FEATURE
2014 PREDICTIONS W
elcome to the Societe Generale Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby Sevens Tournament, 67th Edition! Once again we have a fabulous tournament in store and a full weekend of world class Sevens. So sit back, crack open a cold one, marvel at what a unique setting we are in and most of all enjoy the rugby! With the absence of last year’s runaway winners, the Asia-Pacific Dragons, the big question on just about everyone’s lips will be “Who will lift the coveted Ablitt Cup” in 2014? Beaten finalists last year and previous winners Penguins return and will be hoping that the coaching expertise of Australian Michael O’Connor and Kiwi Tony Hanks will be able to mould a squad of players including several IRB Sevens players from Australia and England, into a winning team. Crowd favourites Daveta from Fiji, who suffered a shock quarter final loss in 2013, will also be back with a vengeance determined to regain the Cup they won in 2012. With the full support of Max Norris and Presidio Capital, Daveta will have some superb Fijian sevens talent in their ranks and will surely be up there in the Cup final on Sunday night. The 2014 Tournament sees several new teams making a first appearance at the SCC Sevens, two of whom will be fully expecting to be challenging for silverware on Sunday. Stade Francais from Paris, one of the world’s most colourful and famous clubs with a wonderful history over the years make their SCC debut with up and coming Sevens players from
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By Andy Douglas
France, and players who have represented England and Spain at IRB Sevens. Their appearance also sees a return to the Padang for Stade Francais’ inspirational Deputy Chairman Richard Pool-Jones, the ex-England No.8 who was part of the Cambridge University touring squad who played at the SCC Sevens in 1992. He will be watching from the stands this year so hopefully no early bath like in 92. The other newcomers who will be expected to do well are YCAC Tradition from Tokyo who will be bolstered by players from New Zealand including SCC Sevens Player of the Tournament 2010, Warwick “Wiz” Lahmert, who went on to play IRB Sevens for New Zealand. Under the experienced guidance of the wily coach, Simon Ryan, YCAC could be the real surprises of the weekend. Another club that will be reinforced by talent from New Zealand will be Borneo Eagles who have had great success with combining local Malaysian talent with Kiwi imports and they could be a real threat in the Cup this year, certainly capable of knocking out one of the big names. Sunnybank from Brisbane pulled off one the biggest shocks of SCC Sevens in recent years last year when they ousted Daveta in the Cup quarter finals only to go down in the semi-final to the APDs. But they now know what it takes and Director of Rugby Gaven Head will be hoping for a proper crack at the title. The other big Australian challenge will most likely come from one of Sydney’s most famous clubs,
Societe Generale SCC International Rugby 7s Tournament 2014, 67th Edition