Wednesday, September 3 2008

TRINIDAD and Tobago rugby men are undergoing intense training in preparation for their second-round Rugby World Cup qualifier against the “Samba Boys” of Brazil, here.

Team manager Curtis Nero revealed that the Calypso Warriors and the local coaching staff are committed mentally and physically to the task as beating the higher ranked Brazil needs a monumental effort.

“Getting past Brazil is our objective. Even though we won the Caribbean Championship, the fact of the matter is that we have to raise our standard of play and fitness to compete with and better Brazil.

“The players are committed to achieving that objective. They are working hard and at the required level of intensity,” Nero stated.

TT are currently ranked 45th according to the International Rugby Board world rankings while Brazil are ranked 26th.

The return leg of the Calypso versus Samba clash will be approximately one week after the first in Brazil. In December 2001 Brazil defeated TT 11-10 in Trinidad to avenge a 46-0 mauling they received five years earlier.

The winners of the two-leg tie will advance to the CONSUR RWC 20111 qualifying tournament featuring Chile and Uruguay, scheduled for May 2009. And winners of this tourney will play the losers of the Canada vs USA match in June 2009 for a spot in the RWC while the winners of the USA/Canada match will automatically book their spot in the RWC.

Meanwhile, no resolution has been made between the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Union (TTRFU) and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) over the use of the facilities at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The TTRFU booked the Hasely Crawford Stadium for the match against Brazil in July but uncertainty has threatened their plans as it has been reported that the national football team will be playing the USA in their 2010 World Cup third round qualifying match at the same venue on the same day.