Rugby 7’s is one of the sporting world’s carnival events. Ireland will get a first taste of hosting a leg of the World Club Series next month when some of the leading teams from across the globe come to Thomond Park for two days of skill, speed and colour.
Saracens, Stade Francais, Waratahs and South Africa’s Western Province will all be present alongside teams from San Francisco, Moscow, Aukland and Fiji.
The latter’s world renowned Daveta Rugby team will play the hosts in the first round on Saturday, August 9th, in what is likely to be a highlight.
The game itself is fast paced and each match consists of two halves of seven minutes. The teams travelling to Limerick are among the best in the world and will be playing the following weekend at the Twickenham World Club 7’s in London.
Entertainment
Traditionally this version of Rugby was looked on as something of a sideshow by Rugby purists. Events in Hong Kong and Dubai were seen as much for the entertainment and dressing up of the fans as for the quality of the competition but as the World Series grew so too did the importance attached to the game itself.
All that is likely to transform again in two years time when the sport makes its debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Many of the international stars lining out at Thomond will be competing in front of a Billion worldwide viewers and among them will be future fans and sponsors.
Unfortunately Ireland will not be represented in the Men’s game in Rio though it will be in the Women’s side where the sport has been adopted here with greater enthusiasm.
Development
The IRFU and Munster Rugby are supporting this event which will be broadcast around the world as part of the World Club 7’s Series. That tournament is backed by Eglish Premiership Rugby and is seen as an important development tool.
There is likely to be further development of the game in years to come and that will be hastened by the Olympic spotlight.
The IRB confirmed yesterday that it has received expressions of interest to host the 2015/16 International World 7’s Series from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and the USA.
“Thomond Park Stadium is delighted to play its part in hosting Limerick World Club 7s this August,” said John Cantwell, Stadium Director of Thomond Park Stadium, “and this top class event will provide an exciting additional must-see experience to our calendar of events at Thomond Park and will also deliver significant economic and social benefits to Limerick and the region.
“The tournament has the potential to become one of the leading international 7s rugby competitions in the world on an annual basis and to further endorse Limerick and the region as a hotbed of rugby and a centre of sporting excellence.”
Combine
An important sidebar to the tournament is the pulling together of a ‘combine’ team to act as reserves for the competing clubs.
Around 100 Irish hopefuls will have trials to be part of this in the week before the tournament.
Tournament spokesperson, Maeve Moriarty commented, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for rugby players from clubs and provinces throughout Ireland to try out for a chance to compete with the world’s best 7s players from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres,” said tournament spokesperson Maeve Moriarty who has previously been a major influence on the RaboDirect sponsorship of the Pro 12.
“In last year’s Twickenham Final a combine player got to line out with the ACT Brumbies so this is a real chance to live out a dream for fast and fit rugby players.
The tournament is supported by Limerick City Council but it is hoped if it does grow into an annual festival that corporate sponsors will want to come on board in future years.
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