Latest News: Rugby Sevens programs being developed across Australia at schoolboy and provincial level 26 November 2014 at 9:45 AM Source: ARU, NSW All the latest news from rugby sevens in Australia as programs are developed across the country at schoolboy level and above NSW Senior Men 7s Program taking shape! The NSW Mens 7s Program has been building a solid platform with the selected train on squad undertaking a gruelling skills and physical performance training program over the last month. The squad has been based at the spiritual home of Australian 7s - Narrabeen Academy of Sport. As part of the elite program, players from the NSW Men’s train on squad, last week sparred with the Australian Men’s 7s team with simulated match conditions. Thanks to the Waratahs for the use of their 2014 Super XV away jerseys! The hit out provided NSW 7s coach Marcus Blackburn a first hand look at how his train on squad have adapted to the high level of training required for the 2015 Nationals. This session also provided the Australian Rugby Union Men’s 7s team a chance to fine tune their preparations for the upcoming World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai. The NSW train on squad will continue to train until they break for Christmas and will resume in the new year. The last of the pre-christmas period will see the squad have live training sessions with several Premiership Sydney clubs. Coach Blackburn is looking to select the NSW Blue and NSW White sides late February that will contest the National 7s Championships. Share and like the photos from the NSW 7s vs Aussie 7s training hit out - the future of NSW and Australia 7s stars looks very bright! ARU hosts National Rugby Sevens Education weekend Emerging stars from across Australia participated in the first National Sevens Education Camp at Narrabeen last weekend, with boys in the Under 17s and Under 18s age bracket enjoying three days of training under the watchful eye of Australian Director of Rugby Sevens Geraint John. Twenty-two players were drawn from Australian Rugby’s development pathways, including members of the 2014 Australian Schools team and Junior Gold Cup sides. The goal of the camp was to introduce the group of up-and-comers to the centralised Sevens set-up at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation and familiarise them with a professional sporting environment. Players took part in a range of Rugby and education-focused activities, giving them a chance to showcase their skills and enjoy the high performance facilities at Narrabeen. The Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens team took time out of their preparations for the Dubai Sevens to train alongside the younger players and run group sessions in the classroom. Talent Development Coordinator of Rugby Sevens, Hugh Carpenter, put the juniors through their paces during the camp and was impressed with their aptitude for the shorter format of the game. “We handpicked these players from across Australia and it didn’t take long for them to transfer their skills to the structure of the seven-a-side game,” he said. “The camp provided an opportunity for the younger boys to familiarise themselves with the centralised base at Narrabeen and learn a bit more about the culture of Rugby Sevens. “It also gave them a chance to engage with some of the current Australian Sevens players and learn from their experiences in professional Rugby on and off the field.” Geraint John joined in on the action as well, volunteering his Saturday evening to run a session with the talented youngsters. “There are plenty of quality players in our pathways that are suited to Sevens and camps like this are the ideal platform to uncover and nurture future Rugby talent,” John said. “Player development is at the forefront of our planning and forms an important link to fostering future success in Sevens at the elite and grassroots level. I hope they all enjoyed the weekend at Narrabeen and took something away from the experience.” Australian Schools Representatives Reece Hewat (QLD), Simon Kennewell (NSW) and Sione Tuipulotu (VIC) were standouts at the camp and are among players pushing for selection in the Under 18s National Sevens Championships early next year. Also on the agenda is the Youth Commonwealth Games in 2015, which will see players travel to Samoa and compete in an international Sevens event for the first time. The National Sevens Education Camp marks another chapter in talent development as Australian Rugby looks to provide Sevens pathway opportunities for young players and capitalise on the sports inclusion in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. - See more at: ur7s/news/latest-news-rugby-sevens-programs-being-developed-across-australia-at-schoolboy-and-provincial-level#sthash.qBegn5V3.dpuf
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 21:12:23 +0000