Singapore Joins Stellar World Rugby Sevens Series Line-Up From 2015-16

Singapore is the latest new venue for the World Rugby Sevens Series 2015-16 to be announced.

World Rugby

*Singapore joins 10-destination Series from 2015-16 cycle

*Singapore joins Vancouver, Sydney and Cape Town as a new host on record-breaking Series

*Rugby sevens experiencing record-growth in Olympic qualification year

Singapore is the latest major global city to join the exciting line-up of host destinations for the World Rugby Sevens Series from 2015-16.

The new state-of-the-art national stadium will play host to the world’s top male sevens players ahead of the discipline’s Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016.

A major financial and tourism location, Singapore joins Vancouver, Sydney and Cape Town as a new location on the 10-stop Series within the next four-year cycle.

The announcement comes as rugby participation in Asia continues to grow with 445,000 men, women and children actively enjoying the sport, an increase of nearly one-third over four years.

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The World Rugby Sevens Series continues to go from strength to strength, proving a hit with fans, broadcasters and sponsors around the globe with its winning blend of compelling and competitive action, global destinations and festival atmosphere.

“As a major tourism and business destination, Singapore’s inclusion on the Series is great news for fans and great news for rugby as the sport continues to experience record growth ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper added: “Asia has been at the heart of the rugby sevens success story and it is exciting to add another fantastic location and an incredible stadium to the stellar and expanded line-up of World Rugby Sevens Series host destinations from 2015-16.

L-R Jean Ng (STB, Director of Sports Division), Low Teo Ping, President(SRU), Toh Boon Yi Chief, Strategic Development and Marketing Group (SportSg) and Philippe Colin Delavaud CEO (Sportshub) at the press conference to announce Singapore as a new destination on the World Rugby Sevens Series from 2015-16. Photo: SINGAPOREMAVEN.COM

“I am sure Singapore, with its major event experience and passion, and superb new stadium, will become a fan and team favourite on the record-breaking World Rugby Sevens Series.”
Singapore’s inclusion follows a highly competitive tender process featuring 25 global locations with the successful Singapore Rugby Football Union and City of Singapore bid focusing on furthering the growth of rugby across Asia.

Singapore Rugby Union President Low Teo Ping said: “We truly believe that our event at the iconic national stadium has the potential to match the excitement surrounding current tournaments in the Series.

“Engaging rugby in Asia and growing the sport in Singapore is our prime vision for the tournament and the key associated events and community outreach as part of this tournament will be critical to the long-term sustainability of rugby as we strive to ignite passion in the next generation of players and fans in Singapore, South-east Asia and ultimately across Asia.”

With qualification well underway for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series has been exceptionally competitive with England’s victory in the Tokyo Sevens at the weekend meaning that there are now just 29 standing points between England in fourth and South Africa in first with four teams progressing to Rio 2016 from the Series.

Ntiense Williams

Commonwealth Games Federation Unveils Rugby Sevens Teams Invited To Line Up For Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games

The Commonwealth Games Federation today (Friday, January 23) with World Rugby unveiled the 14 international teams invited to compete for Gold in Rugby Sevens at the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The history-making line-up includes eight teams for the men’s tournament and six for the women’s tournament – the first time young female athletes will compete in a Rugby Sevens competition at a Commonwealth Youth Games.

Rugby Sevens is already a firm favourite with Commonwealth Games fans – with the two-day tournament at Glasgow 2014 attracting a 170,000 world-record breaking audience for the sport over the two days of competition. And with Rugby Sevens set to make its Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro next year, the young Rugby stars of the Commonwealth Youth Games will be looking to get an early foothold in the fast-paced sport which continues to grow and flourish on the global sporting stage.

The teams invited to go for Gold in the Men’s Tournament are: South Africa, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Cayman Islands, England, Fiji, Samoa and Australia.

And in the Women’s Tournament teams from Canada, Scotland, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands and Samoa are offered the chance to compete.

Making the announcement, David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation said:

“We’re delighted to unveil the Commonwealth nations and territories teams invited to compete in what is one of the world’s great international Rugby Sevens competitions for young athletes and we’re especially pleased to be making history by having the first women’s Rugby Sevens tournament at a Commonwealth Youth Games.”

Vitolio Lui, Chief Co-ordinator of the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games said:

“Rugby Sevens is fast and furious contest with high point-scoring, hard hits and heroic sprints with just 14 minutes to win the game. It’s all about teamwork, skills and stamina and everyone’s got a job to do.

“Given the high quality of Rugby Sevens competition within the Commonwealth, we look forward to seeing some exciting and excellent performances in Samoa.”

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset added:

“Rugby Sevens is reaching out, attracting and inspiring new young audiences around the world. We are excited about our Commonwealth Youth Games opportunity to showcase the future global stars of the men’s and, for the first time, the women’s Rugby Sevens.

We are sure that the sport’s winning blend of breath-taking action, competitiveness and entertainment will prove a hit in rugby-mad Samoa.”

Commonwealth Games Associations from the selected nations and territories now have until March 01 to confirm whether they will take up their Rugby Sevens slots along with all the other sports in which they intend to compete.

World Rugby

The Samoa 2015 Youth Games takes place from September 5-11 and will involve around 1000 Young Commonwealth Athletes aged 14-18. This will be the fifth Commonwealth Youth Games with previous Games held in Isle of Man (2011), Pune India (2008), Bendigo, Australia (2004) and Edinburgh in Scotland (2000).

The Commonwealth Youth Games is often the first opportunity to see the next generation of top athletes in action on the world sporting stage. Such sporting successes include English athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill who won silver in the 100 Metre Hurdles and High Jump at the Bendigo 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games and then went on to win bronze in the Heptathlon at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Since then, Jess won the gold medal in the Heptathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Through sport there are great opportunities not only for serious competition and fun but also to play an active part in important areas such as diversity and citizenship. It’s a priority for the CGF to engage, inspire and to help young people realise their potential right across a Commonwealth connected through sport.

World Rugby Statement On Olympic Agenda 2020

World Rugby President Bernard Lapasset welcomes the approval by the IOC membership at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco of the 40 recommendations that comprise Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.

Lapasset said: “This is a significant moment for the Olympic Movement and World Rugby is delighted to have contributed to the Olympic Agenda 2020 process. We fully support the recommendations and look forward to working with the IOC to bring them to life.

“As a modern, thriving sport, rugby is acutely aware of the importance of youth, sustainability and credibility in an increasingly congested entertainment and sporting landscape and World Rugby is committed to living the recommendations and sharing relevant expertise as we build towards our Olympic Games return at Rio 2016.

“We are excited about rugby sevens at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and the adoption of Agenda 2020 heightens our enthusiasm. We continue to work in full partnership with the IOC and the organising committee to ensure that the men’s and women’s competitions bring new young audiences to the Olympic family and deliver compelling action and a unique festival atmosphere, that is great for the Olympics, great for rugby and great for Brazil.”