Sevens Rugby in Australia

[TOCC]

I said a while ago that Sevens could be used as a medium to expand the game into non-traditional rugby areas, Keerbra Park is historically a very strong rugby league school producing the likes of Benji Marshall and participating in the national schools comp on NRL GF day.

The schoolboy Queensland Sevens Rugby curtain raisers for the QR Reds and Crusaders match at Suncorp on Friday night have been decided, with Keebra Park State High School, St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Ipswich Grammar School and Brisbane State High qualifying for the finals series.

The two semi-finals and the final will take place from 5:30pm on Friday, with the eventual winner to be flown to St Ignatius’ College, Riverview on March 31 to compete against six teams from NSW and another from ACT.

Sevens rugby is an exciting alternative to the 15-a-side game and with its inclusion to the Olympic Games from 2016, the ARU has begun developing a school-based tournament to help promote the game in both traditional rugby playing schools and those that are relatively new to the game.

The ARU hopes to build the tournament on a national scale in the near future with teams from each state in Australia represented.

Semi-Finals on Friday, February 19 at Suncorp Stadium
5:30pm - Ipswich Grammar School v St Joseph’s Nudgee College
5:50pm – Brisbane State High v Keebra Park State High School

Grand Final on Friday, February 19 at Suncorp Stadium
6:25pm – Winner of Semi Final 1 v Winner of Semi Final 2

The Investec Bank Super 14 match between the QR Reds and New Zealand’s Crusaders will follow at 7.30pm.

http://qru.com.au/library/news/2010/100217_curtain_raiser_teams_decided,70939.html

 

[TOCC]

Also, so far in the IRB Sevens series, Australia has been performing quite well, in Las Vegas they had there best finish since 2008, also they are building towards the Commonwealth Games so it could see further emphasis.

 

[Moses]

MOC wants JOC (James O'Connor), poCOCk, Ioane and Giteau

http://rugby.com.au/news/article,136474.html

Boom Wallabies Digby Ioane, David Pocock and James O'Connor are being sized up for Commonwealth Games duty along with Matt Giteau, to bolster Australia's improving Sevens squad.

Coach Michael O'Connor guided Australia to the semi-finals at Las Vegas on the weekend, their best result in two years on the IRB Sevens circuit, and believes they would be genuine gold medal contenders in Delhi with the addition of a couple of Test stars.

At the 2006 Melbourne Games, Giteau, Lote Tuqiri, Chris Latham and Scott Fava were four Test players thrown into the Sevens squad in a move which had mild success, resulting in a fourth-place finish.

Pleased with the progress of his young squad, O'Connor doesn't feel the need to include as many Wallabies in Delhi in October, but has told the Australian Rugby Union's high-performance unit he was keen for a big-name boost.

He would even love to educate Queensland winger Ioane and Western Force flanker Pocock, who have limited Sevens experience, on the run in between the end of the Wallabies Tri-Nations campaign and their Spring Tour of Europe.

"I've had that discussion with the ARU and I'm very interested in one or two," he told AAP.

"There are players there who have played Sevens before who are good Sevens players and there are players who haven't but I have no doubt they would be good Sevens players - the obvious examples are Digby Ioane and David Pocock."

O'Connor said Ioane's strength and speed made him a Sevens natural while Pocock, who has unseated George Smith as the Wallabies ball scavenger, "ticks all the boxes."

"I think Dave Pocock would be an absolutely fantastic Sevens player," he said.

"He's extremely fit, strong over the ball, quick, he played in the centres at school, and he's smart and would learn quickly.

"Gits has played and is good at Sevens, James O'Connor has played a bit of Sevens and he'd be great."

The main stumbling block is Wallabies coach Robbie Deans preparation schedule for the Spring Tour, which will include Tests against England, Italy, France and possibly also Wales and the All Blacks.

The Wallabies are scheduled to leave for Europe on October 30, more than three weeks after the Sevens are played at Delhi, but Deans' first training camp is due to start in Sydney on October 4.

O'Connor would require his full squad to attend a 10-day pre-Games camp in late September in Darwin, to include a mini-tournament against other Games rivals.

"Sevens is a game we don't play a lot in Australia and there are nuances that you can only learn by playing the game," he said.

"I've taken on Super 14 players who don't aim up with the fitness aspect of it."

Ioane last played Sevens in 2003 but quickly put his hand up on Wednesday.

"I would love to, it would just depend on how it panned out with the Test season," he said.

 

[TOCC]

Keebra Park crowned champions

WHILE it may be considered one of the state’s premier rugby league nurseries, Keebra Park State High School proved it’s worth in both rugby codes last week.
The school, which has produced the likes of Kiwi skipper Benji Marshall, were crowned champions of the Queensland Sevens Rugby tournament after defeating Ipswich Grammar School 38-28 in the final at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
The regular competition, which was contested by schools from across the South East, was held at Ballymore last Wednesday before the finals were held as curtain raisers to the Reds’ match against the Crusaders.
The boy’s from the Gold Coast defeated Brisbane State High School on their way to the final while Ipswich defeated Nudgee in its semi.
Other schools to participate in the tournament were Brisbane Boy’s College, Centenary SHS, Forest Lake SHS, Padua, Marsden SHS, Siena College, Toowoomba Grammar and Sunshine Coast Grammar.

http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/keebra-park-crowned-champions/

I think the aim is to have a comp later in the year with the best teams from each state, its my opinion that this will develop into a very large competition over the next few years, tap into talent from schools all over the country.

 

[RugbyFuture]

hopefully it might develop into the adoption of the 15 man code, the NSWRU should try this with the likes of Holy Cross ryde, fairfield etc, especially considering holy cross is smack bang in the middle of Rugby heartland with Joeys, eastwood, Epping and the likes next door.

 

[BRIX]

Great thread.

I actually wanted to start a thread on Australian 7's rugby myself and go over why we don't haven't had a competitive outfit representing us for 5+ years.

Credit to Kenya, but we should not be playing them in the plate or bowl final of any leg of the 7's circuit. We should be going up against the likes of Fiji, New Zealand, Sth Africa, England & Samoa.

Some great young chaps coming through the ranks but they're not at the level as some of these other countries aforementioned. Kingi was outstanding playing 7's and got acclaim by earning a test jersey during the Spring tour last year. I could think of a handful of guys that earnt a Super 14 jersey. Nick Cummins, Luke Morahan, Shawn Mackay (RIP), etc.

What can Rugby Australia and the AIS do about this and change our rank around? pip players from the professional game and, not through the AIS academy (only) while monitoring high school talent, simple. I think MOC Is a top coach but deserving of some competitive professionals to dedicate themselves to developing our 7's squad in and around the World Cup.

P.S. Clinton Sills is a beast, do you guys get the 7's circuit broadcasted Australia wide?

 

[TOCC]

Great thread.

I actually wanted to start a thread on Australian 7's rugby myself and go over why we don't haven't had a competitive outfit representing us for 5+ years.

Credit to Kenya, but we should not be playing them in the plate or bowl final of any leg of the 7's circuit. We should be going up against the likes of Fiji, New Zealand, Sth Africa, England & Samoa.

Some great young chaps coming through the ranks but they're not at the level as some of these other countries aforementioned. Kingi was outstanding playing 7's and got acclaim by earning a test jersey during the Spring tour last year. I could think of a handful of guys that earnt a Super 14 jersey. Nick Cummins, Luke Morahan, Shawn Mackay (RIP), etc.

What can Rugby Australia and the AIS do about this and change our rank around? pip players from the professional game and, not through the AIS academy (only) while monitoring high school talent, simple. I think MOC Is a top coach but deserving of some competitive professionals to dedicate themselves to developing our 7's squad in and around the World Cup.

P.S. Clinton Sills is a beast, do you guys get the 7's circuit broadcasted Australia wide?

the current crop of players going through the Australia 7's circuit at the moment are actually pretty dam good, Australia are sitting 5th overall just behind England. Australia unfortunately doesnt have the professional player depth to be able to give up players for the 7's circuit.

I think with the inclusion into the Olympics and continued interest in the game we will see a stronger emphasis on 7's in the next few years by both the ARU and AIS.

 

[chief]

Yeah I predict say a few 2 day tournaments involving QLD, NSW, Force, Melbourne and ACT as well as a few other club sides to participate in a 2 day 7's event that will regularly be hosted during the off season. After the club rugby schedule which finishes in September.

 

[BRIX]

Australia are sitting 5th overall just behind England

That's the problem, their best finish has been 5th since the 2001-2002 season.

I think with the inclusion into the Olympics and continued interest in the game we will see a stronger emphasis on 7's in the next few years by both the ARU and AIS.

Here, here. I hope

 

[p.Tah]

Rugby Sevens will feature at the Australia Youth Olympics in Sydney (January 2013)
http://ayof2013.olympics.com.au/sports/rugby-sevens

The Men's (u18s) squad is outlined below. The names highlighted in orange are from schools that are traditionally Rugby League schools. Good to see two Victorians in there as well. It highlights that Sevens is spreading rugby.

• Ericson Aukafolau Outside back NSW Westfield Sports High School
• Arthur Currie Forward NSW Gregory’s College, Campbelltown
• Adrian Delore Half, NSW Whitebridge High School
• Lolo Fakaosilea Forward QLD Brisbane Boys College
• Guy Hamilton Half QLD Keebra Park High School
• Andrew Kellaway Outside back NSW Scots College
• Jack McCalman Forward NSW The Kings School
• Tepai Meoroa Forward NSW Newington College
• Patolo Toeta Half VIC Melbourne Grammar
• Jack Tuttle Centre QLD St. Joseph’s College, Nudgee
• Bill Valetini Forward VIC Westall Secondary College
• Brad Wilkin Forward QLD Iona College

http://www.rugby.com.au/sevens/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1754/ArticleID/8088/Default.aspx

The women's squad

• Brooke Anderson NSW
• Charlotte Caslick QLD
• Georgie Friedrichs QLD
• Eva Karpani SA
• Rebeka Lally NSW
• Natahlia Moors QLD
• Evania Pelite QLD
• Tiana Penitani NSW
• Danielle Smith NT
• Leticia Stowers QLD
• Emma Tonegato NSW
• Brooke Walker QLD

http://www.rugby.com.au/sevens/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1754/ArticleID/8086/Default.aspx

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Rugby Sevens will feature at the Australia Youth Olympics in Sydney (January 2013)
http://ayof2013.olympics.com.au/sports/rugby-sevens

The Men's (u18s) squad is outlined below. The names highlighted in orange are from schools that are traditionally Rugby League schools. Good to see two Victorians in there as well. It highlights that Sevens is spreading rugby.

• Ericson Aukafolau Outside back NSW Westfield Sports High School
• Arthur Currie Forward NSW Gregory’s College, Campbelltown
• Adrian Delore Half, NSW Whitebridge High School
• Lolo Fakaosilea Forward QLD Brisbane Boys College
• Guy Hamilton Half QLD Keebra Park High School
• Andrew Kellaway Outside back NSW Scots College
• Jack McCalman Forward NSW The Kings School
• Tepai Meoroa Forward NSW Newington College
• Patolo Toeta Half VIC Melbourne Grammar
• Jack Tuttle Centre QLD St. Joseph’s College, Nudgee
• Bill Valetini Forward VIC Westall Secondary College
• Brad Wilkin Forward QLD Iona College

http://www.rugby.com.au/sevens/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1754/ArticleID/8088/Default.aspx


The women's squad

• Brooke Anderson NSW
• Charlotte Caslick QLD
• Georgie Friedrichs QLD
• Eva Karpani SA
• Rebeka Lally NSW
• Natahlia Moors QLD
• Evania Pelite QLD
• Tiana Penitani NSW
• Danielle Smith NT
• Leticia Stowers QLD
• Emma Tonegato NSW
• Brooke Walker QLD

http://www.rugby.com.au/sevens/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1754/ArticleID/8086/Default.aspx

A Greg's boy.

 

[p.Tah]

A Greg's boy.

Keebra Park and St Greg's played in the recent Rugby 7s Schoolboys Sevens final. Keebra won in the final minute (sorry)

http://www.rugby.com.au/tryrugby/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1760/ArticleID/7896/Default.aspx

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Keebra Park and St Greg's played in the recent Rugby 7s Schoolboys Sevens final. Keebra won in the final minute (sorry)

http://www.rugby.com.au/tryrugby/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1760/ArticleID/7896/Default.aspx

Yeah, I know the result. The Greg's coach told me a few weeks back. They were both disappointed and encouraged by the result. Last year they came fourth. They have a sniff now, so I expect (and have been told) that they will begin preparations for the event nice and early next year. With any luck Arthur will be the first of many Greg's boys coming through the ranks.

 

[TOCC]

Sevens stay at the Olympics has been extended to 2024 Paris games

 

[Strewthcobber]

Where is sevens at in this country?

World cup on and if here is anything to go by, barely anyone cares.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Where is sevens at in this country?

World cup on and if here is anything to go by, barely anyone cares.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Outside of one event a year its barely an entity here. We have the Aon 7s that's expanding in both teams and rounds but it's confined to rugby.com.au streaming. Our men's have nothing like that. If they want people to actually care we need to push either the Aon 7s or look at something like a Super 7s series featuring teams from each Super Rugby base plus a Fiji in both men's and women's and really look to push it to the public.