WELLINGTON SEVENS, ANYONE?
wellington hertz sevens, anyone?
touch, pause, engage…
These are the words you hear before half a ton of flesh and bones crash against each other in a spirited fight for a prolate spheroid object known as the rugby ball. The HSBC Sevens World Series (previously known as the IRB Sevens World Series) is again in Wellington.
Sevens is the fast-paced, shortened form of rugby where each side has 7 players instead of 15. The HSBC Sevens World Series consists of nine tournaments held around the world where Wellington is one of the stops. The Wellington tournament is called the Wellington Hertz Sevens.
New Zealand’s very own power house team, The All Blacks, is playing in this tournament. Definitely the most successful side in this format, the All Blacks has won 11 championships followed by Fiji, South Africa and Samoa with one each. It’s going to be a joy to watch this team as they once again try to add another cup in their already filled trophy cabinet.
Not just the rugby games played is remarkable in this tournament. Wellington, being dubbed as the Rugby sevens capital of the world, hosts it like it is one big party. This rugby crazed country watches the games in style wearing their favourite costumes. It is as if everyone in the Westpac Stadium is auditioning to be the games’ mascot. Where else can you find the Smurfs, Avatar, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbits, Sesame Street, the gingerbread man, and what have you in the same place having a great time?Tickets are hard to come by, though, as all tickets are snatched from the ticket centres only a few hours after it is released. But that is not a reason to miss this event as the party spills throughout the city. All the bars (and there are lots of them) would be showing the games and the beers will be flowing. And yes, you’d still see plenty of revelers in the bar wearing a costume.
If you are going to be in Wellington from 7-8 February 2014, and see Cowboys and Aliens having a drink, don’t be surprised, it’s the Sevens.
For more 2013 Wellington Sevens photos, click here >
on the home front
Philippines own rugby team, the Philippine Volcano, is powering their way through the Asian circuits. In a country mad about basketball, rugby is always going to be a minor team sport. But due to the Volcanoes success in the Asian circuit, they are now making a name for themselves.
Notably, just after playing for 7 years in the international circuit, they already qualified for the Rugby World Cup Sevens (RWC7) 2013 which was held in Moscow, Russia. The RWC7 is held every four years and is the premier sevens tournament. The Philippine Volcanoes is currently ranked 57th in the world (IRB world rankings).
You’ll never know, a dream match between the All Blacks and Philippine Volcanoes may just be around the corner.
Photo credits: Amateur Snaps!
Check out some snaps of the 2013 Wellington Hertz Sevens Rugby Parade here >
for the rugby sevens aficionados:
Wellington Hertz Sevens Street Parade:
WEDNESDAY, 05 February 2014, 12:45pm
WHERE: Lambton Quay, Wellington
For the Wellington Hertz Sevens official website, click here >
Article: PinoyStop
Photos: Amateur Snaps!
