World Sevens (+Qualifiers)

[mono_mal]

With the World Sevens approaching I thought i'd start a thread for World Sevens discussion.
The World Sevens is promising to be a strong international event next year and it looks as if 26 teams will compete in the final competition and a further 14 in a qualifying tournament at Western Weekender Stadium, St Marys for the sole qualifier position.
International teams likely to be involved in the main draw include:
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Tonga
Samoa
France
Russia
Lebanon
England
South Africa
New Zealand Residents
+ Qualifier

The Qualifiers should consist of:
Cook Island
USA (Made up of Australian players of American heritage)
Japan
Singapore (Australian based players)
Italy
Greece
American Samoa
New Caledonia (?)

Newtown Jets
North Sydney Bears
NZ Maori
NSW Country
Aborigines
Widnes Vikings (May be admitted directly into main draw if England choose not to enter a team)
Jim Beam Cup XIII

If anyone has further details about these competitions please post in this thread.

 

[In-goal]

i would think Widnes would walk through the qualifiers if they compete in them being fully pro.

 

[JasonE]

maybe if they expand the tournament, they could use Parra Stadium on the friday night to kick off the action and then shift to the SFS on the sat and sunday, i think this is what they did in the mid 90's and it was a huge success.

 

[In-goal]

i'm just praying that work has me in Sydney for that period as i would be pissed if i was away, on the other hand i plan on getting quite drunk at the W7's

Rugby League at it's BEST

 

[ball boy]

have the raiders premier league team since they one premier league

 

[SP]

i said this before, but i may as well say it again,

i reckon they should piss the World 7's qualifiers off and have a 32 team tournament held over 3 days

 

[dimitri]

i think marathon stadiu should be used as well

i reckon theyd get great crowds

 

[joondalup_giant]

the winners of the jim beam cup, QRL should play in the 7's.........maybe even the winners from SARL and WARL....(i can only dream)

 

[roopy]

The NSW country team has already started training. They will be coached by Paul Harrogan, assited by Rip Taylor (Knights Flegg coach, former country coach and winning coach of around 15 premierships in country football). The team will include country player of the year John Johnson from Scone, Dean Amos from Wyong, several Newcastle boys and a few others from all round the state. Harrogan has given all a fitness schedule to follow till the first team camp.

 

[dimitri]

this team would get plenty of support if it was played at marathon stadium

 

[ouwet]

Last Years World 7's was great... I made 15 people go even thou most didnt wanna go! We had such a great time that all of them and more wanna go next year... It was the best two dayz of Footy and the atmosphere and footy was great!
I'd play it at Aussie Stadium again... I cant see why this year 30,000 people cant turn up for each of the days.

I cant wait for the World 7's Next year!!!

 

[Alan Shore]

Western Weekend Stadium?!?

Jeez, why don't they use Penrith, Parramatta or NorthPower?

 

[Tidus_Raider]

It has to be played at Aussie stadium. Hopefully next year it can sell out.

 

[mono_mal]

in reply to an above comment whilst it would be great to see all teams gaining direct admission into the World Sevens this is not financially viable.
the RLIF pay the expenses of all teams involved in the final 26. in doing so this years event made a minimal profit. its simply not affordable to have many more teams in the comp at this time.

and crowd wise i'd say we should be looking at 30 000 for both days.
whilst it would be great to sell out i think this is over ambitous and being realistic 25 - 30 000 per day would be good. last years crowds were near the best the comp has seen.

also on western weekender stadium its a great venue for the purpose. being a week day and the large number of games the comp must be played throughout the day. this means a smaller crowd is assured. with only 25 000 attending the sevens we cant expect more than 5 000 to attend the qualifiers. western weekender stadium can hold this capacity and is specifically made for rugby league. last years event was a huge success. playing the comp in the larger stadiums ie. penrith, parra...would lose the atmosphere and it has to stay within sydney as the finals are at aussie stadium that weekend.
central coast stadium should be considered though but it seems next years event will definately return to st marys.