Expanded event includes more teams, more matches,more categories and live broadcast action. (Photo: Grayling)
Singapore Cricket Club, one of Asia’s leading sports and social clubs, has unveiled a new format for the world-famous Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby 7s. For the first time ever, the competition will be staged over three days and nights, with the first round of games being played under floodlights on the Padang on Friday 5 November. An expanded pool of 28 teams, including some of the finest international and invitational rugby teams from across the world, will compete for the coveted Ablitt Cup. Another debut on the first day of the tournament will be the first SCC 7s women’s competition, with Singapore competing against national teams from around the region.
In addition, the long-standing SCC 7s schools tournament has been bestowed further prestige, with the Singapore Rugby Union confirming the winners will be crowned National Schools and Colleges Champions of Singapore. With rugby constantly increasing in popularity across the country, StarHub has agreed an exclusive deal to screen the finals of the tournament on Sunday 7 November, the first time action from the event will be broadcast live.
Peter Hutton, chairman, SCC Rugby 7s organising committee, said: “The SCC 7s has been going from strength to strength over the past decade. The tournament is now established as one of the top events on the international rugby 7s calendar and we are proud to have developed a homegrown tournament which brings truly world-class sport to Singapore.
“Interest in rugby is growing, with a record number of women and schools taking part and we therefore felt the time was right to expand the SCC 7s, in terms of teams, categories and, indeed, length. With the tournament renowned for its pitchside party and carnival atmosphere, we are sure that Singaporeans will look forward to this year’s event more than ever before, regardless of their familiarity with rugby.”
David Voth, Senior Director of Sports Marketing Group, Singapore Sports Council, said, “We are proud to partner with the Singapore Cricket Club to provide ‘live’ broadcast coverage of this home-grown event which has fired the imagination of the international sporting fraternity. We are confident that this will pave the way for local broadcast players to explore collaboration opportunities with sports events providers. In turn sports events providers will have a platform to increase viewership beyond just field-of-play spectators.”
“While this spells growth opportunities for the local sports broadcast industry, ultimately Singaporeans will benefit as this creates a platform for more sports to be brought right into their homes. This will provide further impetus to our Let’s Play movement, which seeks to encourage everyone in Singapore to embrace sports as a lifestyle choice”, he added.
The 63rd edition of Singapore’s oldest sports tournament will be contested by 28 teams - four more than participated in 2009. Top teams who have confirmed their participation include champions for the past three years, the SA Vipers (the South Africa national squad), HSBC Penguins, one of the world’s premier invitation squads, and Fiji’s leading club Devatelavu, who finished runners-up in 2008 and 2009. In addition, national squads from Japan, USA, Hong Kong, Namibia and Sweden will compete.
The first SCC 7s women’s international tournament will provide the perfect preparation for teams competing in November’s Asia Games. Singapore will test themselves against six teams, including Japan, Malaysia and Iran. The National Schools and Colleges titles will be contested at the SCC 7s for the first time, with a total of 32 schools vying for crowns in the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 19 Categories. StarHub will screen the final matches live, including the Ablitt Cup Final, on Sunday 7 November, on SuperSports Arena (StarHub TV Channel 201). SuperSports Arena is a complimentary sports channel made available to all StarHub TV customers. The newly–signed deal is in addition to partnerships agreed with World Sport Group, to produce and distribute highlights packages around the region, and lifestyle entertainment channel AXN, who have come on board as the tournament’s first ever non-sport broadcast partner.
Sandie Lee, vice president of content development and management, StarHub, said: “The SCC 7s is one of the premier events on the Singaporean sports calendar. As a local competition which also attracts world-class teams, it is a perfect fit for SuperSports Arena, our sports channel which champions local sports. Rugby 7s is a fast-paced, dynamic, action-packed sport and one which we look forward to bringing to our viewers.”
The 2010 SCC 7s will take place from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 November, at a purpose built festival arena at the Padang, capable of holding over 7,000 fans. In addition to seeing international rugby 7s compete, fans can revel in the festival atmosphere of the pitchside party. Live music, F&B outlets and the pitch-wide Guinness bar bring the party directly into stands, ensuring spectators can drink and dance without missing a single tackle or try. The SCC 7s village will also include a children’s playground and warm-up viewing area where fans can get up close and personal with the players. Tickets are on sale at www.sccrugbyseven.com and are priced at $50 for three days for an adult and $25 for three days for under-18s.
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