The Trinidad and Tobago national men's and women's sevens rugby teams travel to Barbados today for the North American and West Indies Rugby Association (NACRA) 7s rugby championships, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday at Garrison Savannah in Bridgetown.
Adam Frederick will captain the men's team, which also includes four senior team debutants.
James Phillip, Agboola Silverton, David Gokool and Fatima College sixth form student Tariq Cheekes will all be making their debut and chairman of selectors Curtis Nero said those inclusions were part of some tough decisions the T&T Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) selectors had to make.
The other TTRFU selectors are Stacey Cateau, Larry Mendez and Simone Andrews-Nero.
Nero said: "The teams selected for this weekend's NACRA 7s is a continuation of the TTRFU's focus on young players who display the discipline, dedication and desire required at the international level.
"I am encouraged by the fact that some of the established players have responded positively to our demand for greater commitment, discipline and fitness," Nero added.
"We had some tough choices to make...but we continue to have players moving up from the national Under-19 team. There is a clear vision for and style of play and attitude we aspire to in respect of the national teams. I expect the newcomers to grab their opportunities," he concluded.
The T&T men were drawn in Pool D along with the Bahamas, Guadeloupe and St Vincent and the Grenadines, while defending champions Guyana will campaign in Pool A with St Lucia, the British Virgin Islands and Curacao
The T&T women will compete in Pool B along with Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Maple Leafs, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Guadeloupe
For the women's competition, Maple Leaf and Pool A team USA South will be participating in the tournament for the first time, while Curacao are the only newcomers in the men's tournament.
T&T RUGBY SQUADS
T&T Men: Adam Frederick (captain), Wayne Kelly, Jonathan O'Connor, Kelson Figaro, Graeme Alkins, Joseph Quashie, James Phillip, Agboola Silverton, Kurt Quashie, David Gookool, Tariq Cheekes, Keishon Walker (Tobago) Larry Mendez (head coach), Peter Bacchus (assistant coach), Curtis Nero (manager)
T&T Women: Jenilee Limada, Latoya Edwards (captain), Alyesha Bruce, Juilana Straker, Tenisha Samuel, Kerdesiah Cooper, Taliah Wilson, Dalia Jordan-Brown, Nicolette Pantor, Ayana Skeete, Ebony Young, Kathleen Stephen, Simone Andrews-Nero (coach), Joy Rodney-Wilkes (physiotherapist)
DHL 2011 NACRA 7s Groups
Men's Tournament
Pool A: Guyana, St Lucia, BVI, Curacao
Pool B: Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Turks and Caicos
Pool C: Mexico, Cayman, Bermuda, USA South
Pool D: Bahamas, T&T, Guadeloupe, St Vincent and the Grenadines
Women's Tournament
Pool A: Guyana, St Lucia, Mexico, USA South, Barbados
Pool B: T&T, Jamaica, Cayman, Maple Leafs, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guadeloupe
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com