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DARWIN TO HOST IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES |
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Monday, 10 May 2010 |
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DARWIN TO HOST IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT Darwin’s standing as a Sevens haven has been reinforced today after the Australian Rugby Union announced the addition of a second international Sevens tournament to be held in the Northern Territory in October. The FORU [Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions] Qualification tournament to gain entry into events on the next IRB Sevens World Series will be held from 1-3 October at Darwin’s AUSTAR Rugby Park.
The tournament follows on from the annual Hottest Sevens, which is held with the support of the Northern Territory State government each January. Nine nations have already confirmed for October’s tournament, from which teams will earn the right to compete at one of the Hong Kong, Wellington and International Rugby Sevens Adelaide events on the next IRB Sevens World Series. The FORU tournament also provides Australia with an ideal lead-in to October’s Commonwealth Sevens tournament, which will be held as part of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. Australia and Samoa, who are already guaranteed positions at each of the events on the next Sevens World Series, will compete at Darwin to round off their preparations for the Commonwealth Games. Michael O’Connor’s Australian side for the Games, which could be bolstered by members of the Qantas Wallabies Spring Tour Squad, will prepare in Darwin for 10 days, including the FORU tournament, prior to their departure for India. “The securing of another tournament for our Sevens program is great for the development of the game in this country,” Australian Rugby Union High Performance Unit National Programs Manager Anthony Eddy says. “The fact that the FORU event coincides with the build up to the Commonwealth Games gives the tournament an even greater focus, both from an Australian perspective, and overall. “With Australia and Samoa already regular participants on the IRB Sevens World Series; their presence in Darwin will raise the playing standard, helping to enhance the development benefits of the tournament for the other competing nations.” Eddy says the acquisition of the FORU tournament reinforces the Northern Territory’s reputation as a growing hot-bed of the Sevens game, following Darwin’s successful hosting of the annual Hottest Sevens. “The Hottest Sevens has earned Darwin a good reputation as a Sevens destination. Hosting this FORU event, where nine nations are competing, will only enhance the city’s association with Sevens even further.” The FORU nation teams will be ranked by their performance at the Darwin tournament, with an opportunity provided for three of the sides to compete at up to three of next year’s IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in the region, encompassing the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide, Wellington and Hong Kong events. The teams that won qualification at last year’s event were Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Niue. The entries that have been received to date for October’s FORU Qualification tournament are: Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tahiti and American Samoa. |
