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IRB Sevens 2012

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What2040

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rugbyisfun said:
Can someone explain to me why we persist in competing in this joke of a tournament ?? Anyone got an idea on how much it's costs to run the Sevens campaign each year?? Surely this money could be better spent at the grassroots level rather than sending a pack of 18 year old in shit colored jerseys around the world ....
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agree - Sevens is a separate sport from the 15 man game and as such should stand alone financially without the support of the ARU. In reality only a few make it to the 15's. - would love to know how many $$$$$ gets chucked into the sevens pot by the ARU ie, wages, contracts, tours, etc etc
 
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spooony

Guest
Its like 20/20 cricket. You get the 7 or 20/20 experts and the full international players. But is a good thing for development?
 
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What2040

Guest
Spoony - agree that it is a good thing for development but only for a few - question is, is it worth the $$$ or can those limited resources be better utilised (for grassroots, academies etc)
 
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ripper868

Guest
Yes, the sevens program is worthwhile, and yes, it DOES deserve the backing of the ARU - why? Because it's Rugby!

7's is a key strategy in the growth of rugby at the grassroots - It is a major program that gets people engaged in the game that otherwise wouldn't play at all.

As for the high performance stuff, from the top of my head players such as Liam Gill, Scott Higginbotham, James Stannard, Kimami Sitauti, Lachie Turner and Eddie Quirk have all come through the Sevens Program. It provides a fantastic professional environment and provides another opportunity for players to show their wares. Just because we aren't winning at every tournament doesn't mean it's not worthwhile -

Where would you spend this wasted money at Grassroots level anyway? More DO's who just hit numbers at schools without really engagin the kids? Yeah that's a way to keep talented players in the game.
 
wamberal

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Another potentially huge benefit of the Sevens circuit is that, properly managed, and artfully promoted, the IRB Sevens weekend can become an iconic event in the sporting (and social) calendar, with lots of free publicity and a boost to the image of the whole rugby brand.

I lived in Hong Kong from 1976, until 1995 (not continuously, but for about 10 of those years - and for the other years I was in close touch, travelled there for work and holidays, etc), so I saw at close hand the growth in the Hong Kong Sevens as an event, an event that is now one of the very most popular in the place.

I might add that HSBC have been involved with the Hong Kong Sevens since its inception. The then Chief Executive of the Bank, Willie Purves, was also the Chairman of The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (as it then was) when the club agreed to manage and partially fund the upgrade of the Football Stadium in the mid eighties, an event which was the real watershed in the growth of the event.


HSBC is now one of the biggest rugby sponsors around, they are naming rights sponsor for the Sevens Circuit, and of course they sponsor the Tahs.


Success breeds success. Anybody who doubts that the Sevens programme is worth the money is short-sightted.
 
p.Tah

p.Tah

John Thornett (49)
From the IRB
The International Rugby Board has announced details of a new qualification pathway for the HSBC Sevens World Series as the sport continues to build towards its Olympic Games re-inclusion in 2016.

With participation interest and competitiveness at an all-time high as Rugby Sevens goes from strength to strength, the number of core teams that participate in each of the events on the World Series will increase from 12 to 15 for the 2012/13 Series.

This year’s Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on 23-25 March, which is the only event on the calendar to feature 24 teams, will double as the qualification tournament.

Three teams will advance from a dedicated 12-team regional qualifier finale, securing coveted core team status and joining the current core teams - Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, USA, Wales - in competing across all events in the 2012/13 Series.

The qualifying showpiece will run alongside another 12-team competition, also in the Hong Kong Stadium, contested by the current core teams.

The Hong Kong tournament will retain its status as the only 24-team event, and will continue to be played across three days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, ensuring that fans continue to be treated to the high-quality, high octane entertainment that they are used to.

From the 2012/13 season onwards, promotion and relegation from core team status will come into effect with a 16th invitational team selected by the IRB for each event outside of Hong Kong. Full details of this will be announced in due course.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Rugby Sevens is going from strength to strength and we are seeing unprecedented interest in hosting, participation and sponsorship for the record-breaking HSBC Sevens World Series.

“As we build towards Rio 2016 and our Olympic Games debut it is important that opportunities exist for all nations to progress to Series core team status if they are good enough. The new system provides every nation competing in their regional qualifying tournaments with a direct opportunity to gain core team status and compete on every round of the World Series.

“Hong Kong is an iconic event and unique in its 24-team status. We are delighted that it will also host the direct qualifying event to compete on the entire HSBC Sevens World Series. I would like to thank the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union for their full support, as well as our Regional Associations and all of our Member Unions."

HKRFU Chairman Trevor Gregory said: “The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union is pleased to be playing such an instrumental role in the continued development of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

“The opportunity for Hong Kong to host the qualification tournament for core team status is a direct and positive reflection on the history, internationalism and scale of the Hong Kong Sevens and continues to reinforce the prestige of our world-famous event.”

In addition, and following the announcement that all participating teams will take points from every round of the 2011/12 Series, the IRB has confirmed that every round of the Series will now carry the same number of points.

Formerly the Hong Kong tournament carried more points than the other rounds of the Series. This will no longer be the case, bringing the Series in line with other Grand Prix-style events such as Formula One.

Details of the Hong Kong match schedule, which will also feature an IRB-sanctioned women's event, will be announced in due course. ​
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happyjack

happyjack

Sydney Middleton (9)
Sunnybank have been investing $50K+ in 7s for the last 2 years and the investment is well worth while. A proper 7s program highlights individual skill in a way that 15s can't. While most people were sceptical when the investment was initially made it is now a key part of the clubs recruitment, retention and player development. This year they are kicking off an Olympic Target Squad for women and will conduct 3 x 6 week women competitions through the year before ths Spring/Summer competitive season. As a young club withut the traditional reputation of Randwick or Brothers, competing at international tournament (with success) has led to the club having players from NZ, Canada, USA who have aspirations for 7s seek to play for the club. You only have to spend a little time in Asia and see the investment from Olympic Councils in USA and Canada to realise that the future of the game as a real world sport lies in 7s while unfortunately 15s will be the bastion of 10 or see nations were the game has a traditional background.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)

Should be interesting to see who is added to the series. It would surprise some exactly how competitive the fight for these three spots would be.
 
Lee Grant

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
We had a false dawn in Sevens a couple of years ago, but it's time to get a bit more serious. Seeding for the Olympic Games will happen sooner than we think, therefore we gradually have to improve our standings in the IRB Sevens, year by year, else we will be seeded out of the medals in Rio.
 
Bullrush

Bullrush

Geoff Shaw (53)
What2040 said:
agree - Sevens is a separate sport from the 15 man game and as such should stand alone financially without the support of the ARU. In reality only a few make it to the 15's. - would love to know how many $$$$$ gets chucked into the sevens pot by the ARU ie, wages, contracts, tours, etc etc
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Only speaking from a NZ point-of-view but here are some names that have played in our 7's:

Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Liam Messam, Adam Thompson, Hosea Gear, Corey Jane, Victor Vito, Julian Savea, Julian Savea, Israel Dagg, Rener Ranger, Scott Waldrom, Alando Soaki, Ben Atiga, Tanirau Latimer, Josh Blackie, Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a, Dwayne Sweeney, Lachie Munroe, Doug Howlett, Soseni Anesi, Tamati Ellison, Matua Parkinson.........and apart from the first two, that's only going back to 2005.

All of these guys have played at Super Rugby level or higher.

Australia should stop supporting 7's rugby. They should get better at it.


I don't know how BTW......
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
According to Rugbymag (the media wing of USA 7s LLC) ticket sales for this weekend are currently sitting a touch over 60,000 units. Pretty good growth for the event in its 3rd year in Vegas. They are expecting a "strong" walk up crowd as well and are reasonably optimistic of topping 70,000 for the event.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
Over 64,000 attendees for the weekends play. Shy of cracking the 70,000 they were hoping. This is encouraging on a few levels. First, the growth in numbers attending, the level of play involved and the proof that Rugby can be a successful commercial entity in the USA. Something that is needed to move the game further along its development in the USA.
 
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