Rugby 7s at the Olympics

[Lindommer]

As no doubt you're all aware, Rugby 7s is up for inclusion in the summer Olympics. Also trying are golf, baseball (aiming for a comeback after being dropped for looking "too Septic"), roller sports, ten pin bowling, squash and karate. The decision is due in October this year at a meeting in Copenhagen. Once a sport is included in the Olympics some countries (eg, China) pour money into it. Other countries also change the official grading of a sport which helps with things like access to sporting facilities. Far too many poor countries try to compete in things like rowing with little or no chance of success just because it's an Olympic sport. If Rugby 7s gets into the Olympics we can expect a commensurate increase in interest in the 15 a side version. Personally, I'd like to see a lot more opportunity for schoolboys (and girls) to play Rugby 10s.

We can help get Rugby into the Olympics simply by signing an online petition. It's at: http://www.olympic-rugby.org/

I've signed, have you?

 

[Lindommer]

The final vote by the IOC is on Friday, 9 October. At this stage rugby 7s and golf have been recommended by a sub-committee for inclusion as permanant sports. Rugby was put forward to the full committee four years ago but stumbled at the last hurdle, largely on the point of equal participation by women. This has now been addressed and we can only hope rugby gets the final nod.

Your support is sorely needed at http://www.olympic-rugby.org/ Please complete and forward the petition.

See you in Rio for the Olympic 7s!

 

[PaarlBok]

Today is the day.

 

[barbarian]

And it's in! Great news for rugby, can't wait for 2016! :yay

 

[PaarlBok]

Great stuff. :yay This could change the face of 7 totally. Expect some 15 players to try and catch Olympics fever.

 

[cyclopath]

Great stuff. :yay This could change the face of 7 totally. Expect some 15 players to try and catch Olympics fever.

Some of ours might have a better chance of catching an Olympic "virus" than a high ball! Wonder how much they want to be paid to play in that?

 

[PaarlBok]

Ja thats a problem. 7s in SA have really catch fire lately. They even have a national schoolboy 7 tournaments these days with Strauss involved.

 

[BillyWebb]

Bloody Brrrrrilliant! :yay

I've played in and been to a good number of 7's tournies (just for the record the one's I played in were micky-mouse) and I love them.

Not to mention what it will do for the sport too.

 

[spectator]

Fantastic news!! The opportunity to showcase any form of rugby on arguably the world's biggest stage is one nt to be missed.
I'm backing that more than a few fringe 15 a side players are going to change their focus to the mini version of the game.

 

[Gagger]

Will sure beat watching fucking handball and equestrianism.

We've got a lot of work to do if we're not gonna get embarrassed by Kenya and Portugal

 

[Sully]

Too bad we suck at it! I also liked playing it. Even though I was a Prop. But I liked 10s more.

 

[BillyWebb]

What will be interesting to see is whether some of the established 15's players turn their hands to 7's come the Olympic year.
Seems pretty harsh on the 7's guys who've been slugging it out to suddenly face this challenge, but on the other hand if it means being able to win a medal at the olympics, I can't see many guys turning down the opportunity.

 

[barbarian]

Yeah, its also sad they have reduced it to a twelve team comp (proposed), so we miss watching minnow sides like Uganda, Zimbabwe, USA, PNG etc. have a crack. It will make all the games competitive, but loses the international flavour of sevens.

But I suppose beggars can't be choosers and we should all be glad we are part of the bloody thing.

 

[PaarlBok]

Bill Georges sevens around the corner
SARugby.net

The International Rugby Board and SARU have confirmed the draw for the 2009 Emirates Airline SA Sevens tournament in George on 11-12 December 2009.
Hosts and defending champions South Africa are the top seeded team in Pool A and share the pool with fellow African representatives Zimbabwe and Kenya as well as France.

Fiji are the top seeds in Pool B and shall battle it out with Australia, Portugal and Russia for a place in the next round. Former title holders New Zealand will be out to regain their winning-status in George and have been drawn in a tough pool alongside Sevens World Cup winners Wales, traditional Pacific Island rival Samoa and the ever-improving USA.

Pool D is headed by Scotland and they will have to face the powerful outfits of England and Argentina as well as Tunisia.

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu said he is pleased with the draw but warned that there would be no easy game on the first day: “The first two tournaments of the new season promises to be very tough because the teams are intent on making a strong start.

“Two of the teams in our group have shown recently that they are on the way up and there are no more easy matches nowadays. The Kenyans were very good last season and Zimbabwe showed how dangerous they can be by beating Argentina in the recent Trustco Namibian Sevens.

“All four the pools for George will be hotly contested and an upset or two is very possible. We are there as defending champions, which would add some pressure, but if we can get the same level of support as last year, we can defend out title,” said Treu.

He added: “Although we’ve lost some very good players, we’ve also gained a few exciting new faces and we are really looking forward to the season.”

One of Treu’s new signings, Cecil Afrika, started training with the Springbok Sevens team on Monday in Stellenbosch.

The second new signing announced recently, MJ Mentz, will join the squad in camp at the conclusion of the Pumas’ domestic season. The team from Witbank still has to play in the Absa Currie Cup First Division Final, as well as two promotion/relegation encounters against Boland.

Meanwhile, tickets for the Emirates Airline SA Sevens tournament in George are available at Computicket outlets countrywide and also online at www.computicket.com.

Supporters can also contact the Computicket Call Centre on 083 915 8000 for further information or to buy tickets telephonically.

Fans in George and its surrounding areas can buy their tickets directly from the SWD Eagles ticket office at Outeniqua Park. Veronica Stoffels is the contact person and her telephone number is 044 873 0138.

There is a exciting young school talent from Paul Roos in the squad, are you going?

 

[BillyWebb]

are you going?

It depends on work commitments Paarl.
Are you going?

I rate George as one of the best venues. It's incredibly spectator friendly, and beautiful to boot.

 

[Pfitzy]

What is the positional structure for 10s rugby? I've never seen it listed in the IRB Laws where they concentrate on 7 or 15.

 

[PaarlBok]

Bill I wont go, to close to my December holidays. Interesting the schools starts this year a week earlier and the June holidays will be a week longer due to the Poofball WC next year.

Nick 10s is a bit slow this side.

 

[Sully]

5 Rugby Players and 5 Backs mate

 

[Scarfman]

I love 10s. Hate 7s generally, though. Doesn't really look like rugby, but as you say, better than watching synchronised swimming.

And how come Whitewater events are so exciting to do and so dull to watch? They need a canoe-cam or something.

 

[BillyWebb]

And how come Whitewater events are so exciting to do and so dull to watch? They need a canoe-cam or something.

Made me laugh Scarfman. :lmao:

All of which made me try and think of something that's dull to do but good to watch...?