by Jim Davis –

Randwick Rugby Club’s off-season Sevens campaign achieved further success in November by reaching the semi-finals of the very competitive International Singapore Sevens.

Ethan Ford, one of the Sevens’ stand-out players, evades a Cottesloe player in the win over the WA side at Singapore.

The Singapore Sevens is an annual Rugby sevens tournament hosted by the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC).

Commencing in 1948, it is one of the world’s oldest Rugby sevens competitions and one of the premier international club tournaments in Asia, involving top class teams from around the world.

Randwick have been Singapore Sevens champions once. In 1993.

Featuring some of the world’s best club 7s teams it is a hard task to progress to the finals but Randwick’s young guns, coached by sevens specialist Marcus Blackburn, played extremely well to play ultimate winners, Deveta (Fiji’s top sevens club) in a semi-final.

Peter Samu was another to leave the opposition sprawling.

“This was a terrific result for the boys, the club’s best in 19 years and the top four placing put us in company with Deveta, Rugby Ecosse (pseudo national scottish team, including 5 fully contracted national sevens players and full time academy players), and the Penguins – renowned as the UK based premier invitational 7s team”, said Blackburn.

“Enroute to the semi-final against Daveta, we beat Penguins in the first game, NAPTHA French Pyrenees, Cottlesloe (WA), Palmyra (WA), and Sunnybank (Brisbane). The win over Sunnybank in the quarter-finals is significant, not just to progress to the semi finals, but to be victorious over the more established Australian sevens program.”

“Add Norths, Manly and Parramatta to the above list of Australian clubs beaten, and the scale of success over the last few weeks is clear to see.” added Blackburn who is a good friend of new Randwick First Grade coach Wade Kelly and working closely with him.

Marc Koteczky makes a huge hit in the semi final against Fijian side Daveta.

“The principle aim of the sevens program is to prepare players to give them the best opportunity to progress and be recognised for the national squad. With an average age in the squad of around 21, the future is bright for the program.

“We resume preparation for Darwin and Kiama this week. New recruits to Randwick rugby will have the opportunity to trial for the sevens squad for these tournaments.”

The myrtle greens had a rather poor 2012 Shute Shield season but one senses that 2013 will produce far different results.

RANDWICK SINGAPORE SEVENS SQUAD – Top Row: Louisa McGinness (Physio), Tenzing Tsewang (Sport Scientist), Junior Taavili, Jack Tovey, Will Munro, James White, Nathan McMahon (Trainer), Allen Stutchbury (Manager), Di Long (Physio). Bottom Row: Marcus Blackburn (Coach), Ethan Ford, Steve Bennie, Marc Koteczky, Mark Bannon, Nathan Roye, Pete Samu, Mohamed Maludin (Liaison Officer).