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.