Jakarta's ISCI rugby team to play in Hong Kong 10s
Jakarta's ISCI rugby team to play in Hong Kong 10s
HONG KONG (Agencies): A rugby team from Jakarta will play in
the Hong Kong international 10s tournament beginning next
Wednesday.
The team, from the International Sports Club Indonesia (ISCI)
in South Jakarta, will be more than challenged as it starts the
tournament head to head against last year's winners Davataluvu, a
select team from Fiji.
ISCI skipper Chris Sanderson says he is bringing a strong team
to Hong Kong but expects to do better at the Manila 10s which
begins today. Last year ISCI took away the runners-up Plate at
the club competition in the Philippines.
A veteran of the Hong Kong tournament, the ISCI team will be
interested to see how newcomers China's People Liberation Army
(PLA) handle the British Overseas Sports Association Virgins,
made up of experienced English and Welsh players including Mike
Rafter, Andy Horton and Aidan Jones.
The PLA sports institute based across the border in Shenzhen
has accepted an invitation to the annual tournament which
attracts some of the best rugby stars past and present.
"They're in a tough group," organizer Derek Currie told AFP.
Battling in the next group are the Royal Logistics Corps team
from Britain's newest and largest army corps.
The army side are also making their debut, and though neither
they nor the PLA are seeded, the military powers may well meet as
there are cup, bowl and plate competitions to battle for in the
two-day tournament.
Despite their relative lack of experience, the Chinese side
could put up some resistance, says Currie.
"Rugby in China has taken off in a big way, to the extent that
in the inaugural Guangzhou 10s last year, the PLA beat a useful
side from Hong Kong (Aberdeen).
"It'll be fantastic to see the Chinese boys here," Currie
said. We've been trying to get them over for some time."
Returning for another attempt at the title after a "modest"
performance last year is the Chinese Agricultural University
side.
The Chinese could also face the U.S. Hogs from the East Coast.
The Americans will be boosted by a couple of "ringers" in the
form of ex-All Blacks John Mitchell and Terry Wright.
Also taking part in the 10th annual tournament will be teams
from throughout the region including Australia, Fiji, Japan, New
Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, as well as South
Africa and the United States.
Notable by their absence are any teams from Taiwan, although
if the two Chinese sides stay on for a couple of days they can
catch Kwang-Hua Taipei competing in the more prestigious Hong
Kong Rugby Sevens over the weekend.