NICK JORDAN
back to news »Sevens academy heads to sunny Europe
Winter time in New Zealand. As the days get shorter the news bulletins are full of stories about heavy snow closing roads, the stores run specials on log fires and the red wines and winter ales go down a treat.
And when the grounds get closed by the councils, sometimes for weeks, and there is no prospect of Rugby Sevens in this part of the world we can only dream about places like, say, Portugal.
So that’s where a former All Black and his expert staff has decided to go.
The International Rugby Academy, the brainchild of 72-match backrower Murray Mexted, is leaving behind the thermals and donning the shorts at Browns Sports and Leisure Club, Vilamoura for a week in July.
“We started IRANZ 10 years ago with the objective of providing the highest level of rugby coaching expertise globally, for the development of promising players and coaches,” Mexted told me recently from his office in Wellington.
“52% of all graduates have been from outside New Zealand and many of these came to us outside of the international system. The demand from these players continues to grow worldwide.
“Don Pati is a great example. He was with us in 2009, was the MVP in the match that concludes every course and recently scored the winning try for Utah in extra-time in the USA Collegiate Sevens in Columbus Ohio.
“This is on top of the significant success within New Zealand rugby, with 30 Super 14 players and six All Blackscoming through the programmes, including our latest in Israel Dagg and Aaron Cruden”.
Dagg played six IRB Sevens tournaments for New Zealand in 2007-08 and made his Test debut against Ireland last weekend at fullback while Cruden came off the bench for his first cap.
Browns has played host to some big names of its own, including Bath, the Sale Sharks, Munster and even the England squad and its Algarve location is guaranteed to provide summer conditions for coaching.
So ‘Mex’ contacted a few of his pals, including Philippe Sella, Christian Cullen, Danny Grewcock, Phil Davies, Sean Fitzpatrick and Brian Ashton, and has them heading over to deliver inspirational coaching to anyone wanting to become a force in the game.
First trip to Europe
“We are really excited about the inaugural course in Europe, especially given that we have some of the Northern Hemisphere legends of the game in the coaching set-up,” explains Mexted.
“These courses for players and coaches, in both Sevens and XVs, will provide them with the tools to become successful professionals.
“With the huge potential in Rugby Sevens in the next few years leading to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, we are here to give sides in Europe a competitive advantage.”
Mexted, one of New Zealand’s finest number eights, did not miss an All Black test match from his debut in 1979 until his retirement in 1985 and his open style of play would have made him a star of the IRB Sevens circuit had it been around then.
He was a New Zealand Sevens selector from the beginning of the professional era, when the NZRU started to promote Sevens seriously, and is currently coaching his beloved Wellington Football Club’s under-21 team.
Mexted is also an expert commentator on the IRB Sevens in the harbour city each February when he is not travelling the world promoting the International Rugby Academy.
Bridging the gap
In taking the Academy to Europe for the first time Mexted says Russia, whose government is investing heavily in Sevens, is a perfect example of the target customer.
Already in discussions with the RUR, Mexted is also excited by other up-and-coming Eastern European countries like Moldova, Romania, Latvia, Poland and the Ukraine, while Spain, Germany, and Italy are also likely to place more emphasis on Sevens with the Olympic carrot in front of them.
“We believe we can help countries like this close the gap on the teams above them and help them improve their placing at, or even simply qualify, for the various tournaments. Our recent clinic with Rugby India paid immediate dividends when they made the semi finals of the Asian Championships in Delhi, the test event for the Delhi Commonwealth Games,” he said.
Russia fielded two teams at international level recently on the IRB and FIRA-AER circuits as well as hosting the FIRA finals in July and the RWC Sevens in 2013. But although they made the top four in both of the European legs (winning in Odessa) their results in London and Edinburgh (a 3-8 record) show there is still a gap between them and the top tier.
“By sending players and coaches to the International Rugby Academy in 2010, and working with us to develop a follow-up programme, the benefits will become obvious in the very next tournament, whether that is on the international stage in Europe, or at a domestic level.”
As that last comment suggests, the International Rugby Academy is not just for national teams. Mexted is also keen to hear from women’s teams, clubs and schools who are looking to improve.
“The global Sevens game is expanding at such a rate that teams will need to continually increase their skills and knowledge to meet their long-term goals.
“Twelve women’s teams will be going to Rio so that is an enormous opportunity, the UR7s national Sevens Series is an exciting development and I have no doubt that more and more schools will take up the game now that it offers a pathway to Olympic gold.
“We can assist teams in all of those sectors and provide advice and programmes that will stand them in good stead for your next tournament, whether that is next week, next month, or next year.”
With that, Mexted headed off to pack his sunscreen and surfboard and this blogumnist trudged downstairs to light the wood burner!
For more information on the International Rugby Academy Europe click here
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick’s our voice from Down Under. He has an eye for stats and is constantly thinking ahead to future events and the ramifications that structural changes in Sevens could bring. A former Tournament Director of the Wellington and Singapore Sevens, Nick has also consulted for the London leg of the World Series while also contributing for the Rugby Times and Rugby News. All blogumnists views published here are that of the author and not UR7s.com
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COMMENTS
BABALOLA SEUN JAMIU Fri 20 Aug 2010 13:19
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Reply | Report this PostBABALOLA SEUN JAMIU Fri 20 Aug 2010 13:19
Dear sir How you doing? Hope everything is fine with you? To whom it may concern, am writing this email in desire to play football for your club here in your country or any part of Team . I am BABALOLA SEUN JAMIU by name. Currently leaving at Nigeria I was once playing for 2nd Division in my country Nigeria as a full right back and defensive midfield,. I we be really glad if I can get me in your football club in any part in your academy who we like to try me out. Because I don’t so much believe in talking I believe in force and what you can do when re in the field, I can play for 90 minute’s any day any time in as much as am injury free.i will be so great full if you can help me out with my little low carrier over here in Nigeria that is why i decided to drop you this little mail Bellow is my email address and interested club shouldn’t be waste time to call on me and I we be ready to prove my professionalizing. Please kinda reply me and try me on. Bye Hope to hear from you soon. My Information Name : BABALOLA SEUN JAMIU Weight : 65 cm Height : 5:7 ft Hair: Black Eye Colour: Brown Language Speak : English Place of Birth : Nigeria State : Ogun State Country : Nigeria Date of Birth : (Match 19 1995) Address: N0 37 Abeokuta Street Bariga Lagos. Email : babalolaseunsy@yahoo.com or babalolaseunsy@gmail.com Phone Number : +2348132849022
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