England won a second successive cup title at the Dubai Sevens beating France by 29 points to seven. This was a far superior performance compared to Gold Coast where England lost to Samoa in the plate semi final. Fiji winners of Gold Coast Sevens were placed third in Dubai beating Argentina for the 3rd and 4th place play offs. At the end of the second of the series of the HSBC sevens Fiji are in front with 39 points followed by England with 32 points. France, New Zealand and South Africa follow in third place with 29 points.
This week it will be South Africa, Nelson Mandela Bay, which will be the third of the back to back for the first time. This will be a challenge to all teams. New Zealand comes into South Africa hoping to heal wounds having lost three matches in a row in Dubai. New Zealand defending champions in South Africa hope to end 2011 in a high note notwithstanding that they have not been able to be the benchmark for sevens so far in this series.
England who lost the Cup in South Africa to the Kiwis last year, in an extra time sudden death, come with hope this week and will be putting their best foot forward to take the lead in the series. Fiji winners of Gold Coast and third in Dubai would be hoping to consolidate their position leading the sevens. However there will be a challenge from New Zealand, hosts South Africa and Samoa all looking to bounce back after relatively disappointing campaigns in Dubai.
This week is set to be yet another action-packed tournament on the Series. Having seen teams on the Dubai circuit the game of sevens is another package and another game. The line-up of teams are sevens specialist who for all purpose are not the same as that which played on the rugby world cup. It is not only the teams but coaches as well as referees are turning to be sevens specialists.
Taking the game to another plane was the first IRB women’s World Series games. This is a landmark event of the women en route to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics. Canada produced power and pace as they left behind England 26 points to 7 and win the first IRB women’s’ challenge cup in Dubai. Span beat South Africa to win the Plate while Australia won the Bowl beating USA. The next of the IRB women’s series will be played alongside the HSBC sevens series in 2012. The entire referee for the women’s series was women with Spain’s Itziar Dias whistling the final.
As the world of rugby is in the faster fitter sevens mood the IRB top most job of chairman is under challenge as elections are now scheduled for December 12. The vote which was to be taken in October was postponed as the clash between current Chairman Bernard Lapasset and Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont was overshadowing the climax of the rugby world cup. It is understood that support for candidates is equally split at 13 each. Interestingly the casting vote for the postponement was made by the current chairman Lapasset This shows how close the fight is and it will be the minnows of rugby including the regional associations who have the votes that can decide on who will lead rugby .
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| Imad Riyal, a Sri Lankan player in the UAE team, dives over for a try at the Dubai Rugby Sevens. |
The eight founder member unions - Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales - wield 16 of the 26 votes that will have a strong bearing on the race with the single votes of the likes of Argentina, Canada and Japan along with those cast by the six regional associations, including Asia and Africa set to be the deciding factor.
Bill Beaumont has reportedly attracted the support of both Australia and New Zealand with a promise to reform the IRB's commercial model while South Africa appear to favour Lapasset with President Oregan Hoskins set to stand as the Frenchmen's Vice Chairman.
In a few weeks it will be election time for Sri Lanka Rugby and where will we head for 2012 will be known. From a President who parachuted and left without completing his term we had an interim committee and an election that saw nominations not being given on time by the most powerful province and a second term where the powerful Western Province was not recognized.
We now move into where there are aspirants for office looking for a comfortable ride while there are hopefuls who wait for their turn. While the challenge of the IRB is to do with reforms moving away from the commercial model the challenge locally will be to make the game a viable one. That certainly would need to have a commercial model as well as a plan that spells out what is in for the future.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees EvaluatorIRB
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