Asia region builds towards World Cup year
The draw for the Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens, which this year combines Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Women’s’ teams alongside those from the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU), has been held.
Published by Scrum Queens, August 30th, 2012
3 minute read
Eight Asian teams are participating this weekend; Asian Sevens champions China, Asian 15s champions Kazakhstan, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and South Korea.
Defending champions Papua New Guinea are also taking part along with defending womens Rugby World Cup Sevens champions (Dubai 2009) Australia.
The rankings for the two pools of five teams each in the tournament were taken from the results of the 2011 Asian Championships in Pune, India with China ranked number one overall in Pool A and Asias second-ranked womens sevens team, Kazakhstan, as the top seeds in Pool B.
Pool matches will be held on Friday (August 31) and Saturday (Sep 1) with the first round of knock-out matches taking place at the end of day on Saturday.
The Asia Pacific Womens Sevens will present an ideal hit-out ahead of the 2012 Asian Womens Sevens Championships (again in Pune in October), which will also serve as the Asian womens rugby sevens qualifier for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013.
Australia are looking at the tournament as idea preparation for the season ahead with Head Sevens coach Chris Lane saying:
Were continually looking to improve as we move closer to the World Cup, Lane said.
This side has come a long way together and have worked hard off the pitch, its just a matter of continuing to improve on it.
Its also important that we continue to develop the younger women coming through the ranks and get some tournament experience into them.
Lane has named a mix of youth and experience for the Asia Pacific Womens Sevens Championships.
Led by captain, Rebecca Tavo, regulars Cobie-Jane Morgan, Shontelle Stowers and Sharni Williams will be joined by relative newcomers, Emilee Cherry and Alicia Quirk.
Lane has also injected five new faces into the squad for the Championships.
After making their debuts at the Oceania Womens Sevens Championships just a few weeks ago Gemma Etheridge, Brianna Nathan, Katrina Barker, dArcy Sadler and Dalena Dennison will all be making their way to Malaysia as part of the Qantas Womens Sevens squad.
Pool and Draw for the 2012 Asia Pacific Womens Sevens Championships
Pool AChinaThailandHong KongSouth KoreaPapua New Guinea
Pool BKazakhstanJapanChinese TaipeiSingaporeAUstralia