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… Before the late Jonah Lomu stormed onto the world rugby scene at the Hong Kong Sevens, he actually made his international debut at the Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby Sevens.
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Played every year on the iconic Padang (literally, the field) in the heart of downtown Singapore, the SCC Sevens is the oldest club sevens event in Asia and the third-oldest sevens event in the world. And as the teams from across the globe kick-off this weekend, fans will be partying in the Singapore sun as the tournament celebrates its 70th year.
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The iconic Lomu, who went on to score 37 tries from 63 tests with the All Blacks, described visiting Singapore when he was just 14 years old, alongside fellow All Blacks Sevens legend Eric Rush.
“I was playing with Eric Rush at the time and he didn’t realise how young I was until he looked at my passport”.
The SCC Sevens is affectionately known as the ‘Friendly Sevens’ and in addition to Lomu and Rush, All Blacks’ Hall of Famer Tana Umaga and South Africa’s former World Player of the Year Cecil Afrika have graced the Padang on their ascendency to rugby stardom.
In this, it’s 70th year, all eyes will be on Fijian powerhouse Daveta, boasting a number of players from Fiji’s historic 2016 Rio Olympics Sevens gold-medal winning squad.
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Alongside six-time champions Daveta, this year’s tournament will feature 15 teams competing for the prestigious Ablitt Cup, including development sides from France, Hong Kong and Sweden; Papua New Guinea’s InterOil Turagu; Japan’s Tamariva; 2014 winner Borneo Eagles from Malaysia; and Tribe 7s Australia, essentially the Australian Sevens Development team. Perth’s Palmyra, one of several club teams from around the Southeast Asia region, will make its 40th trip to Singapore to join hosts SCC in their celebrations.
“The SCC Sevens is embedded in Singapore rugby culture and is one of the key rugby events on our calendar not to be missed,” says Terence Khoo, President of the Singapore Rugby Union. “With the recent success of the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens and Super Rugby, Singapore is emerging as a rugby hub in Asia and the SCC Sevens adds to this with world-class teams and high profile players competing. To have not one but two iconic sevens events in Singapore is truly a testament to the passion and dedication all involved have in ensuring that rugby continue to flourish and adapt in the changing times.”
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For those rugby fans lucky enough to be living in or passing through Singapore this weekend, early bird tickets are on sale at www.apactix.com and are priced at S$20 for an adult three day pass and S$10 for under-18s. An adult pass will be S$30 when purchased at the door from November 3. All tickets exclude a S$1 booking fee.
About the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC)
Established in 1852, the Singapore Cricket Club today counts itself as one of the premier sports and social clubs in Asia. It is the second oldest sports club in Singapore and stands at the centre of the city’s colonial heart and the glamorous skyline of the business district. The SCC entertains 13 sports sections, of which, six hold major internationally acclaimed tournaments annually on the world famous “Padang”.
About the SCC International Rugby 7s
The Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby 7s is organized by the Singapore Cricket Club and is one of the oldest invitational team sports event in Asia. It is the second oldest international Rugby 7s tournament in the world, second to the original home of the 7s, Melrose in Scotland.
What began as a humble tournament for Singaporean and Malaysian teams in the 1940s has grown to be regarded as a spectator-friendly tournament. The Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby 7s celebrates its 70th edition this year, and promises to feature high playing standards from teams all across the world. Continuing the development of rugby in Singapore, the Club also conducts coaching clinics along with youth sponsorships to expand and support youth rugby.
Featured Video Credit: SCC 7s on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgUeW0Xvteu1CbvBBu5vIlw
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments