SCC Rugby Sevens, 4 & 5 November at Deadpoet’s Cave

We’ve lost the International Rugby Sevens to Adelaide. At least we still have the Singapore Cricket Club Rugby Sevens. It’s been going on every November for as long as I can remember. Always great entertainment!

You never know… some future star of international rugby might be playing. =)

From the mailer:

SCC 7s GEARS UP TO BE BEST EVER

The famous SCC 7s (this year in its 59th year) is widely recognised as one of the world’s top international 7s tournaments outside of the iRB 7s circuit and has been a spawning ground in the past for the likes of Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga, Eric Rush and David Campese. For some teams, players and iRB 7s circuit referees it is now the warm up tournament for the iRB7s 7s circuit opener in Dubai a month later.

This year, there will be 24 teams from 13 countries:

1. Davetalevu (Fiji - Ablitt Cup Holders)
2. Ponsonby (Auckland, NZ)
3. Army UK
4. Impala (Nairobi, Kenya)
5. NS Wanderers (Negri Sembilan, Malaysia)
6. USA Eagles (USA) - (first time entrant)
7. Gove (Northern Territories, Australia)
8. Palmyra (Perth, Australia)
9. Hong Kong Dragons
10. Borneo Eagles (Sandakan, East Malaysia)
11. Singa Lions (Singapore)
12. Casuarina (Darwin, Australia)
13. Kurumi (Japan)
14. Japan Samurais - (1st time entrant)
15. Thai Barbarians - (1st time entrant)
16. Durban Harlequins (South Africa)
17. COBRA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
18. PNG Rookies (Papua New Guinea) - (1st time entrant)
19. Blue Bull Barbarians (Pretoria, South Africa)
20. Tamariva (Japan) - (1st time entrant)
21. Tri Line Academy (Perth, Australia) - (1st time entrant)
22. British Army Germany
23. Randwick (Sydney, Australia)
24. SCC

Last year’s winners, Davetalevu (Fiji) return to defend their Ablitt Cup trophy with certain cup contenders, Durban Harlequins, back after a year’s absence, sure to feature strongly with a side containing possible Springbok stars of the future. With world 7s circuit specialists, Army UK and perennial favourites such as Randwick (Sydney), Ponsonby (Auckland) and Impala (Nairobi), featuring most of the Kenyan national 7s squad, all returning to Singapore, this year’s tournament looks like being as competitive as ever with many future world 7s and XVs stars on show.

The organising committee are particularly pleases to see new entrants such as the Japan and Thailand national squads, who, along with Hong Kong, are using the tournament as a warm up ahead of the Asian Games in Qatar in December, whilst the US Eagles 7s squad have also entered for the first time as part of their Asia tour, coming from the Bangkok 7s the previous weekend. Top Japanese club side, Tamariva, and regular participants, Kurumi, make it 3 Japanese entrants this year. The PNG Rookies from Papua New Guinea will be an unknown quantity, but no doubt as raw boned and speedy as ever, and the Tri-Line Academy from Perth will be hoping to surprise a few people, being a new entity building on the growth of Perth rugby catalysed by the new Western Force Super 14 franchise.

The atmosphere is great in the 6,000 seat temporary stadium on the famous Padang, alongside the tournament village providing food, drinks (lots of them!), entertainment bands and the Sunday night after-party with 300+ rugby players, many of them future stars in the making. So feel free to watch one of the World’s Premier Rugby Tournaments on 4-5 November!