George hosts 10th SA Rugby Sevens
9 October 2008
The Western Cape town of George will host the 10th anniversary of the Emirates Airlines South Africa Rugby Sevens from 5 to 6 December. The event is the second on the 2008/09 international schedule, taking place a week after the season-opening Dubai Sevens.
The tournament features 16 teams, including the hosts, South Africa, and the previous season's Series champions, New Zealand. The Kiwis are also the defending George champions.
The action happens at The Outeniqua Stadium and Fouad Caunyhe, Regional Manager of Emirates Southern Africa says the event has plenty on offer for the fans. "It is truly an outstanding spectacle to witness the world's most respected international rugby players in action," he said. "South African rugby fans can expect a thrilling tournament of the highest international standard.
"Emirates has a great affinity with rugby and the South Africa Sevens is an extremely important event in our sponsorship portfolio," he added.
The draw
The home team has been handed an interesting draw. They're the top seeds in Pool B and will face unpredictable Australia, Georgia, and the USA.
New Zealand, the runaway winners of last year's Series have it tough; they're up against England, France, and Portugal in Pool A.
Pool C features another difficult looking group of teams. Fiji will battle Argentina, Scotland, and one of two African qualifiers.
Samoa will face Kenya, Wales, and the second African qualifier in Group D.
'Hyper-competitive'
"The George field this year is sure to be hyper-competitive as the sides hone in on the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai next March," the IRB Tournaments Director Beth Coalter told the IRB website.
"George is always an interesting Tournament as the team who won the weekend before in Dubai is keen to establish a strong start to the new Series ahead of New Zealand and San Diego in February. The World Cup will just increase that desire for momentum," she reckoned.
Allen Kruger, the Marketing Manager of SA Rugby, has urged rugby fans and supporters of the tournament to move quickly to book their tickets.
He said: "The Emirates Airline SA Tournament is a hugely popular event and we know that rugby supporters travel from far to come and see the best Sevens rugby players in the world in action and to join in the awesome fun and festivities.
"George is really the best place to be in South Africa during the first weekend of December. SA Rugby and its sponsors and partners are all determined to deliver an even better and more enjoyable tournament this year so that we can celebrate a decade of international Sevens rugby in South Africa in true style."
No home win
South Africa have yet to win the George Sevens. They closest they have come to victory was in 2006 when New Zealand beat SA 24-17 in the final.
The Kiwis are unquestionably the team to beat. They won six of the eight tournaments in the 2007/08 season, beating Fiji 31-21 in the Dubai final and 34-7 in the George final. They beat South Africa 27-12 to win in San Diego and 26-12 to win in Hong Kong. They also defeated England 24-14 to lift the Edinburgh Sevens title and downed Samoa 22-17 to win on home soil in Wellington.
South Africa ended New Zealand's unbeaten run in the sixth event of the season in Adelaide, triumphing 15-7.
Samoa was the only other country to lift a title; they beat Fiji 19-14 to take the honours in London.
New Zealand finished top of the standings with 154 points. South Africa claimed second place with 106, followed by Samoa with 100 and Fiji with 94. There was quite a drop after the top four, with England in fifth with 54 points.
SAinfo reporter
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