Singapore relishes home advantage for inaugural South East Asia Sevens

SINGAPORE, 18 Feb 2016 – Organisers of the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens officially announced the inaugural South East Asia Sevens (SEA 7s) today. The tournament is one of the key ancillary activities of the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens and is jointly sanctioned by World Rugby and Asian Rugby.

· SEA 7s will be a boost to regional rugby development

· 14 national teams (8 men, 6 women) confirmed for tournament in Singapore

· Men and Women finals will be played at the National Stadium on Day One of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens in Singapore

The SEA 7s kicks off at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on 15th April (Friday) at 11am and to encourage more support from local and overseas rugby fans, admission to the day-long tournament is free. The SEA 7s men and women’s finals meanwhile will be played the next day at the iconic Singapore National Stadium on Day One of the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens.

“The SEA 7s is a key pillar in promoting the game of rugby 7s in the region and is a platform for players around the region to not only compete, but learn from each other and from the best in the world during the HSBC World Rugby Sevens in Singapore,” said Low Teo Ping, President of Singapore Rugby Union. “Creating the SEA 7s tournament was key in our strategy of using the Singapore 7s as a catalyst for development of the game in South East Asia. The SEA 7s will provide unions regular opportunities to play as a region and to help each other improve.”

The 8-nation men’s competition will feature host Singapore (2 teams), Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Brunei, current South East Asian Games champion Philippines and silver-medalists Malaysia. Singapore took the bronze in last August’s Games on home soil, but managed to beat Causeway rivals Malaysia 21-19 in last September’s Thailand Sevens in Bangkok. Singapore also managed to beat Thailand 24-19 in last September’s China Sevens in Qingdao.

“For any player who has ever donned the national jersey, the privilege to play in front of your home supporters, with your friends and family in the stands, that is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said men’s team captain Daniel Marc Chow. “We had tremendous support at last year’s SEA Games tournament and our aim is to qualify for the SEA 7s final. It will be a dream if we can ignite the Kallang Roar and win the tournament in front of the home fans.”

The women’s competition will feature six nations, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Malaysia and current South East Asian Games champion Thailand and silver-medallist Singapore.

Agreed women’s captain Alvinia Ow: “We are playing in our own backyard, so nothing is more important than going for gold. Yes, the pressure is always on the home team but we should fear nothing and play our hearts out. The chance to run out onto the field in front of our home supporters and contest the final during the HSBC World Rugby Series is motivation for us to work even harder in the weeks to come.”