IRB Sevens 2012

[wamberal]

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)

Are you - and others - seriously suggesting that Australian should consider pulling out of its involvement in the IRB World Sevens circuit?


Sevens Rugby can become a high point for Australian rugby supporters, just as it is, or is becoming, in other places around the world. Sevens is a version of the game that can appeal to people who are not died-in-the-wool rugby supporters, and that is very important.

Add to that the opportunities for medals in both the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games (and the next Commonwealth Games will be at the Gold Coast, coincidentally the new spiritual home of Australian Sevens) and we would be stupid to count the dollars and cents, but ignore the golden opportunities, which money just cannot buy.

We threw the ARC away because of money. We would be condemned by history if we were so short-sighted as to throw Sevens away.

 

[Gagger]

Please tell me I was not the only one who just saw the USA 7s final?

Best 7s final ever. Go Samoa!!

Yep, Samoa beat NZ 26-19 with a try on the Donga. Played some of the best 7s I've seen for a long time, direct, powerful and some of the best passing (just bullets out in front of the chest) that I've seen.

 

[Nusadan]

Aussies lost their minor final to Canada on the bell...damn...

 

[p.Tah]

Aussies lost their minor final to Canada on the bell...damn...

I suspect Canada will become a top tier 7s side in the not to distant future. They have the rugby academy on the West Coast and its making good inroads in Ontario into the East:

For a sport that didn’t register on athletic department radars five years ago, rugby sevens has stormed into Ontario’s secondary schools like a crash tackle.
At the Toronto District School Board’s first city-wide tournament in 2003, 80 athletes from three schools showed up to play.
“Now we’re looking at basically 75 to 78 teams representing 35 schools (just in the GTA),” says Dan Kunanec, who coaches the Don Mills Collegiate sevens side and Ontario’s under-18 squad. “That’s in five divisions with about 1,200 athletes . . . that’s pretty remarkable growth.”

http://www.thestar.com/sports/highs...-rugby-sevens-on-rise-in-ontario-high-schools

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

I suspect Canada will become a top tier 7s side in the not to distant future. They have the rugby academy on the West Coast and its making good inroads in Ontario into the East:



http://www.thestar.com/sports/highs...-rugby-sevens-on-rise-in-ontario-high-schools

I hope the OZ 7's coach reads this article about the fun, spontanaeity(?) and smarts required to play rugby. Its not about how well coached you are but how you read the game and utilise your skills.

I know he has a young team and they are playing much older and experienced players and the possible thought is to have these players experienced at 22 to make a real go at the Olympics but let them have some fun as well and play some free stuff instaed of the boring one out and set it up type play they do now

 

[Lee Grant]

Have just had time to watch my recording.

It was good to see 13. Allan Fa'alava'au from Dandenong High School last year playing in LV. (He was the short guy throwing the ball into the lineouts.) The 18 y.o. Victorian lad paired well with 12. Jim Stewart of Scots in the Oz Schools midfield during their victory against NZ Schools last October. I suspect that the Rebels have his name pencilled in, though they will need a long pencil.

He's the 3rd guy from last year's Oz Schools team to play in the Oz Sevens team this year; the others are Sean McMahon (Nudgee 2011) who doesn't turn 18 until next June and 15. Cameron Clark (Knox 2011).
.

 

[Bowside]

Does anyone know who gets first pick of players the academy or 7's?

Obviously some players are not suited to 7's, but assuming they dont make the E.P.S will guys like McMahon stay in the 7's next season or just move onto the academy.

 

[qwerty51]

It would be up to player wouldn't it?

 

[Lee Grant]

Sevens would have priority with the ARU - and most likely the players - what travel for a year or two !!

Fa'alava'au, Pau, Crook, English and McMahon can all return to the Academy when they are not needed for 7s. It's interesting that Clark, a 2011 Oz Schools player and in the Oz Sevens team, is not in the Academy.

 

[Stands]

Are any of the Oz Sevens players playing next week at Kiama?

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

I have asked this question in the Clubs forum but thought I would ask it again here.

I have heard a rumour that players who played for Australia in the Sevens series are not eligible for colts (Clarke, Miller, etc.). Is this true

 

[p.Tah]

Anyone watchig this Fiji and NZ final in HK? Unbelievable!

Fiji 35-28 NZ. Awesome stuff.

 

[qwerty51]

Love seeing NZ getting beaten, do they pay the refs or what?

 

[Bardon]

Don't watch much 7s but I flicked on to see the end of England and SA then a very entertaining final between Fiji and NZ.

For non rugby fans the 7s is like a gateway drug to the 15 man game and will become more so when it makes it's Olympic debut.

 

[qwerty51]

Been meaning to find the answer out, how come the Irish don't play 7s? Same goes for Italy

 

[Bardon]

We do compete at 7s but not regularly on the circuit as there's currently no permanent 7s national team. Players like Keith Earls, Cian Healy & Tomás O'Leary have represented us at 7s before becoming regulars for the national 15 squad. The likes of Felix Jones & Darren Cave who will be regulars for Ireland in the coming years also played 7s for us.

Last year the IRFU endorsed Shamrock Warriors as their official 7s club in Ireland. The aim is to develop a pool of dedicated 7s players to form the backbone of an Ireland 7s squad. Next year the IRFU will make the call about competing in both the Olympics and the 7s World Series.

I hope they do as one of the main reasons I don't watch 7s is that other than the 7s WC Ireland rarely compete and it's not the same without your country to cheer for.

 

[qwerty51]

Cian Healy?? Really?

 

[Bardon]

Healy has actually been one of the big supporters in trying to grow 7s in Ireland in colleges and the push to get a permanent national 7s team over the last few years.

 

[wamberal]

A bit unlucky not to beat the Poms.

 

[qwerty51]

we're in the final! amazing achievement