By SPORTS WRITER,For the Guardian

The Rugby West Indies select squad, having played their way into the semi-final of the Shield (Estimulo) Round of the Punta del Este Seven-A-Side tournament in Uruguay by defeating Carrasco Polo, Uruguay's Eastern Champions, went down 19-7 to Uruguay's Clover Paysandu, in the last game of the tournament.

According to the tournament website, the Rugby West Indies squad was most impressive in its game against Carrasco Polo with Guyana's Kevin McKenzie, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Hollis Green and UK-based Jamaican, Luther Burrell, having outstanding games. McKenzie, now playing professional rugby in Ireland for Bective Rangers, scored the lone try for the West Indies in their semi-final loss to Clover Paysandu.

Pacific team, Samoa, defeated Argentina 34-14 in the Cup final.

Head Coach, Joe Whipple of Barbados, plans to hold a final trials camp in Trinidad & Tobago in March, which will include players from the select teams who participated in the Punta del Este and Trinidad & Tobago Enthusiasts tournament, prior to selection of the

West Indies team to play in the iRB Sevens World Series Hong Kong tournament, from March 27-29.

The Rugby West Indies team is sponsored by Butterfield Bank, Conyers Dill & Pearman, the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company, the Bahamas Rugby Football Union, the Bermuda Rugby Football Union and a number of private individuals.