What are you doing this weekend? If you’re looking to catch some awesome rugby action featuring our very own boys playing against some monster teams from the likes of India, Malaysia, and Philippines, then come on down to Belapan Sports Complex and support our anak Brunei! Plus there’ll be a carnival just outside the complex for the kids! It’ll be a great day out! I wish I could be there!
iRB Asian Rugby Sevens Series – Brunei 7s is the 3rd leg of the 6 leg Series. 2009 is the inaugural year for this series. The Idea of this series is:-
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Opportunity for all ARFU Members to participate in an ARFU Sevens Tournament
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Produce a ‘ranking’ of Asia Teams
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Provide a ‘pathway’ for ARFU members to the IRB World Sevens Series
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Preparation for Multi Sports Events in Asia
The Bidding to be one of the host of this series was done in Dubai during the World Cup 7s. Brunei was awarded together with 5 other Countries:-
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China
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Philippines
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Malaysia
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Iran
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Sri Lanka
BRFU believes that by hosting this tournament, it will not only promote the game in Brunei, but also promote Brunei as Sports Tourism Destination.
Starting from next year onwards, BRFU will promote this tournament together with promoting Ecotourism in Brunei. We are hoping to work together with the Heart of Borneo (where BiBD is also a partner) as well as Brunei as a Scuba Diving destination, as a package to promote and attract tourist to come to Brunei.
Our aim for this year is to attract the local to be part of the Rugby Carnival. Once we know how the system works, we will market the Brunei 7s Brand abroad, with the help of Brunei Tourism.
Rugby tourism is a big market, each year during the Hong Kong 7s, USD187 million in tourist dollars are pumped into Hong Kong and about USD90 million is pumped into the Dubai 7s. We in BRFU believe that by promoting Eco-Tourism here, it can attract tourist from abroad as we have set a precedent on a clean family fun Rugby Carnival.
We would like to thank you all the our partners for their part in helping us promoting the Brunei 7s Rugby Brand, and we hope that this Brand can be famously known for years to come.
The growth of sevens all over the world is great. It's a shame that not all 8 original teams can participate in this tournament, hopefully there will be better funding in years to come.