Source: www.guardian.co.tt
Trinidad and Tobago, the defending NACRA Caribbean 15-a-side rugby champs, will play Barbados on May 21 at the Garrison Savannah in Bridgetown. This was announced on the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Web site www.nacrugby.com. The NACRA fixture list indicates that the Calypso Warriors, which the T&T team is called, will face arch-rivals Guyana in Port-of-Spain on May 28, a week after its clash with Barbados. It is a tough schedule that will test the physical and mental fitness preparedness of the T&T players. T&T is the number one ranked nation in the Caribbean region in the 15-a-side format of the game. Guyana holds the number two ranking. Newly appointed national senior rugby team coach Larry Mendez and his assistant Dale Trotman, along with the experienced team manager Curtis Nero, have the task of ensuring that the T&T is well prepared for the two crucial games.
On 30 April, at the AO Shirley ground in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Barbados defeated hosts BVI 19–13 to advance to the second round of the South Zone competition and match ups with T&T and Guyana. Barbados won the Caribbean title in 2005. The winner of the South Zone will play the North Zone winner. Bermuda are the heavy favourites to not only win the North Zone, but also to defeat the South Zone winners and lift the NACRA title this year. The T&T squad trains on Mondays , Wednesdays and Saturdays from 5 pm at the Queens Park Savannah. The players also train with their respective club teams on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
T&T Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro is not concerned about the dates of the game.
“While we (TTRFU) wanted to arrange practice games and friendlies against top club teams from the UK, USA and Canada and a game or two against a South American opponent the fact that this did not happen is not an excuse. “The players are expected to appreciate the responsibility that goes with representing your country. If everyone associated with the T&T team focus on doing their best and on what they can control I have no doubt we will successfully defend our title,” said Figaro.