Editor Has Gone Walk About in Guatemala with the Howlers Rugby Team
I feel I should explain to readers why there’s been no rugby update since October 12th, and I do have a reason, a rugby reason, I’m with the Howlers on their tour to Guatemala for the Gran Jaguar 7s tournament on October 18th and 19th. The tournament live stream is here.
I arrived in Guatemala on the 12th and it has been non stop, I thought I would have a chance to update the site, but not until today. So if you have a BC rugby story that I can post to the site, this is a great opportunity, just email me at editor@bcrugbynews.com
This is my update from Guatemala, if you want to read the first story on the tournament and the players I’m with check out this link. There are players from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Barbados and Colombia. There will be a few players missing from the BC Premier lineup this coming weekend and I know coaches won’t be pleased but will understand it’s a once in a lifetime experience for the players.
I arrived in Guatemala City on the Saturday flying out of Vancouver, through Houston, to Aurora airport in Guatemala City. Some readers may recognize some of the legends of rugby I met that evening. Karl Fix of course the founder of the Howlers, Joe Whipple who is the head coach of Barbados, Leo Lane and Ian Godfrey who have managed many Howlers tours, Brian Stollmeyer who has run the Grenada 7s for the last 30+ years, and many others.
The Howlers brought down many suitcases filled with medical supplies, rugby supplies and toys to distribute to the neighborhoods, hospices and schools we visited. First was the visit to the Manuel Colom Argueta barrio one of the poorest areas in Guatemala City where we donated medical supplies, food and toys for the children. Next was a stop at the San Jose Hospice for children who have been affected by HIV, some even newborn infants, it was a reflective moment for the group as we left donations of medical supplies and school supplies, as it also serves as a school for the children.
Today we visited a school, Casa del Nino, which provides education opportunities for the poor in the Antigua area. There the players played rugby with the children as well as providing donations of clothing and supplies. The Howlers had visited the school last year and left rugby balls, the balls were brought out of storage and hours of fun were had as the players first demonstrated a game of touch rugby and then let the children participate. Rugby is the common language when two different languages are spoken.
The tournament is Friday and Saturday, the 18th and 19th, the first practice was held last night, tonight is a scrimmage with the Guatemala national team.
I’ll try to find time to update the BCRN site during the week but this week contributed articles would be most appreciated.
Some photos posted below, photos by Chris Graham.
Mark
