BARBADOS ruggermen are coming to Trinidad and Tobago on Friday to take on the Calypso Warriors in a 2015 Rugby World Cup Caribbean Zone second round clash which begins on Saturday.
The qualifier will take place at St Mary’s College Ground, St Clair from 4 pm.
Barbados spanked St Vincent/Grenadines 34-3 and 51-0 and back-to-back ties to earn the right to face Trinidad and Tobago.
The home team have short-listed 36 players to train this week ahead of Saturday’s meeting.
Today’s training will take place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field, Mucurapo, but tomorrow and Thursday’s sessions will take place at the St Mary’s Ground.
Larry Mendez, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago team, commented, “this is local rugby’s off season and the TTRFU (Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union) were unable to attract any foreign clubs or teams to tour. So we have not had any preparation games other than trial games.”
In related news, the TTRFU stated that Jonathan O’Connor will serve as the TT rugby captain, replacing Adam Frederick who has now been demoted to the vice captain.
Team manager Curtis Nero said that O’Connor will be a positive role model to the younger members of the squad.
“Jonathan will be able to call on Adam for support,” said Nero. “We have asked Adam to play in a new position (second row) rather than his normal role in the back row.
“And we felt that giving Jonathan the captain’s arm band with Adam as scrum leader and vice captain is a win-win for the team.”
And Nero said that seven newcomers will form part of the training squad — Trizene McClean, AC Wright, Jamal Nelson, Christopher Hudson, Phillip Rogers, Tariq Cheekes, Carlton St Clair and Agboola Silverton.
Source: www.newsday.co.tt