Rugby Sevens

[observer]

These guys are not looking to promote the game, but to promote this event. They are predicting/hoping for 4,000 to attend.
Will be a nice little earn if they get close to their prediction, as their costs are $5k in prizemoney & ground hire.
Maybe the clubs need to get together & only compete in sanctioned events, so that any surplus goes to the clubs not promoters.

The prizemoney is $10k to winner and 4k to runner-up compared to $5k to the winner of central coast sevens. But with the prices for admission I think they've got Buckleys of getting 4,000 people to attend.

 

[Jets]

In the States they use 7's for a development pathway for a lot of transition athlete's (former Football players) with some success. I think it could be used the same way here.

I would be a big fan of a 7's circuit. It could fill the void between the end of the club season and the November tour to keep people interested in the game. It would be good to watch on TV. Maybe Fox or One could pick it up.

 

[I like to watch]

The prizemoney is $10k to winner and 4k to runner-up compared to $5k to the winner of central coast sevens. But with the prices for admission I think they've got Buckleys of getting 4,000 people to attend.

correct, but entry costs for the sides are just short of $10k, leaving only a shortfall of $5k in prizmoney.
A crowd of around 300 would be break even for the promoters.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

IMO what makes rugby great is the scrum and the variety of body types that play the game coupled with the various skill sets players must have at each phase of the game. Unfortunately Sevens doesn't have this and I just can't feel the same passion for it as the 15 man game. I would rather see a 10 or 12 man game with 5 or 6 in the scrum and proper scrum contests. Obviously the fact that there is an International Sevens circuit is a major draw back to supporting a different shortened game.

 

[I like to watch]

Eyes & Ears,
I always thought that scrums were designed to get the fat,slow ones & the tall unco ordinated ones in a group together & out of the way of the smart athletic ones.This would then allow the game to go on unimpeded.
Is that not right?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Is the oval at Easts in any better condition than the goat paddock presented for the Shute Shield Finals?

Ticket prices sound a bit steep, particularly when there is almost no parking, and limited facilities at that oval. THey can not be anticipating a very large crowd.

North Sydney oval would be ideal for this tournament, but I suppose it is in Cricket mode already.

Rat Park would be an ideal oval but a bit far away from CBD for some people.

 

[Elfster]

Perhaps the competition being at Easts/ Woollahra may explain the high costs. The funds must being put into some sort of insurance or compensation fund to cater for the expected injuries due to the state of the ground......

 

[Bruce Ross]

IMO what makes rugby great is the scrum and the variety of body types that play the game coupled with the various skill sets players must have at each phase of the game. Unfortunately Sevens doesn't have this and I just can't feel the same passion for it as the 15 man game. I would rather see a 10 or 12 man game with 5 or 6 in the scrum and proper scrum contests. Obviously the fact that there is an International Sevens circuit is a major draw back to supporting a different shortened game.

E'nE, not for the first time I find myself in full agreement with your opinions.

Late last year I wrote an article I placed on my own blog and also in G&GR's blog section.

The article was titled, "Nine-a-side rugby: a game for boofy blokes". It started:

"For many rugby aficionados the sevens version of the game is deeply unsatisfying; a skim milk, decaffeinated, lukewarm concoction. ...

"What I want to propose is a shortened form of the game designed for knockout carnivals which would retain most of the elements that make rugby so distinctive. There would be strong emphasis on physical engagement and the scoring of tries."

Some of the features of the proposed version of the game included tries as the only method of scoring; claiming of marks anywhere in the field of play; kicks directly into touch other than from a penalty to provide no gain in ground; five players in the scrum; and a maximum of twenty seconds from when a lineout begins to form for the ball to be thrown in.

I argued: "With these variations to the Laws we would have a game which is played with minimum time wasting and delays. The features which make rugby so distinctive, namely serious scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls, are retained ...

"So what we end up with is a fast-moving, physically demanding and entertaining form of rugby which is complementary to sevens but likely to appeal to a different player and supporter base."

The degree of uninterest was overwhelming, but I'd be surprised if I was the only one who would much prefer watching such a game to Sevens.

On reflection I'd make one amendment to the laws, namely that the front rows should engage before the second rowers pack to eliminate any delays caused by re-packing.

 

[FTS]

These 7's tournaments are good in players getting exposure to the Australian 7s selectors etc. I know Tuggeranong Vikings from Canberra travelled around Australia last year and they had 3 players i think go to europe on the world tour. Plus one represent Cook Islands

 

[wamberal]

A bit of Sevens history, for those who are interested. When the Hong Kong Sevens started, in 1976, and for some years thereafter, New Zealand was represented by their champion provincial Sevens team. So, for example, Manawatu was "New Zealand" one year. This is a reflection of how important Sevens was in New Zealand back then, and, I suspect, still is.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

And when the "NZ" team was consistently beaten by specialist national selections, the Evil Lords of Darkness were annoyed that their nominated part timers were not been given the proper treatment that should be afforded to the Darkness from the other teams (read they were getting beaten). From this point on the NZRFU started to send a national representative side rather than the top provincial team. The rest as they say is history.

Not sure if Tich was the first coach of the Darkness 7's, but he has been around for about as long as Kevin Sheedy was the boss at Essenden. Not sure what the Evil Lords will do when Tich eventually moves on.

I suspect that his ashes will be spread at Hong Kong Stadium.

 

[observer]

MEMO: I like to watch; You must have shares in the event to be so supportive of it. At those admission prices they will not get a crowd.

 

[I like to watch]

Actually, its quite the reverse. I like you think they have priced themselves out of a crowd.How many attended the Colts GF day?
however I think if there are some $ to be made the clubs should ensure that they get the benefit, not some promoters.
After all the Clubs can do it without a promoter, but a promoter can't do it without the clubs.
My point was obviously lost that there is very little downside for the running of this event but there is much more upside.

 

[Drew]

Yeah, I think they are robbing family and friends so that someone at Easts can play "promoter". Have a relo playing want to go and don't all at the same time.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

E'nE, not for the first time I find myself in full agreement with your opinions.

Late last year I wrote an article I placed on my own blog and also in G&GR's blog section.

The article was titled, "Nine-a-side rugby: a game for boofy blokes". It started:

"For many rugby aficionados the sevens version of the game is deeply unsatisfying; a skim milk, decaffeinated, lukewarm concoction. ...

"What I want to propose is a shortened form of the game designed for knockout carnivals which would retain most of the elements that make rugby so distinctive. There would be strong emphasis on physical engagement and the scoring of tries."

Some of the features of the proposed version of the game included tries as the only method of scoring; claiming of marks anywhere in the field of play; kicks directly into touch other than from a penalty to provide no gain in ground; five players in the scrum; and a maximum of twenty seconds from when a lineout begins to form for the ball to be thrown in.

I argued: "With these variations to the Laws we would have a game which is played with minimum time wasting and delays. The features which make rugby so distinctive, namely serious scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls, are retained ...

"So what we end up with is a fast-moving, physically demanding and entertaining form of rugby which is complementary to sevens but likely to appeal to a different player and supporter base."

The degree of uninterest was overwhelming, but I'd be surprised if I was the only one who would much prefer watching such a game to Sevens.

On reflection I'd make one amendment to the laws, namely that the front rows should engage before the second rowers pack to eliminate any delays caused by re-packing.

I agree with a half way solution between 15s and 7s I have really enjoyed playing in 10s comps when they are avaiable but I think 7s with it's olympic connection has got a good foot hold now and thats the pony to bet on. I can see the value in 9s or 10s though we use 10's rugby for the school girls in Newcastle/Hunter and I think its a good compromise. As you said it has a few more in the scrum, a bit more traffic but at the same time it's better than 15s for many new comers to learn a new game.

On a comment earlier about the type of people who bag sevens, most people I know who have bagged sevens to me are big enough to have their own gravitational pull. I think it's a fear of being outside your own confort zone, short skinny arsed people have had to tackle giants in the winter 15s game with no complaints, now its time for the fattys to get themselves fitter for summer sevens - seems equal to me.

I heard sevens was created by the Scots, can anyone confirm that?

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I agree with a half way solution between 15s and 7s I have really enjoyed playing in 10s comps when they are avaiable but I think 7s with it's olympic connection has got a good foot hold now and thats the pony to bet on. I can see the value in 9s or 10s though we use 10's rugby for the school girls in Newcastle/Hunter and I think its a good compromise. As you said it has a few more in the scrum, a bit more traffic but at the same time it's better than 15s for many new comers to learn a new game.

On a comment earlier about the type of people who bag sevens, most people I know who have bagged sevens to me are big enough to have their own gravitational pull. I think it's a fear of being outside your own confort zone, short skinny arsed people have had to tackle giants in the winter 15s game with no complaints, now its time for the fattys to get themselves fitter for summer sevens - seems equal to me.

I heard sevens was created by the Scots, can anyone confirm that?

At the Melrose Rugby Club (Scotland)in 1883.

 

[easts_rugby]

G'Day Forum, just an official response on behalf of Easts Rugby Club. This is a new concept, developed completely independently from Easts by the team at Super Sevens (www.super7srugby.com.au), we have no vested interest aside from the fact that they chose Easts as a venue for their first event. Our understanding is that the Super Sevens guys are riding off the back of the fact that Rugby Sevens is now an Olympic sport, and this new concept will work as both a business venture and a rugby venture.

We are obviously extremely happy to be hosting the event and are hopeful that we will make some money from bar sales etc etc etc, that is where our involvement starts and ends. Just wanted to clear that up.

I have just come from a meeting with the Super Sevens team this morning, it looks like it is shaping to be a pretty entertaining day out for footy (and Scribe) fans.

Dave Oliver - Bar Manager

 

[observer]

Thanks very much Dave. I sincerely hope you get a crowd there but I think the admission prices are a bit steep. Up in Darwin this month they held the Oceania Sevens event featuring Australia's and Samoa's Commonwealth Games teams among other Pacific national teams. I understand the admission price there was similar to what the event organisers want to charge on Saturday.

Other than that it should be a great day of footy, drinking beer and telling lies!

 

[RugbyReg]

Dave, thanks for taking the time to post. Best of luck for the event. Let us know how it goes. Personally, I hope its a smash hit.

 

[observer]

http://wentworth-courier.whereilive...-now-even-quicker-shorter-and-closer-to-home/

Rugby: now even quicker, shorter and closer to home

14 Oct 10 @ 05:45pm by Rob Bates

IN six short years Rugby Sevens, the faster form of the sport with seven players each side, will make its debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Determined to have a team ready to take on the world, three rugby enthusiasts have invited 12 teams of the strongest players from around the country to compete in the first Super 7s Colts Tournament at Easts Rugby Club on Saturday, October 23.

Lance Ala'alatoa, Andrew Frost and Rick Korn have organised the event and posted $15,000 prize money to draw out the best of the best.

“I think we definitely have players out there good enough to bring us the first gold medal,” Ala'alatoa said.

“We have some great Indigenous players that haven’t been exposed to the Australian eye, so we think this tournament is the best way to find that talent.”

With an expected crowd of about 4000, the event will have games running from 9am to 6.30pm with a music festival continuing until 11.30pm.

Acts performing on the night will include Scribe and Rogers Room.

“Internationally Australia has always proven that it’s a great force with the 15-a-side game, but in seven-a-side we haven’t proven ourselves since the days of David Campese,” Ala'alatoa said.

“To win a gold medal at the Olympic debut would be something that isn’t expected and would make sporting history.”

The colts tournament on October 23 will be followed by two more in 2011 with a schoolboys tournament in March and an open tournament in October.

Entry is free for under-10-year-olds, $20 for students and children under 18, and $25 for adults.

For more information visit super7srugby.com.au.