The Singapore leg of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series doubled up as a qualifier for the International Rugby Board’s Rugby Sevens World Cup. The tournament started on Friday and Sri Lanka looked like they would have a shot to be within the three nations that can qualify. Drawn in a group alongside Japan and Indonesia [...]

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Lanka bows out of semis, losing to Korea

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The Singapore leg of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series doubled up as a qualifier for the International Rugby Board’s Rugby Sevens World Cup. The tournament started on Friday and Sri Lanka looked like they would have a shot to be within the three nations that can qualify.

Drawn in a group alongside Japan and Indonesia they looked good in reaching the quarter final stage with an impressive first match victory over Indonesia by 52 points to nil. The sceptics may ask whether Indonesia plays rugby. Nicknamed the ‘Rhinos’ they are in Division III and not far away from us. That is in the XVs.

To score 52 points in 14 minutes against anybody is a worthwhile mention. Sri Lanka lost to Japan in the other preliminary match by 35 points to nil and had to play Korea in the quarters. After a hard fought game Sri Lanka bowed out of the semi-final losing to Korea by 12 points to 17. Korea was placed 4th in ranking as against 5th of Sri Lanka considering the last three sevens. Despite the little difference Sri Lanka slipped in this must win match as the defence gave way as has been a couple of times in these series. Korea took on Hong Kong in the semi-final.

With that Sri Lanka lost its chances for having a go at third slot at the Rugby Sevens World Cup as it was a must win match for the world scheduled to be worked off in Moscow next year. They now have a chance of battling for the 5th and 6th Place as they did in Shanghai and Mumbai. In the Plate semi-final they meet Malaysia, whom they have beaten twice, this year.

However is not the end of the road for the Tuskers who have had a rise in standing this year and have maintained same in the last three series. We know what we can do and where we are strong and it is now for top guns to fire to keep the sevens alive in Sri Lanka. It is no longer to rise from the bottom of the barrel but to rise from close to the top to be among the top. That would require all hands on the wheel to have the best sevens players together

irrespective of club rivalry surfacing to the top. In a glass of milk the scum and the cream come to the top. What Sri Lanka needs is the cream at the top. We should from now work on the Sevens than wait till the next series comes around. This will mean more Sevens exposure locally for players and internationally for the national team. This leads to a good plan and sponsorship. The way up does not come on a platter. It comes from planning and hard work.

The serious nature and plans for the future needs to take into account the thinking of Japan as they came to Singapore. After losing the HSBC Asian 7s title with their Cup final loss to Hong Kong in the Mumbai Sevens final, Japan are intent on making Hong Kong’s reign as the top side in Asian sevens a short one. They are now not there not to be one of the three teams at the World Cup. That seems easy to a team that has dominated Asian Rugby. This is not the first they have lost in Asia and that includes losing to Hong Kong and Korea.

Coach Tomohiro Segawa has said, “We are of course here to qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens but we want to do it in a Japanese style, as number one, and by beating Hong Kong in the final.” Japan has called up two Sevens veterans and one will captain in Singapore. Theirs is not to fall and be stuck but to learn and plan to succeed.

Hong Kong has named an unchanged side ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifier in Singapore. Coach Dai Rees is quoted, “From the outset of the Series our goal was to qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens. But we want to be able to beat Japan consistently in the big games like the finals in Mumbai. They do now not want to be satisfied with being in the Rugby Sevens World Cup but they want to stay on top of the other heavyweight Japan.
The Philippines Volcanoes who finished tied third in last year’s Series slipped to seventh this year. They played most of the Series without many of their professional players based in Japan. The Philippines, have recalled four of its players currently playing in Japan’s Top League in hopes of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup Sevens from this weekend’s competition. The Philippines have slowly been adding in their experienced veterans at each tournament on this year’s Series in Mumbai, they challenged Japan close though not making to the cup proved they are getting dangerous. They now play for the 3rd and 4th Place against Korea and a place in the World cup.

Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB




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