3 Singapore teams to mix it up at the Singapore Cricket Club Rugby 7s

By reader Paul Kung

The Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby 7s (SCC 7s) is making its annual return to the Padang on the first weekend of November. Despite the doom and gloom of the current financial crisis, teams from the major rugby nations of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom have committed to making the trip down to Singapore for what has been, for 61 years, the ‘friendly sevens’.

This year's tournament sees an increased number of international teams participating as part of their preparations for the 2008 World Cup Sevens Tournament that will be held later this year in Dubai. The SCC 7s has seen the likes of rugby legend Jonah Lomu among others grace the Padang.

Last year's winners, the South African Vipers, the development squad of the South African Sevens team which has done very well in the international sevens circuit to date, are looking to defend their title. Other teams to watch are Ponsonby form New Zealand and the highly impressive Tepapa Barbarians. Singapore will be represented by three local teams: hosts SCC, Singapore Barbarians and the Red Dot Rebels, a new invitational team comprising of young local players who have come through the various clubs.

More than just a competitive spectacle, the tournament will offer loads of food and beverage as well as activities for families, making it a true social rugby experience, which in this day of professional sports events is fast disappearing. The teams are also putting back to the community and will be hosting various clinics at various schools around the island for aspiring rugby players.

Entry fee for the public is $20.