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Colombia, Mexico, and Paraguay will all watch with interest as the Cayman Islands take on Guyana on Saturday. The fixture is a winner-takes-all match for the 2019 Americas Rugby Challenge.
Guyana competed in the inaugural edition of the competition in 2018 and must now defeat the Caymans to return again this year. The Green Machine finished bottom losing 71-7 against Colombia; 86-7 against Paraguay; and 48-36) against Mexico.
The Cayman Islands have played in no such tournament. Indeed a win for the Cayman Islands over Guyana would see them advancing to play international rugby outside of the Caribbean regional for the first time in history.
Caymans Head Coach Garry Southway has an altered roster to that from the 2018 internationals. Of the team which won a 20-19 thriller last June against Bermuda there are ten changes. 13 of the 23 players involved have been retained though of the newcomers three are uncapped.
Despite having played in the 2018 Americas Rugby Challenge Guyana do not enter Saturday’s match as favorites. The Cayman Islands not only have home advantage but are also ranked higher. In the current Americas Rankings the Cayman Islands are 10th while Guyana are 12th.
TEAMS
CAYMAN ISLANDS
1 Peter De Vere, 2 Andy Hall, 3 Jonny Gibson, 4 Dylan Bostock, 5 Shane Cusack, 6 Sam Anderson, 7 Paul Westin, 8 Ben Blair, 9 David Stringer, 10 Morgan Hayward, 11 Iain Currie, 12 Justin Wight, 13 Mikey Wilson, 14 Cueme Parker, 15 Killian Everard (capt.)
Replacements: 16 Joey Westin, 17 Shane Westin, 18 Jazeb Jones, 19 Andrew Mathias, 20 Barry John Goude, 21 Clive O’Mahony, 22 Ed Westin, 23 Darien Montague
GUYANA
Forwards: Jason Tyrell, Rondel McArthur, Walter George, James Osborne, Joseph Rahman, Selwyn Henry, Jamal Angus, Godfrey Broomes, David Garrett, Cloyd Prowell, Osei McKenzie, Richard Staglon, Vallon Adams
Backs: Glenroy Poole, Jamal Darrell, Kevon David, Ryan Dey, Phibian Joseph, Ryan Gonsalves, Ronald Mayers, Grantley Williams, Sean Phillips, Lancelot Adonis
Date: Saturday, February 9
Venue: South Sound Rugby Ground, George Town
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Moe Chaudhry (RC)
Assistants: Gabriele Nanni (FMRU) & Levar Boyd (BRFU)
Broadcasts: Live Stream
