Rugby Squad Named For RAN In Mexico City
Legendary seven’s player and Bermuda Head Coach Waisale Serevi has named a strong lineup for Rugby Americas North [RAN] 7’s tournament with two new players to the squad making their debut for the Bermuda National Men’s team.
The RAN tournament will take place in Mexico City from November 25-26.
Local Bermuda Institute star player Alex Doyling will be boosting Bermuda’s pace on the wing whilst ex-Stirling County fly-half Brian Archibald brings a greater depth of experience and knowledge to the team.
Head Coach Waisale Serevi said, “Archibald has played consistently well for his local club Renegades and apart from his versatility, he gives us an extra option with his right-foot kicking abilities.”
Meanwhile West Indies seven’s call ups Tashon Desilva, Tom Healy and Dan ‘Reg’ Cole makes a return to the team to bolster their strength in the forwards and experience in the backs.
Coach Serevi believes the experience the younger members of the squad gained late last season and early in this season will be hugely beneficial to them going into the RAN 7’s tournament.
“Last season enabled us to unearth and develop new talent in the sevens programme and crucially allow younger players to gain invaluable playing experience in major tournaments such as the Las Vegas 7’s and the Bermuda 7’s tournament,” he said.
Serevi added, “The support staff that we have managed to build around the team has been absolutely invaluable. The team has partnered with Dave Wolf from B.E.A.S.T gym to work on their strength and conditioning and team physio Bruno Teixeira has been working with the guys for about four years now. This consistent support has helped to ensure that the guys are at their best going into these international games.”
Missing from the squad is seven’s stalwart Richard Cumbers who had been due to retire from international games after this tournament. Veteran Cumbers broke his arm in October which left him out of the selection and brought about his early retirement from internationals.
Bermuda will face tough competition in their group stages from the likes of Dominican Republic and Jamaica who most recently qualified for the prestigious 2016-17 Hong Kong Sevens tournament.
Teams have all to play for this year as the winners will qualify for the Hong Kong Sevens and The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Additionally the top four teams will go through to the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization [CASCO] Games.
Games will be streamed live on RAN’s YouTube channel.
Team members are Brian Archibald, Corey Boyce, Patrick Calow, Aldo Campbell, Dan Cole Tashon Desilva [Captain], Mikle Dill, Alex Doyling, Tom Healy [Vice-Captain], Bertie Horsfield, David Lunn, Antonio Perinchief-Leader and Neville Zuill.
Head Coach: Waisale Serevi, Physio: Bruno Teixeira and Manager: Jonathan Cassidy.
