Mardo Gray: 16th March 2006
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XVIII Commonwealth Games Mardo Gray: 16th March 2006 |
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Rugby 7s
I have often said that rugby 7's is not real rugby, but it is a great Party!
I chose to go to the first day of the 7's because there would be teams there I have never seen play before... well actually, I did not know Uganda even had a rugby team, but now I do.
I am not going to the final session this evening. That will be the usual top sevens nations who I could see at any tournament. I wanted to see Sri Lanka, the Cook Islands and Namibia, who only get invited to the occasional International sevens tournament. I have to say I am glad I did. I will gladly cheer for the Kenyan Style of Rugby any time. I will applaud the spirit of Niue Island in the South Pacific. A country of only 1900 people who have 200 senior rugby players.
My heart goes out to Sri Lanka, who having not a single professional player had to face the home team, Australia, a permanent top ten rugby nation. Sri Lanka got more applause for not giving up for the full 15 minutes, despite not scoring a point, than the Wallabies would have if they had won the match at any score.
It can be argued that a mismatch of Sri Lanka versus Australia does the game no good. I say rubbish, how do you improve if you do not play teams better than you? That is what this tournament allows that the IRB sevens series does not. The home nations, England, Scotland, the powerhouse South Africans, and the small Islands of Sri Lanka and Niue all in one place.
And here in Australia, we love an underdog... so when Kenya meets any top 8 country (who are all in the commonwealth) I will be cheering for them (even against Australia!).
Rugby 7s, for seventh heaven.
Mardo Gray's View of the Games:
15th Mch
16th Mch
17th Mch
18th Mch
19th Mch
20th Mch
21st Mch
23rd Mch
24th Mch
25th Mch
26th Mch
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Last Updated: March 23 2006 18:21:25. |