Source: www.ttrfu.com
Defending Caribbean 15 a side rugby champions Trinidad and Tobago have added Joseph Quashie to the T&T national men's rugby team that will clash with arch rivals Guyana on Saturday at the St Mary's(CIC) College grounds in Port.of. Spain,Trinidad. The Calypso Warriors defeated Barbados 17-10 last week in Barbados.
Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) chairman of the selectors Curtis Nero said that the uncapped Quashie was originally selected in the team for Barbados but could not travel . The University of Trinidad and Tobago(UTT) third year student is however available for the Guyana game and has been included in a 23 man T&T team that will go into camp at a location in Port.of. Spain from Friday afternoon.
Both Guyana and T&T are in a must situation .A T&T victory will see the defending champions qualifying for the championship final which will be played against the winner of the North Zone- either Bermuda,Mexico or Cayman Islands. Guyana on the other hand need the win to keep their chances of dethroning T&T alive. Guyana still have to play Barbados.
Guyana although ranked second to T&T in the current Caribbean 15s rugby ranking. Have the edge on recent form albeit in the sevens rugby format.
Guyana are the five time sevens rugby champions and CAC games gold medal winner. This year Guyana played in the Las Vegas leg of the International Rugby Board(IRB) World sevens series. Last year they were the Caribbean representative at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
TTRFU chairman of selectors Curtis Nero said he is expecting a rugby war on Saturday as there is a lot at stake for both teams.
" Guyana are a tough team to beat. the nucleus of their sevens squad also make up their 15s squad. They are very fit,strong and fast. Historically the two nations have had a keen rugby rivalry going back to the 1920s, and the MacGregor Cup. Our matches with Guyana are always tense,hard and physical high tempo encounters. Our youthful squad will receive a mental and physical examination on Saturday. But I am confident the players are ready for battle" said Nero.
The T&T team was announced following a training session at the CIC grounds yesterday.
Forwards:Samuel Roberts (Caribs), Jason Joseph (Police), John Hill (Harvard) Rowell Gordon (Harvard) Andrew Welch Jnr (Royalians) Miguel Lara (Caribs) Jamal Clark (Caribs) Andrew Crooks(Trinidad Northern) Peter Bacchus ( Caribs) Jesse Richards UWI),Graeme Alkins (Caribs) Gordon Dalgliesh ( Trinidad Northern) Adam Frederick- captain- ( Trinidad Northern) Wayne Kelly(Harvard/UTT)
Backs: Jonathan O'Connor ( Trinidad Northern) Justin McLean ( Trinidad Northern) Carlton Felix( Royalians/UTT) Aasan Lewis (Harvard/ Esher ) Kelson Figaro (Royalians) Don Rojas (Caribs) , James Phillip (Royalians) Kendall Mootoo (Caribs) Joseph Quashie( Harvard/UTT)
Team Manager-Curtis Nero
Head Coach-Larry Mendez
Asst Coach-Dale Trotman
Physio- Rajesh Dharrie- Maharaj
Technical Director Murray Roulston( New Zealand)
Referee- George Nicholson(Barbados)
Match- Saturday 28 May 2011- CIC College Grounds Port.of. Spain
Kick off 4pm.