10th Singer-Sri Lanka Sevens Sept 5 to 7 in Nittawela

by Shamseer JALEEL

RUGBY: Singer Sri Lanka Rugby Sevens will be celebrating its 10th anniversary when they host the International rugby sevens on 5-7 September at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium. The sevens was a brain child of the former Royal scrum half and past President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) Malik Samarawickrema.

Under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union, the Singer Sri Lanka Sevens evolved from a conversation between George Simpkin, Malik Samarawickrema and Priyantha Ekanayake way back in 1999 and thereafter, it was decided to stage the first ever Sevens Rugby Tournament for the Asian countries to coincide with the 125th Anniversary of the Kandy Sports Club.

This event was held at the Bogambara Grounds Kandy, on September 4 and 5 1999.

Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, India and Sri Lanka played in the first tournament.

Since the Asian region - IRB Satellite Sevens event was established and only the Asian region Countries were invited on the ranking of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) recommendations.

The events in 2006 and 2007, despite various constrains and obstacles in Sri Lanka, the tournament went on uninterrupted.

The following nations will take part in this years tournament (10 teams): In pool 'A': South Korea, Malaysia, Arabian Gulf, Thailand and India. Pool 'B': Sri Lanka, China, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhastan and Singapore.

In the school segment will take part Pool 'A': Kingswood, Wesley and Ananda; Pool 'B': Isipathana, Dharmaraja, St. Sylvester's. Pool 'C': St. Peter's, St. Joseph's, Vidyartha; Pool 'D': Royal, St. Anthony's and Nalanda.

Results of tourneys since 1999:

1999: Participating teams - Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Thailand.

Cup Champions - final: Korea Beat Chinese Taipei - 22 point to 07 points, Plate Championship - final: Malaysia beat Sri Lanka - 27 points to 26 points, Bowl Championship - final: India beat Thailand - 47 points to 31 points.

2000: Participating teams - Arabian Gulf, China, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan barbarians, Thailand.

Cup Champions - final: Chinese Taipei beat Korea - 38 points to 21 points, Plate Championships - final: Japan beat China - 42 points to nil, Bowl Championship - final: Thailand beat Sri Lankan Barbarians - 35 points to 26 points.

2001: Participating teams - Arabian Gulf, Belgium, China, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhastan, Malaysia, Sri Lankan Barbarians, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand.

Cup Championship - finals: Chinese Taipei beat Korea - 26 points to 21 points, Plate Championship - finals: Denmark beat Malaysia - 24 points to 14 points, Bowl Championship - finals: Czech Republic beat Arabian Gulf - 15 points to 14 points.

2002: Participating terms - Arabian Gulf, Belgium, China, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Portugal.

Cup Championship - final: Portugal beat Kenya - 24 points to 21 points, Plate Championship -final: South Korea beat Malaysia - 27 points to 26 points, Bowl Championship - final: Hong Kong beat India - 50 points to Nil.

2003: Participating teams - Arabian Gulf, Australian Potoroos, Belgium, Chinese Taipei, Cooks Island, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand Centurions, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka.

Cup Champions - final Winners: Kenya beat Portugal, Plate Champions - final Winners: Sri Lanka, Bowl Championship - final Winners: Arabian Gulf.

2004: Participating teams - Arabian Gulf, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Kazakhastan, Guam, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand. (RWC Qualifier)

Cup Championship - Winners: Japan, Plate Championship - Winners: Sri Lanka, Bowl Championship - Winners: Kazakhastan.

2005: Participating teams - Arabian Gulf, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhastan, Malaysia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Guam.

Cup Championship - Winners: Japan, Plate Championship - Winners: Sri Lanka, Bowl Championship - Winners: Arabian Gulf.

2006: Participating teams - Arabian Gulf, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhastan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippine, Sri Lanka, Thailand.

Cup Championship - Winners: Korea, Plate Championship - Winners: Thailand, Bowl Championship - Winners: Malaysia.

2007: Participating teams - Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kazakhastan, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India. (10 teams)

Cup Championship - Winners: Hong Kong beat Korea - 37 points to 5, Plate Championship - Winners: China beat Thailand - 34 points to Nil, Bowl Championship - Winners: India beat Cambodia - 36 points to 5 points.