Safari Sevens: Difference between revisions
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The '''Safari Sevens''', known as the ''Safaricom Sevens'' after main sponsors [[Safaricom]] (previously the ''Tusker Safari Sevens'' after the flagship product of the then sponsors [[East African Breweries]] Ltd) is an annual [[rugby sevens]] tournament held in [[Kenya]]. The tournament is run by the [[Kenya Rugby Football Union]]. The competition is promoted as being ''Africa's premier rugby sevens tournament'' drawing crowds of over 20,000 to the weekend event. |
The '''Safari Sevens''', known as the ''Safaricom Sevens'' after main sponsors [[Safaricom]] (previously the ''Tusker Safari Sevens'' after the flagship product of the then sponsors [[East African Breweries]] Ltd) is an annual [[rugby sevens]] tournament held in [[Kenya]]. The tournament is run by the [[Kenya Rugby Football Union]]. The competition is promoted as being ''Africa's premier rugby sevens tournament'' drawing crowds of over 20,000 {{Citation needed}} to the weekend event. |
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It is unusual amongst modern tournaments in that it is contested by numerous national representative sides from [[Africa]] and beyond, by professional sevens outfits, professional and amateur club sides, invitational teams, universities and schools. The competition is held at the [[RFUEA Ground]], Ngong Road, [[Nairobi]] and the [[South African]] company [[SuperSport (TV channel)|Supersport]] has been broadcasting the tournament on DSTV since 2009. |
It is unusual amongst modern tournaments in that it is contested by numerous national representative sides from [[Africa]] and beyond, by professional sevens outfits, professional and amateur club sides, invitational teams, universities and schools. The competition is held at the [[RFUEA Ground]], Ngong Road, [[Nairobi]] and the [[South African]] company [[SuperSport (TV channel)|Supersport]] has been broadcasting the tournament on [[DSTV]] since 2009. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===The Inaugural Tournament 1996=== |
===The Inaugural Tournament 1996=== |
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The inaugural tournament took place in 1996, Public School Wanderers, who had supported Kenyan rugby for many years, brought a strong squad<ref>Safari Sevens site: [http://safarisevens.kenyarfu.com/history.cfm History]</ref> as did the [[Welsh Exiles]] (a team managed by the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] to nurture Wales qualified players living outside of [[Wales|the Principality]]) captained by future [[Wales national rugby union team|Welsh International]] captain, [[Colin Charvis]]. The tournament also included several international teams ([[Arabian Gulf national rugby union team (sevens)|Arabian Gulf]], [[Kenya national rugby union team (sevens)|Kenya]], [[Uganda national rugby union team (sevens)|Uganda]] and [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team (sevens)|Zimbabwe]]) as well as [[Selkirk RFC]] and a [[Cumbria]] Schoolboys team. The chairman of the referees was the famous English referee [[Ed Morrison]] and he took charge of the final between the Public School Wnaderers and Zimbabwe. [[Chester Williams]] was there as guest of honour and to present the trophies to the winners. |
The inaugural tournament took place in 1996, Public School Wanderers, who had supported Kenyan rugby for many years, brought a strong squad<ref>Safari Sevens site: [http://safarisevens.kenyarfu.com/history.cfm History]</ref> as did the [[Welsh Exiles]] (a team managed by the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] to nurture Wales qualified players living outside of [[Wales|the Principality]]) captained by future [[Wales national rugby union team|Welsh International]] captain, [[Colin Charvis]]. The tournament also included several international teams ([[Arabian Gulf national rugby union team (sevens)|Arabian Gulf]], [[Kenya national rugby union team (sevens)|Kenya]], [[Uganda national rugby union team (sevens)|Uganda]] and [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team (sevens)|Zimbabwe]]) as well as [[Selkirk RFC]] and a [[Cumbria]] Schoolboys team. The chairman of the referees was the famous English referee [[Ed Morrison]] and he took charge of the final between the Public School Wnaderers and Zimbabwe. {{Citation needed}} [[Chester Williams]] was there as guest of honour and to present the trophies to the winners. |
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===Early Development 1997-99=== |
===Early Development 1997-99=== |
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In |
In 1999 the [[KRFU| Kenya Rugby Football Union]] applied and won the right to host the Africa Zone Qualifying Tournament for the [[2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens]] Finals. This qualifiaction was combined with the tournament to make it into a longer 3 day festival of rugby. |
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===Expansion and Growth 2000-09=== |
===Expansion and Growth 2000-09=== |
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The tournament has grown in stature with a large increase in crowds numbers. In |
The tournament has grown in stature with a large increase in crowds numbers. In 2004 the first women's team played in the tournament. <ref> Kenyapage.net: [http://kenyapage.net/rugby/rugby-hist.html The History of Rugby in Kenya] </ref> |
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In |
In 2005 Fijian rugby great, [[Waisale Serevi]] played for Kenya A (Shujaa) as a guest player.<ref>http://www.jamati.com/online/sports/africas-premier-rugby-tournament-the-tusker-safari-sevens/</ref> |
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Since then the tournament has attracted the likes of [[London Irish]], [[Emerging Springboks]], [[Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)|Fiji]], [[Japan national rugby union team (sevens)|Japan]], [[Western Province]], [[Argentina national rugby union team (sevens)| Argetina]] as well as [[Golden Lions]].<ref>Daily Nation, 25 May 2010: [http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/rugby/Safaricom%207s%20tickets%20go%20on%20sale%20/-/1106/925862/-/weyfiez/-/index.html] Tickets on sale </ref> <ref> Kenyapage.net: [http://kenyapage.net/rugby/rugby-hist.html The History of Rugby in Kenya] </ref> |
Since then the tournament has attracted the likes of [[London Irish]], [[Emerging Springboks]], [[Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)|Fiji]], [[Japan national rugby union team (sevens)|Japan]], [[Western Province]], [[Argentina national rugby union team (sevens)| Argetina]] as well as [[Golden Lions]].<ref>Daily Nation, 25 May 2010: [http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/rugby/Safaricom%207s%20tickets%20go%20on%20sale%20/-/1106/925862/-/weyfiez/-/index.html] Tickets on sale </ref> <ref> Kenyapage.net: [http://kenyapage.net/rugby/rugby-hist.html The History of Rugby in Kenya] </ref> |
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The [[Fiji Barbarians]] made their debut at the Safari Sevens in 2008. National teams taking part were [[Botswana national rugby union team (sevens)|Botswana]], [[Emerging Springboks]], [[France national rugby union team (sevens)|France A (Les Blues)]], [[Japan national rugby union team (sevens)|Japan]], [[Namibia national rugby union team (sevens)|Namibia]], [[Tanzania national rugby union team (sevens)|Tanzania]], [[Tunisia national rugby union team (sevens)|Tunisia]], [[Uganda national rugby union team (sevens)|Uganda]], [[Zambia national rugby union team (sevens)|Zambia]], [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team (sevens)|Zimbabwe]] and [[Kenya national rugby union team (sevens)|Kenya]]. In addition [[Samurai Sevens]] (a professional rugby invitation side) and the Kenya A sevens team (''Shujaa'') and [[University of Paris]] also took part. [[Bristol University Select]] (a team put together from [[Bristol University]], [[Clifton Rugby Football Club|Clifton RFC]] and the professional [[Guinness Premiership]] side [[Bristol Rugby|Bristol]])<ref>http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/3840.php</ref> returned to take part in the Safari Sevens yet again; they have participated in every Safari Sevens ever staged. |
The [[Fiji Barbarians]] made their debut at the Safari Sevens in 2008. National teams taking part were [[Botswana national rugby union team (sevens)|Botswana]], [[Emerging Springboks]], [[France national rugby union team (sevens)|France A (Les Blues)]], [[Japan national rugby union team (sevens)|Japan]], [[Namibia national rugby union team (sevens)|Namibia]], [[Tanzania national rugby union team (sevens)|Tanzania]], [[Tunisia national rugby union team (sevens)|Tunisia]], [[Uganda national rugby union team (sevens)|Uganda]], [[Zambia national rugby union team (sevens)|Zambia]], [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team (sevens)|Zimbabwe]] and [[Kenya national rugby union team (sevens)|Kenya]]. In addition [[Samurai Sevens]] (a professional rugby invitation side) and the Kenya A sevens team (''Shujaa'') and [[University of Paris]] also took part. [[Bristol University Select]] (a team put together from [[Bristol University]], [[Clifton Rugby Football Club|Clifton RFC]] and the professional [[Guinness Premiership]] side [[Bristol Rugby|Bristol]])<ref>http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/3840.php</ref> returned to take part in the Safari Sevens yet again; they have participated in every Safari Sevens ever staged. |
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Kenya won the competition beating the Emerging Boks in the final, 31–12. The continued increase in the number of people attending the event and this year's rise in admission caused many critics to call for an upgrade in the quantity and quality of seating available for spectators. |
Kenya won the competition beating the Emerging Boks in the final, 31–12. The continued increase in the number of people attending the event and this year's rise in admission caused many critics {{who}} to call for an upgrade in the quantity and quality of seating available for spectators. |
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===2009=== |
===2009=== |
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===2010 Tournament=== |
===2010 Tournament=== |
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In 2010 the event attracted 21,000 spectators and the gate receipts were [[Kenyan shilling|KSh]] 17 million (compared to 12 million from 15,000 spectators in 2009). Georgia, Botswana and Morocco pulled out of the 2010 Safari Sevens at the last minute; Rwanda and Shujaa filled the gaps left by these withdrawals. |
In 2010 the event attracted 21,000 spectators and the gate receipts were [[Kenyan shilling|KSh]] 17 million (compared to 12 million from 15,000 spectators in 2009). {{Citation needed}} Georgia, Botswana and Morocco pulled out of the 2010 Safari Sevens at the last minute; Rwanda and Shujaa filled the gaps left by these withdrawals. |
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==The future of the Tournament== |
==The future of the Tournament== |
||
The tournament, which was previously staged in July each year, will in future be held in September or October to attract more participation from international sides and foreign clubs. Despite there being over [[Kenyan shilling|KSh]] 40 million in sponsorship from various sponsors the Safari Sevens still does not offer any prize money. There are some commentators of the opinion that until prize money is offered the tournament will continue to be subject to late withdrawls from major teams. |
The tournament, which was previously staged in July each year, will in future be held in September or October to attract more participation from international sides and foreign clubs. {{Citation needed}} Despite there being over [[Kenyan shilling|KSh]] 40 million in sponsorship from various sponsors the Safari Sevens still does not offer any prize money. There are some commentators {{Who}} of the opinion that until prize money is offered the tournament will continue to be subject to late withdrawls from major teams. |
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==Sponsorship== |
==Sponsorship== |
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Revision as of 15:11, 30 July 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union sevens |
|---|---|
| First season | 1996 |
| No. of teams | 14 |
| Most titles |  Kenya |
| TV partner(s) |  Supersport |
| Official website | www.safarisevens.kenyarfu.com |
The Safari Sevens, known as the Safaricom Sevens after main sponsors Safaricom (previously the Tusker Safari Sevens after the flagship product of the then sponsors East African Breweries Ltd) is an annual rugby sevens tournament held in Kenya. The tournament is run by the Kenya Rugby Football Union. The competition is promoted as being Africa's premier rugby sevens tournament drawing crowds of over 20,000 [citation needed] to the weekend event.
It is unusual amongst modern tournaments in that it is contested by numerous national representative sides from Africa and beyond, by professional sevens outfits, professional and amateur club sides, invitational teams, universities and schools. The competition is held at the RFUEA Ground, Ngong Road, Nairobi and the South African company Supersport has been broadcasting the tournament on DSTV since 2009.
History
Since the earliest days, rugby in Kenya had relied on a regular influx of foreign touring sides in order to test the mettle of the local teams and to provide opposition for the representative sides such as the Scorpions RFC and East Africa. The coming of professionalism to rugby in the 1990's all but dried up these tours and it was decided that a means had to be found of reinitiating the influx if the quality of rugby in the country was not to stagnate. The Rugby Patrons Society decided to put in place a seven-a-side tournament and invite a number of foreign national and club teams to participate.
The Inaugural Tournament 1996
The inaugural tournament took place in 1996, Public School Wanderers, who had supported Kenyan rugby for many years, brought a strong squad[1] as did the Welsh Exiles (a team managed by the Welsh Rugby Union to nurture Wales qualified players living outside of the Principality) captained by future Welsh International captain, Colin Charvis. The tournament also included several international teams (Arabian Gulf, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe) as well as Selkirk RFC and a Cumbria Schoolboys team. The chairman of the referees was the famous English referee Ed Morrison and he took charge of the final between the Public School Wnaderers and Zimbabwe. [citation needed] Chester Williams was there as guest of honour and to present the trophies to the winners.
Early Development 1997-99
In 1999 the Kenya Rugby Football Union applied and won the right to host the Africa Zone Qualifying Tournament for the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens Finals. This qualifiaction was combined with the tournament to make it into a longer 3 day festival of rugby.
Expansion and Growth 2000-09
The tournament has grown in stature with a large increase in crowds numbers. In 2004 the first women's team played in the tournament. [2]
In 2005 Fijian rugby great, Waisale Serevi played for Kenya A (Shujaa) as a guest player.[3]
Since then the tournament has attracted the likes of London Irish, Emerging Springboks, Fiji, Japan, Western Province, Argetina as well as Golden Lions.[4] [5]
The tournament has atrracted a variety of international rugby players and coaches including Naas Botha in 1999, Waisale Serevi and Gordon Tietjens. [6]
2008
The 13th edition of the Safari Sevens saw a rise in the gate fee of KSh200 per person to KSh800, in addition the weather was colder than usual but this did not produce any reduction in the crowds.[7] The spectators included Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi (who presented the prizes) and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as well as various other celebrities from the world of Kenyan showbusiness ensuring a constant flow of Hummers, Jaguars and Range Rovers into and out of the car park.
The Fiji Barbarians made their debut at the Safari Sevens in 2008. National teams taking part were Botswana, Emerging Springboks, France A (Les Blues), Japan, Namibia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya. In addition Samurai Sevens (a professional rugby invitation side) and the Kenya A sevens team (Shujaa) and University of Paris also took part. Bristol University Select (a team put together from Bristol University, Clifton RFC and the professional Guinness Premiership side Bristol)[8] returned to take part in the Safari Sevens yet again; they have participated in every Safari Sevens ever staged.
Kenya won the competition beating the Emerging Boks in the final, 31–12. The continued increase in the number of people attending the event and this year's rise in admission caused many critics [who?] to call for an upgrade in the quantity and quality of seating available for spectators.
2009
Ten nations took part in the 2009 event; Botswana, France A (Les Blues), Japan, Kenya (who finished sixth in the IRB Sevens World Series this year), Morocco, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Other foreign teams included the perennial Bristol University Select from the UK, Hamilton Raiders RFC from South Africa and Western Province schoolboys. There was also a Kenyan invitation side the Chairman’s Select. Other local entrants included various Kenya club veterans sides, ladies and schools teams.
Kenya Harlequins won the veterans competition beating a Rift Valley Academy Veterans 17–5, Western Province took the schools title with a 19–0 win over Nyanza, while Mwamba RFC I won the ladies title with a 54–0 win over Vivi.
2010 Tournament
In 2010 the event attracted 21,000 spectators and the gate receipts were KSh 17 million (compared to 12 million from 15,000 spectators in 2009). [citation needed] Georgia, Botswana and Morocco pulled out of the 2010 Safari Sevens at the last minute; Rwanda and Shujaa filled the gaps left by these withdrawals.
The future of the Tournament
The tournament, which was previously staged in July each year, will in future be held in September or October to attract more participation from international sides and foreign clubs. [citation needed] Despite there being over KSh 40 million in sponsorship from various sponsors the Safari Sevens still does not offer any prize money. There are some commentators [who?] of the opinion that until prize money is offered the tournament will continue to be subject to late withdrawls from major teams.
Sponsorship
In the first year the tournament was run on a shoe-string budget provided by the Rugby Patrons Society and the KRFU. In its second year the tournament was sponsored by East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), the makers of Tusker beer and became known as the Tusker Safari Sevens. EABL remained the sponsors up to, and including, the 2009 event; Safaricom became the main sponsor in 2010 and the tournament changed its name to the Safaricom Sevens to reflect this.
In 2008, EABL sponsored the event with a donation of KSh24 million. In 2009 this was increased to KSh 26 million, of which KSh20 million was allocated to go directly to KRFU for the running of the tournament and for their development work in Kenya. The other KSh6 million was earmarked to be spent on various peripheral supports, most notably media during the event.[9]
Results
A list of results for all tournaments.[10]
External links
References
- ^ Safari Sevens site: History
- ^ Kenyapage.net: The History of Rugby in Kenya
- ^ http://www.jamati.com/online/sports/africas-premier-rugby-tournament-the-tusker-safari-sevens/
- ^ Daily Nation, 25 May 2010: [1] Tickets on sale
- ^ Kenyapage.net: The History of Rugby in Kenya
- ^ Daily Nation, May 11, 2010 : Tietjens for Safaricom 7s
- ^ http://egoimagekenya.com/?p=207
- ^ http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/3840.php
- ^ http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/local/747.html
- ^ Safari Sevens 2009: Magazine