Sports News: Local schoolboys to play in final of HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens 2016

SINGAPORE, 11 Feb 2016 – Players from local schools like Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), St Andrew’s Secondary, Raffles Institution, Pioneer Secondary, Damai Secondary and more will clash in sevens rugby over three Saturdays to earn the right to play on the same pitch as World Cup winners like Sonny Bill Williams and Bryan Habana at the upcoming HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens.

· World First sponsors the inaugural Sevens Series for Under 14s in Singapore

· 12 schools to compete in 3-legs series for the right to play Championship final at National Stadium

· Two-day passes for school children under 12 start as low as SGD 2

The second day of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens in Singapore (April 16-17) will feature a schoolboy match called the World First Singapore Schools Sevens Under-14 Series Championship final. To qualify, a total of 12 local schools will clash in a three-leg competition to be held at National University of Singapore Sports Stadium on 12 March, 19 March and 2 April. The winner of each leg will earn 10 points, the runner-up and second runner-up will get eight and six points respectively. The leading two teams at the end of the three-leg series will earn the distinction of becoming the first schoolboys to appear in a Schools Sevens final at the iconic National Stadium on April 17th.

“It’s not everyday you get to play at a world-class venue in front of tens of thousands of local and overseas rugby fans,” said Mikail Yue, 14, a Saints player. “While the world’s top players are playing in the ‘Road to Rio’ World Seven Series, it’s cool we have our own ‘Road to Kallang’ series. I have never played three 7s tournaments back-to-back over three weekends so it will be an interesting challenge. I hope my team qualifies for the Championship final and it will be amazing if the entire school together with our friends and families are at the National Stadium, all dressed up and cheering for us on Sunday.”

St. Andrews Secondary proved to be the kings of Schools Sevens rugby last year as their Under-14 squad won the Saints 7s and Singapore Schools 7s.

Added Romi Musa, ex national sevens player and rugby teacher in charge at Raffles Institution: “Sevens rugby is about creativity and individual skills and I’m sure the boys will have lots of fun being able to play on both weekends of the upcoming March schools holidays. In the 15s school tournament, we only get to play against the main schools. In this Series, they will get a chance to play against more than 10 schools. Sevens rugby is fast-paced and with only seven minutes per half, anything can happen, so it will be a stern test for the boys.”

“We are delighted to have UK money-broker World First to sponsor the first ever Singapore Schools 7s Series,” said George Danapal, Singapore Rugby Union’s General Manager. “Having a 7s series in the first half of the year provides Under-14 players with valuable game time and hence prepares them for the 15-aside season in July. Sevens rugby focuses quite a bit on individual skills like passing, evasive running and tackling, thereby increasing the skill levels of the individual player. With three legs to play, players have the opportunity to garner more game-time exposure and work on their teamwork.”

The World First Singapore Schools Sevens Under-14 Series Championship will be played on the second day of the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens and organisers have kept ticket prices very affordable for school children.

A two-day season pass for youth between 12 to 18 years is priced at an affordable SGD 75 for Category One (fixed seating), SGD 65 for Category Two (free seating) and SGD 25 for Category Three.
For kids under 12, a season pass costs only SGD 2 for both Category Two and Category Three.

Besides world class rugby, school children can look forward to a fun-filled weekend at the World Rugby Sevens as there will be plenty of games and activities in the Fun and Activity Zones, opportunity to dress up as their rugby heroes and lots of food and drink concessions.

The HSBC World Sevens Series moves on to Las Vegas, Vancouver, Hong Kong, before arriving in Singapore. Expect more nail-biting action as Series leader New Zealand strive to keep their winning form after winning the last two legs in Wellington and Sydney. Expect non-stop music and entertainment in the stadium and plenty of activity for the whole family outside the venue. Two-day passes for adults range from SGD 50 to SGD 150 and all prices exclude booking fees.