FORU announces Oceania teams for Asia-Pacific Women’s Sevens
PNG were narrowly defeated by Kazakhstan in 2010
The Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) today announced the FORU Member Unions of the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga will again participate in the Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens Tournament to be held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo) in September. Following the success of the inaugural Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens Tournament in Kota Kinabalu in 2010, FORU has accepted an invitation from the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) to again participate in the 2011 Tournament. The Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens Tournament consists of four ARFU National teams and four FORU National teams battling it out for cross regional honours. The event will again feature as part of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series (Men’s), and is scheduled to take place in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo) over the weekend of 23 - 25 September 2011. The FORU teams will be looking for a clean sweep in 2011 having won the Bowl and Plate Finals in 2010, and being narrowly edged out by powerful Kazakhstan in the Cup Final. Whilst the 2010 event was a new addition to the regional sevens calendar, the 2011 event will be closely followed on www.oceaniarugby.com by FORU and their supporters. IRB Regional General Manager, Oceania, William Glenwright, believes the Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens Tournament has created a much needed international pathway for women’s rugby. “The 2010 event was an important initiative by ARFU and FORU in helping to create a regional women’s sevens pathway, and the continued success of the Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens provides a crucial platform for growth ahead of the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup and of course the 2016 Olympic Games”. The participation of FORU’s teams in the Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens is funded by the International Rugby Board through their Regional Tournament Grants. Kazakhstan are the defending Asia Pacific Women’s Champions after defeating Papua New Guinea 22-15 in the final of the 2010 Tournament. ENDS Contact information: Sabah, Borneo travel guide: http://www.sabahtravelguide.com/home.asp?page=mapguide