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French Flair Debuts In Singapore

Nick Jordan in Singapore

France has joined the ranks of national teams utilising the “Friendly Sevens” to aid their performance on the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Long-serving coach Thierry Janeczek takes charge of a young French Development VII at the annual Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby 7s and expects to see the future of France on show at the famous Padang.

“The Development VII is a new team in France which started last year in Dubai and is made up of very young players who haven’t had the opportunity to play on the IRB circuit yet,” said Janeczek. “Six are only 18, two are 19 and the rest are 21 or 22 and all are from university and clubs.

“They are not professional although they are hoping to be – we have eight professional rugby sevens players in France and if any player from this development group has a good weekend they could join the contracted players.

“Our captain Yonn Lahousse (on the far right in the photo) is one player to watch this weekend,” he added.

France has only made the Cup competition (the top 8) three times in the past four years on the HSBC Sevens World Series, the poorest record of the core teams, and Janeczek is looking for more game time to turn that record around.

“To be good at rugby sevens you need to be playing many tournaments,” he said. “For us it is very important to participate in Singapore because it is a hard tournament with very good teams and it is good for me to see how the players can perform against good opposition.”

That is likely to come at the 64th edition of the SCC 7s which is widely regarded as the best of its type in Asia and has over the years been graced by national squads from South Africa, who won the Ablitt Cup three times, Australia, Scotland and the USA.

France will face competition from defending champions the Penguins (UK), regular Fijian visitors Daveta (formerly Davetalevu) and leading club teams Ponsonby (NZ), Impala (Kenya), Randwick and Sunnybank (both Australia).

The Penguins are without their tryscoring hero from last year’s dramatic extra-time victory over the South African Vipers, David Raikuna, who this week was selected for the Blues in the Super 15, and in fact only one of their 2010 side returns to defend their title.

Teams from 12 countries line up in Singapore with the Singapore Lions, the Japan Samurai and the Swedish Vikings being the other ‘national teams’ while the French connection is two-fold with the Naphta Pyrennes also making their debut at the tournament. The team from the south-west of France have previously played in places such as Dubai, Hong Kong and Rome.

“It is fantastic to have such a quality line up of sides for the 64th edition of our tournament and I would like to personally welcome them to Singapore,” said Peter “Stitch” Hutton, Chairman of the organising committee. “Spectators are in for an absolutely brilliant three days of rugby sevens on the Padang and we can’t wait to get things underway this Friday with the first round of action in the Ablitt Cup.”

The tournament, which was founded in 1948 with a strong military presence, maintains its emphasis on the social side of the game with a last-minute entry from the Te Kaha Pirates, the crew of the HMNZS Te Kaha who are currently deployed in Singapore.

The weekend also features schools, colleges and women’s rugby and proceeds from the tournament are used for the development of youth and grassroots rugby in Singapore.

Pools for the 64th SCC International Rugby 7s

Pool A: Ponsonby, Impala, East Arnhem, Singapore

Pool B: Sunnybank, France Development, Singapore CC, The Flying Kukris

Pool C: Daveta, Pyrenees, Cottesloe, Bucks

Pool D: Borneo Eagles, Randwick, Palmyra, Kurumi

Pool E: Penguins, COBRA, Casuarina Cougars, Indonesian Harimau

Pool F: Japan Samurai, Swedish Vikings, Tamariva, Te Kaha Pirates

Full match schedule: www.sccrugbysevens.com

France Development VII:

Jordan BEAULAVON (Stade Montois); Charles BROUSSE (U Bordeaux-Bègles G); Freddy CABANTOUS (AS Clermont Auvergne / Pôle France); Bryan DIMECK (Stade Rochelais); Baptiste DOUILLARD (U Bordeaux-Bègles G / Pôle France); Max EBERLAND (Montpellier HRC); Romain FERNANDEZ (USA Perpignan / Pôle France); Jean-Charles FIDINDE (AS Clermont Auvergne); Alexandre LACAZE (US Dax); Yoan LAOUSSE (US Dax); Stéphane ONAMBELE (US Colomiers / Pôle France); Teddy THOMAS (Biarritz Olympique PB)