournament.
“I knew it would be a favourable response given the nature of tag rugby, so now it is just to get the official response in writing,” said Dey.
He explained that “It’s a no contact form of rugby where instead of tackling you grab the tag ribbon which is placed on the waist of each player. That’s the main reason for choosing this form of rugby.”
Dey disclosed that the National Park is the venue earmarked to play host to the all-age, mixed gender competition which is scheduled to kick off from 10:00am.
“I am sure the players are also anticipating playing competitions again.”
Rugby is one of the ‘core sports’ of the Ministry of Sport and arguably the most successful local team sport besides cricket.
Having rugby back, albeit tag rugby is the next step in getting the game up and running again and Dey
is pleased for everyone involved in the community game, which has gone through a very tough time.
Last October, sporting activities were given the green light to return in a safe manner and the ruggers can now begin to get excited about potentially having rugby back in their lives.
Action at the Lusignan Golf Course will tee off tomorrow from 09.00 hours with the AgroServices and Amazon Planx golf tournament.
Golfers from around the country will be looking to secure one of the top prizes in the medal play format which will see each stroke recorded and the person with the lowest strokes winning.
Some 40 players are expected to compete with prizes being awarded for the best net, best gross, longest drive and nearest to pin.
Some of the golfers expected are Max Persaud, Patanjalee “Pur” Persaud, Avinash Persaud, Troy Cadogan, Ravi Persaud, Brain Hackett and veteran Maurice Solomon.
Chief Executive Officer of Amazon Planx, Amit Persaud noted that “they are fulfilling their corporate responsibility. Hence, they are pleased to be associated with the development of the game of golf.”
President of the Lusignan Golf Club Patanjalee Persaud said that he was grateful to the sponsors noting that all COVID measures will be in place. Special Surprise Hampers and prizes will be given out at tomorrow’s tournament according to tournament sponsors (AgroServices, Amazon Planx).
Corporate Liaison of AgroServices Renuka Singh told those in attendance at the launch, “We are thankful to the Lusignan Golf club for having us being a part of the tournament. On behalf of our AgroServices team we would like to thank and acknowledge all of the outstanding organizers, other sponsors and competitors of the upcoming tournament. We are extremely excited to be a part of what we know will be a fierce competition. For those who may not who we are and what we do, AgroServices is one of Guyana’s leading quality suppliers of bulk whole and processed fresh fruits and vegetables. Recently acknowledged by the GMSA for emerging entrepreneurship with a product of a consistent quality. We also specialize in a number of additional agricultural development specializations. Our name essentially translates to “agricultural growth services. This is tied to our commitment to quality and improved service for all of our clients, customers and partners. We thank you once more to for having our tournament and would like to pledge our continued support for this and upcoming tournaments,” she said.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr., yesterday issued a statement via Facebook declaring Friday and the date for elections of the Guyana Cricket Board and Attorney-at-Law Kamal Ramkarran as the new Cricket Ombudsman.
Ramson Jr., said that this stems from consultations with Cricket West Indies pursuant to the requirements of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act and on the heels of the Demerara Cricket Board elections also held yesterday.
Ramkarran, who has served as president of the Bar Association of Guyana in the past replaces Stephen Lewis, who had been appointed by then Minister with Responsibility for Sport, George Norton.
Lewis’s appointment had been challenged in court. The move has already received praises from President of the Berbice Cricket Board, Hilbert Foster and President of the DCB, Bissondyal Singh.
When contacted, Foster said he welcomes the elections “and hopefully all voices in Guyana can be heard at the highest level of cricket in Guyana.”
Singh, like Foster, commended Ramson Jr., and the Government of Guyana for “pursuing the issue in a timely manner.”
Singh said that now there can be properly constituted elections and the Cricket Ombudsman now leads the way to transparency.