Rugby 10s - what is that about?

[Pfitzy]

Has anyone played Rugby 10s? I have never even seen it done, so I'm wondering what the team structure is. There is a tournament on next year just up the road so I'm keen to see if the Renegades want a piece of that.

 

[Pfitzy]

Funny. And though I think ideally rugby should involve backs as little as possible, can I please get the serious answer?

 

[Redsfan]

It's horrible. All the pace of sevens, with reasonable amounts of proper forward work thrown in.

 

[TOCC]

yeah ive played a few matches of 10's, cant say im any kind of expert on it though since it was the first time that everyone had played 10's.

Aim of the game was to give the backs as much room as possible

 

[Scarfman]

It's awesome.

Prop Hooker Prop
Lock Lock

Half

Flyhalf Centre
Winger/FB Winger

It's open enough to be fun, but structured enough to feel like rugby. Not surprisingly, it feels halfway between 7s and 15s to play.

 

[Sully]

We had a 10's tournament every year when I was in Mount Isa it was a lot of fun! 5 rugby players 5 backs.

 

[TOCC]

ive played rugby 13's as well, now that was a fun game to play in, having 2 less players on the field makes all the difference

 

[Rugby Rat]

Can't remeber if it was 8's or 10's we played at Ipswich before the Brizzo comp started.

 

[Pfitzy]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty much assuming you don't want both locks to be full-size as the scrums look like they'll be fairly quick. Sounds excellent.

 

[PaarlBok]

Nick Robbie Fleck try to drive this format in SA. Have look at the site

http://www.capetowntens.com/

 

[Pfitzy]

Thanks Oom. Will give it a look

 

[James Buchanan]

From the gallery it looks like it was quite the spectacle.

And the rugby seemed alright too.

 

[Newb]

you said it JB!! yowza!

 

[PaarlBok]

From the gallery it looks like it was quite the spectacle.

And the rugby seemed alright too.

Yep Maties use it as preparation for the Varsity Cup starting on 1 Feb and WP use it to get ready for the Vodacom Cup.

 

[Thomond78]

ive played rugby 13's as well, now that was a fun game to play in, having 2 less players on the field makes all the difference

Nick, put this guy on the watchlist. Now.

 

[Pfitzy]

He's already been forwarded to the cleaner...

 

[PaarlBok]

Tim Horan will feature in the Slaapstad's Tens tournament
capetowntens.com

Horan coming to Cape Town
Double World Cup-winning Wallaby centre Tim Horan will head up a star-studded contingent of Australian rugby stars who will be playing for the International Legends at the 2010 Cape Town Tens in February.

Horan, Pat Howard, Jeremy Paul and Damian Smith - who between them played almost 200 Tests for the Wallabies - will all represent the International Legends at Hamilton's next month; with a host of other big-name former internationals also set to be announced in due course.

"It was an easy sell for me,I was very keen to play in the Cape Town Tens last year, but unfortunately I had some commitments last February which meant I couldn't make it.

"Cape Town is a great place to visit in February, it has a similar to climate to that of the Gold Coast, and I'm looking forward to meeting up with some old mates and enjoying the camaraderie of old - both on and off the field."

Speaking about the ten-a-side format, Horan added: "I played some Tens for an invitational side in Dubai back in November and I was surprised - in my first game - just how enjoyable it is.

"It's particularly great for those of us that are a bit more advanced in terms of our age and it also puts less stress on the body than 15s and Sevens."

But apart from the relaxed version of this great game, Horan is also looking forward to enjoying the other aspects of the 2010 Cape Town Tens; the social side and the huge Cape Town Rugby Festival at the Cape Town Stadium.

"It's all about fun and avoiding contact," chuckled the Wallaby legend, the Player of the Tournament at the 1999 World Cup.

"I've played Barbarians rugby with people like Joost van der Westhuizen and Percy Montgomery, but I'm looking forward to teaming up with two other top South African players in the form of Bob Skinstad and Rob Fleck, having played against them quite a few times (in the past).

"Playing at the Cape Town Stadium, as a trial run for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is also a huge honour," he added, "I'm particularly excited about the World Cup as the Socceroos could cause a few surprises if they make it into the knockout stages."

Howard - who played 20 Tests for the Wallabies - will be joining his former Queensland teammate in Cape Town and he said: "I haven't been to Cape Town since 2003 - I can't wait to come back to a great city and, of course, get those boots on again.

"This is the sort of rugby environment that I love and although I have not played Tens before, I love 15s and Sevens, so I'm hoping it's less physical than 15s and less fatiguing than Sevens... I might not be in top nick these days, but I know all about the fitness levels of Timmy Horan and Damian Smith, so I'm not too worried!"

Commenting on the social aspect of the Tens, Howard added: "It's not often one gets the opportunity to meet up with old teammates and opponents at an event like this; those quiet ales and chats will be fantastic."

The other two members of Australia's International Legends contingent, Jeremy Paul and Damian Smith, will also add plenty of value at the Cape Town Tens - according to Horan and Howard.

Kiwi-born hooker Jeremy Paul - the most-capped Wallaby No.2 of all time - only recently hung up his boots after a spell with top English club Gloucester, whilst winger Damian Smith is no stranger to South Africa, having represented his country at the 1995 World Cup.

Paul - who played over 100 Super Rugby matches for the Brumbies - won 72 caps for the Wallabies between 1998 and 2006.

Smith, meanwhile, racked up 10 tries in his 21 international appearances for Australia between 1993 and '98.

Tickets for the entire weekend at the 2010 Castle Cape Town Tens at Hamilton RFC, which includes the historic Cape Town Rugby Festival at the Cape Town Stadium, are available for purchase on Computicket and will not be sold at the gates on Saturday.

 

[Lance Free]

NTA

I used to manage and organise the RAAF/Army team in Butterworth, Malaysia for three years in the late nineties. All we played was Tens and we had regular tournaments in Singapore, KL, Penang, Taiping, Phuket and against visiting RAF, RN, RAN etc teams.

We used to drive up to Phuket in an RAAF bus from Penang. Can you imagine a rugby tournament in Phuket involving teams from Singapore, KL, Dubai, Bangkok and us? A simply outstanding time was held by all - what goes on tour stays on tour......

The actual Tens was pretty intensive in all the tournaments. Being servicemen the guys were relatively fit, especially the army boys. It was 20 minutes each way. We had a bit of an advantage in size against Asian sides, but as you can imagine they were pretty fast. We also played teams from Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, Korea etc in Singapore and KL.

It was very expansive and a cross between Sevens and 15s as you'd expect. To win we used our physicality in the forwards and generally at inside centre to run over the top of them. The Singapore and Dubai teams were chock full of expats. The rest of them didn't like us much because we were 'whiteys' and had that inherent advantage of size, knowledge and instinct.

Our tournaments were a bit serious. I remember one in Taiping where a scrap developed and the whole crowd came on and took to us. Fortunately, the Penang Blues (made up of Malaysian/Chinese/Indian guys - Butterworth is adjacent to Penang) were there as well so they came on to help us. It was huge and lots of kicking and injuries. We up and left after that sadly - sort of caused a diplomatic incident actually.

But that excepted, we had a great time generally. When we went to Singapore we used to go to the American PX store on their base and stock up with hard liquor, which is very expensive back in Malaysia. We'd have 30 cases in the back of the bus as we drove across the Causeway.

Great fun.....

 

[Coach]

For mine, 10's is way more worthy than 7's. 7's is too much like league.

Unfortunately with 7's being around for so long, 10's will never get a look in on the big stage, even if the iRB were to make it 'official', however I reckon it's got value - esp in "oldies" tournaments where 40 minutes each ways is a big stretch and 7's is just ridiculous.

 

[PaarlBok]

Was watching last night our Boots & All Rugby TV show and saw some old time greats like Horan, Tana Umaga, Daiman Smith & Jeremy Paul participating in the Tens. Was surprise to hear on monday the Stormers vs Boland match in the Cape Town Stadium (look flippen impressive) a 40,000 sold out and the main curtain raisor these legends will play another.

www.capetowntens.com

News Boots & All sets the tone

If the live broadcast of Boots & All - from the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point on Thursday night - is anything to go by, then we are set for one helluva ride at the 2010 Castle Cape Town Tens...

Darren Scott and Breyton Paulse joined Cape Town Tens Tournament Host Bob Skinstad in a fantastic evening's entertainment at the Cape Town Stadium - headlined by the arrival of the International Legends and some great interviews with them.

The inimitable Scott - who was in fine form as the anchor - had the likes of Tana Umaga, Jeremy Paul, Robbie Fleck and Timmy Horan on stage, whilst Bob held court around the stadium as he interviewed the rest of the International Legends in the stands; where the 'studio audience' was seated. (See the picture above.)

Matt Proudfoot (Stormers) and Rudy Joubert (Boland) also got some air-time to chat about their 'little' match on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium (after the Tens exhibition match between the SA and International Legends), whilst John Allan (the CEO of the SA Rugby Legends) and Rob Louw (a true, true legend in every sense) had some time to chat about the rugger and, of course, Rob's recent battle with cancer, which seems to be going well - judging by the huge smile on that legend's face.

Representatives of the stadium management were also present, and actually kicked-off proceedings on the show, whilst some members of the Noordhoek Vikings and the Hollywood Boks popped in to enjoy the evening... and the sponsor's product with us!

The excitement levels were really high amongst the Vikings and Hollywood Boks players and they all bonded with the International Legends; with Pat Howard and Jeremy Paul very nearly being inducted into the Vikings team at the last minute.

Paul, in particular, was quite a hoot and had the crowd in hysterics during his interview (on live TV!), but the quote of the night went to Samoan star Zak Feaunati - aka Jonah Lomu - when asked about the rumours of being shortlisted for an Oscar (after his role in Invictus) were true, saying: "It would certainly be a first... the first time someone was nominated without actually saying a word in a movie!"

The various Castle Cape Town Tens sponsors were also in attendance - including representatives from Castle Lager, Sport24 and Canterbury; with Castle learning the hard way about rugby players' vast thirst when they had to raid their storage room early on to re-stock the bar. (Don't worry, it was re-stocked... and quickly!)

The Lightyears were also in attendance, having quietly slipped into Cape Town this week, and pianist Chris Russell said the group were "absolutely dying to get on stage on Friday night".

After the filming of Boots & All, capetowntens.com had a quick word with International Legends stalwart Leon Lloyd - who is back for his second Cape Town Tens stint.

"There is a real buzz," he said. "The banter [in the Legends squad] is already great and we're all just so excited about tomorrow night's welcome party and the rest of the festivities... and, of course, the rugby!"

The legens team

Umaga will join tournament hosts Bob Skinstad and Robbie Fleck and eight other former internationals in a star-studded International Legends team (see the full list below!) this weekend and he could not be more excited at the prospect of teaming up with his old foes.


"Zak (Feaunati) got hold of me to find out if I would be keen to play and I obviously know Bob and Rob well from our playing days, so it was great to hear from them and (to) be able to take up the opportunity of coming out for the 2010 Cape Town Tens," the legendary former All Blacks centre-cum-wing told capetowntens.com.

Tana added: "Bob and Rob tried to get me out to the Tens last year, but I was unable to make it due to my playing and coaching commitments in France.


"However, with this season's (French) Top 14 on a break, due to Six Nations action, and - of course - once I checked things through with my boss (my wife!), I was able to commit to this year's tournament and I cannot wait to get out and be involved in this great tournament."

Umaga is, at present, the assistant coach at French club Toulon; having last season filled the role of player/manager as he helped guide his side to safety after - at one stage - flirting dangerously with the dreaded relegation zone.

Toulon are currently in sixth place on the Top 14 standings, and pushing hard for a Heineken Cup place next season, and a more relaxed Umaga is looking forward to a weekend away in the Mother City - his favourite South African city.

"Zak has told me plenty about the overall organisation and everybody that is involved, so it really was an easy invite to accept," he revealed.

"I've not played Tens before, but I think that's also why I'm so excited - it seems like a great format of the game and I can't wait to experience it for myself."

Umaga - who played 74 Tests for New Zealand between 1997 and 2005 - retired from Test rugby after leading his side on a successful Grand Slam tour of Europe, having also 'Black-Washed' the B&I Lions earlier in the 2005 season. In all, he skippered the All Blacks to an incredible 18 wins from 21 matches.

The full International Legends squad: Zak Feaunati (Samoa), Robbie Fleck (SA), Tim Horan (Aus, captain), Pat Howard (Aus), Leon Lloyd (Eng), Eric Miller (Ire), Jeremy Paul (Aus), Matt Phillips (Ita/NZ), Bob Skinstad (SA), Damian Smith (Aus), Tana Umaga (NZ).