World rugby sevens championships to be held in UK (Swansea) for the first time
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With all the attention focused on Wales battling it out to be champions on the rugby field for the six nations trophy Swansea University is delighted to announce that it will be hosting its own international rugby event this summer. It is the first time that the tournament has taken place on UK soil.
The FISU World University Championship for Rugby Sevens will take place at the world class Swansea University International Sports Village from the 6th to 9th July 2016. The event takes place every two years and involves both men and ladies teams competing for the trophy.
World University rugby 7’s logo
Having played host to the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships and European Touch Rugby Championships, Swansea University has an outstanding reputation for delivering international sporting events and also for producing some notable players and coaches* including Alun Wyn Jones, Wales International Rugby player and Ospreys and Robert Howley, Wales International Rugby player and currently Wales team assistant coach.
Rugby Sevens entered the programme of the FISU World University Championships in 2004 with a first event taking place in Beijing, China which welcomed 159 rugby players from 9 countries. Since then, the number of participants has constantly grown, as well as the number of participating countries, reaching the record number of 309 participants from 18 countries at the 2012 event hosted in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France. The 6th World University Rugby Seven’s Championship was organised in the city of Sao Jose, Brazil.
This year’s 7th edition of the World University Rugby 7s Championship will see up to 28 teams from across globe enter the competition and will be a rare showcase of some of the world’s finest rugby 7s talent on an international stage.
The World University Championship will be delivered utilising the resources and networks of a number of partner organisation including Swansea University, British Universities and Colleges Sport and the Welsh Rugby Union.
The Great Britain team are holders of the men’s trophy and they will be aiming for their third title in a row. The ladies will be looking to win back the trophy after their win in 2012.
As a team training base during the Rugby World Cup 2015, the Swansea University International Sports Village’s high calibre facilities boast an international reputation utilised by the Canada, Fiji and New Zealand national rugby teams amongst a range of other distinguished sporting teams and athletes.
IPC Championships aerial view
The Sports Village can provide not only comprehensive training and competition venues for the rugby teams but also a variety of other sporting options like swimming in the Wales National Pool, tennis and squash courts or badminton and basketball.
Within a short walking distance of the Championship Venue, the University Residences located at the heart of Swansea University’s Singleton Park Campus, will be the site of the Athlete Village. Usually housing up to 1200 students, the residences are fully equipped offering the ideal accommodation for athletes during the Championships. The Singleton Park Campus will also provide a range of other services including an onsite laundrette, retail / catering outlets and faith provision. The site has excellent links to the city centre and is ideally placed within 300 metres of a beach.
In order to deliver an excellent sporting experience for both competitors and spectators, volunteers will be at the heart of the Championship providing assistance to all those in attendance to ensure they enjoy a safe and pleasant experience.
They will be a valuable asset to help ensure the smooth delivery and success of this major sporting event. All volunteers will have to the one-off opportunity to gain valuable experience and benefit from training which can contribute personal development. Over 87% of employers value the experience it can bring to an organisation and with 53% of these opportunities in the sport sector, volunteering to support the competition can make a positive impact on career progression.
A variety of roles are available based upon previous experience on a first-come first-serve basis. The University is looking for friendly and enthusiastic people with a polite manner and sociable attitude who are able to work on their own initiative as well as part of a team. Volunteers can apply online at: http://www.wucrugby2016.com/volunteers.htm!
For more information about the Swansea University 2016 World University Rugby Sevens Championships go to http://wucrugby2016.com
For more information about the FISU (International University Sports Federation) go to http://www.fisu.net/en/FISU-Rugby-3577.html
Previous FISU WUC Rugby Championships have been held at:
2014 – 6th WUC Rugby Sevens – Vitória (BRA)
[2013 – 27th Summer Universiade – Kazan (RUS) – Rugby Sevens Optional Sport]
2012 – 5th WUC Rugby 7 – Reims (FRA)
2010 – 4th WUC Rugby 7 – Porto (POR)
2008 – 3rd WUC Rugby 7 – Córdoba (ESP)
2006 – 2nd WUC Rugby 7 – Rome (ITA)
2004 – 1st WUC Rugby 7 – Beijing (CHN)
* Swansea University has produced some distinguished sporting Alumni over recent years ie
- Alun Wyn Jones (Law, 2010) Wales International Rugby player and Ospreys
- Huw Bennet (Sports Science, 2004) Wales International Rugby player and Lyon;
- Rhys Priestland (Economics, 2008) Wales International Rugby player and Scarlets;
- Richie Pugh (Sports Science, 2004) Wales Sevens International Rugby player and Scarlets;
- Dan George (Criminology, 2011) Rugby player for London Welsh;
- Robert Howley (Management Science, 1992) Wales International Rugby player and currently Wales team assistant coach.
- Paul Thorburn (Microbiology, 1986) Captained and played rugby for Wales;
- Adedayo Adebayo (Sociology and Development Studies, 1992) Former England International Rugby Player;
- Mark Wyatt (Energy Studies, 1979) Former Wales International Rugby Player;
- Chris White (Geography, 1984) Former professional Rugby Union referee. Has refereed 50 test
- matches, more than 50 Heineken Cup matches, including three finals and three World Cups. Currently the RFU National Referee Academy manager;
- Katherine Ann Lenaghan (Sports Science, 2003) Wales International Rugby player.
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