Malaysia will be the first venue for the HSBC Asian Sevens Series (HSBC A7s) with the Borneo Sevens at Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu from Aug 31-Sept 2.
The Borneo Sevens will be followed by ranking events in Shanghai and Mumbai in September and October. The Series comes to a close with a new non-ranking event in Singapore, which will double as the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Asian qualifier for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens. The Singapore Sevens will also be played in conjunction with the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens, the long-running event that will mark its 65th year in 2012.
The Borneo Sevens will feature 12 men’s teams including last year’s Borneo and HSBC A7s champions Japan, Borneo runners-up the Philippines, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and United Arab Emirates.
With three spots at stake for Asian men’s teams at next year’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, Malaysia will be one of 10 core teams on the HSBC A7s competing at all four events this year. The other core teams this season are China, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Malaysia’s overall results from the three ranking Series events will determine the team’s final tournament seeding going into the Singapore Sevens / Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 qualifier. If Malaysia finishes in the top three spots at the Singapore Sevens, it will qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow. Organising chairman Velayuthan Tan said they wished Malaysia all the best for the tournament.
“Malaysia will be up against the best in Asia. We are fortunate Malaysia will open their campaign on home ground. They can count on strong local support to help Malaysia start the Series on a winning note,’’ said Velayuthan.
For a third year, Borneo will showcase premier international women’s sevens alongside the men’s competition with the innovative 10-team Asia-Pacific Women’s Sevens pitting premier women’s sevens nations from Asia against their elite counterparts from the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU). The eight teams from Asia are China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Asian women’s sevens champions Kazakhstan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
Reigning 2009 Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Australia and defending Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens champion Papua New Guinea are confirmed from FORU with two additional teams to be included. The organisers have also initiated several activities.
The coaching clinics, which will be run by ex-Malaysia coach Deano Herewini, will be focused on introducing the game to local youth and working with existing rugby schools and clubs to develop their game in the hope of unearthing future players for Malaysia.
-thestar online.
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