Registrations for Queensland Rugby’s Try Sevens Rugby program are now open with more than 10,000 students from across the state set to enjoy the exciting Sevens Rugby format in the week leading up to the Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch event.
Reigniting for its second year, the popular Try Sevens program will familiarise students with the fun and safe Sevens Rugby format by giving them the opportunity to sample the sport at their school during October.
The Try Sevens program headlines an exciting schedule of activities to be staged during the 2012 Queensland Sevens Festival in October, which also includes a Reds Sevens Roadshow, the Queensland Schoolboy Sevens Championships, an inaugural Reds Gold Coast Corporate Tag Sevens event and the popular Noosa Sevens tournament.
The Queensland Sevens Festival is hosted by Queensland Rugby, in partnership with Events Queensland, and runs from Saturday 6 October through to Friday 12 October before the Australian leg of the IRB Sevens World Series is held at Gold Coast’s Skilled Park on October 13-14.
The Queensland Sevens Festival and Queensland Rugby’s Sevens programming also encourages the ambitious to set their sights on representing Australia at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016, or by going for gold in their own backyard at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Men and women are eligible to represent Australia in Rugby Sevens at the next Olympic Games, where Rugby is included for the first time on the Olympic roster since the 15-man traditional form of the game last featured at the 1928 Games in Paris.
Ø Register for Queensland Rugby’s Try Sevens program here - http://www.redsrugby.com.au/GrassrootsRugby/Schools/TrySevens.aspx.
All Try Sevens participants will receive a Try Sevens pack which includes a Rugby ball, frisbee and poster.
Queensland Rugby General Manager of Game Development David Hanham said Sevens Rugby continues to provide an exciting format to encourage participation in the code.
“With Sevens Rugby set to be welcomed into the Olympic family at the next Games, we are encouraging students and the wider community to try Sevens either by playing the game or by attending a Queensland Sevens Festival event,” Mr Hanham said.
“We’re also educating the ambitious players that they can go all the way through the pathways of our sport and right up on to the medal dais in Rio.
“The fast-paced and exciting nature of Sevens is serving to attract a new generation of participants to our game and it is especially pleasing that the abbreviated format of our game has a wider appeal to both sexes.
“Last year the Queensland Sevens Festival assisted Queensland Rugby in taking Sevens to over 112 schools in our Rugby Community and it was a great success.
“We look forward to the new offerings on this year’s calendar further encouraging Queenslanders to support and participate in Sevens Rugby.”
Try Sevens Ambassador and former Australian Sevens representative Liam Gill said the seven-a-side version of the game offered kids of all ages, genders and playing levels the chance to play Rugby.
“With Sevens Rugby now an Olympic sport there is a real pathway for players wanting to compete at an elite level and win gold, but the fun nature of the sport also means anyone who is willing to give it a go can play and enjoy it,” Gill said.
“For me, Sevens Rugby played a huge role in the early stages of my Rugby career and the opportunities now exist for our next generation to use it as a platform to achieving their goals.
“Try Sevens is the perfect introduction to the sport and, after having taken part in a number of sessions last year, I would encourage all Queensland schools and their students to give it a go.”
Reds players will again visit select Gold Coast schools involved in the Try Sevens Program as part of the Reds Sevens Roadshow, held in the lead up to the Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch, and which includes numerous school and junior club visits, coach education courses and talent identification clinics.
The Try Sevens program was a huge success in its inaugural year where more than 12,000 students and 112 schools were introduced to Rugby Sevens as an inclusive, fun sport for both boys and girls.
Queensland Rugby will also host two exciting events on Friday 12 October with the Queensland Schoolboys Sevens Championships (Q7s) and Reds Gold Coast Corporate Tag Sevens.
The Q7s will see 24 schools from across Queensland converge on the Gold Coast for one day of fast-paced Sevens action with the top three teams qualifying for the National Schoolboy Championships held on Saturday, where they will compete against the best Sevens’ teams from other Australian states.
More than 1000 students and 100 schools participated in the Q7s Championships this year with the final 24 teams selected for 2012 having qualified at one of 10 regional carnivals.
The Reds Gold Coast Corporate Tag Sevens is the newest addition to the Queensland Sevens Rugby Festival and will see 24 teams compete for the inaugural Tag Sevens title at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
The event is an opportunity for participants to mix with members of the St.George Queensland Reds while connecting with the corporate Rugby community in a new B2B event. Team entry includes equipment for 10 players, food and beverages throughout the tournament, accommodation, transfers and tickets to Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch on the opening day.
More information on the Queensland Reds Gold Coast Corporate Tag Sevens can be obtained by contacting Queensland Reds Commercial Sales Executive Jessica Gwynne on Jessica.Gwynne@qru.com.au or visiting the Reds website: http://www.redsrugby.com.au/NewsEvents/Corporate7s.aspx.
ENDS