The International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Sevens tournament took place at Outeniqua Park in George, but came into the spotlight for the wrong reasons due to the quality of refereeing.

The 12 000 spectators often vented their feelings about forward passes that weren’t picked up, as well as infringements at the breakdown.

In South Africa’s quarterfinal against Fiji, for example, Portuguese referee Rohan Hoffman missed a number of infringements in the build-up to one of the tries against the Springboks.

While coach Paul Treu believes his players had more than enough chances to win the game, he is concerned about some of the referees.

“I think referees will be among our biggest challenges going forward. I don’t criticise them at all, but rather the system as a bunch of young guys are being thrown in at the deep-end,” said Treu.

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South Africa’s Springbok Sevens team lost to England in the Plate final of the Emirates Airline George Sevens tournament in a game they would rather forget, ending the tournament on a low note.

The Bok Sevens side lost their first ever final of any sort to the English in the World Series history, but had the embarrassment of doing it in front of an extremely disappointed crowd to finish the same way they did at the Dubai Sevens.

Last week the Boks lost to Australia in the Plate final, and in front of a partisan crowd in George they were again out of sorts as England dismantled them relying on turnovers and speed to beat the World Series champs.

After this loss, the Blitsboks will need to find an answer to their own woes, after being exposed for a lack of speed and flair in both the first two tournaments thus far in the series.

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Sevens rugby, as well as golf will appear at the 2016 Olympic Games after an executive board vote on Thursday  by the International Olympic Committee.

The decision, taken by secret ballot, is not binding as it has to be rubber-stamped by the entire IOC membership in a vote in Copenhagen in October – if successful it would take the amount of sports to 28.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) said in a statement on Thursday it is “delighted” that the IOC Executive Board has recommended Sevens as one of two sports for inclusion in the Olympic Games.

Bernard Lapasset, President of the IRB, said: “We would like to thank the IOC Executive Board for selecting Sevens from what are seven strong and diverse sports.

“We recognise the significance of this milestone in our campaign but are also mindful that the ultimate decision rests with the IOC members when they meet in Copenhagen on October 9.

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Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu have saluted his team and praised their overall performance in spite of losing 19 – 20 to Fiji in the final of the Edinburgh leg of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series.

The Bok Sevens team, who were crowned IRB World Seven Series Champions on Saturday, conceded four tries in the Cup Final – after Ryno Benjamin, Gio Aplon and Renfred Dazel all crossed the try-line. Mzwandile Stick and Vuyo Zangqa each kicked a conversion for the Springboks Sevens team, but their efforts was not enough to deny Fiji the Edinburgh Cup victory.

Treu’s side finish the season with 132 points, ahead of Fiji (102), England (98), New Zealand (88), Argentina (68) and Kenya (64) in sixth position on the log.

“It’s a bit disappointing to end the season like this, but I told the guys that we have been the most consistent team of the year. We have waited for 10 years to win the IRB World Sevens Series so we might as well enjoy this,” said Treu.

“We are the best team in the world and now we are going back to South Africa as the champions of the world. Let’s not forget that feeling because it does not happen every day.

“There’s been some great moments this season and what the guys have achieved will go down in eternity.

“I would also like to thank all our great supporters in South Africa and then also a huge thanks to SA Rugby for their support.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Springboks Sevens side needed a sudden death extra time score by Aplon to beat hosts Scotland 26-21 to reach the Final.

Bok Sevens skipper Stick held his nerve to convert Ryno Benjamin’s try in the dying seconds of the match to fight back and level the score at the death after the Scots built a lead through Sean Lamont’s brace of tries and Greig Laidlaw’s score. Zangqa and Dazel were the other try-scorers for the new IRB Sevens World Series champions.

Treu’s Springbok Sevens side easily defeated Australia in their quarterfinal clash on Sunday with Kyle Brown, Frankie Horne and Zangqa all scoring tries for the South Africans.

The newly crowned IRB Sevens World Champions arrives in Cape Town on Tuesday, June 2 June – at 16.30 at the Cape Town International Airport.

Source: rugby365.com

Pic: planetrugby.com

The South African Rugby Union have entered their bid in Dublin on Thursday to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015 or 2019.

SARU president, Mr Oregan Hoskins, announced at a media conference in Johannesburg that positive discussions with Government had seen the last brick fall into place.

The Government has been very supportive and they have provided the financial backing to allow us to complete what we believe is a compelling case to bring the Rugby World Cup back home, said Mr Hoskins. South Africa in this day and age is set up to host the very biggest global sporting events and we believe we would offer Rugby an unrivalled showcase for the game.

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South Africa Sevens will start their London Sevens Tournament with their opening match against RWC Sevens winners Wales.

The top seeded Springbok Sevens and Wales will play each other in the opening match of the London Sevens as Paul Treu�s side look to take a step closer to their first ever IRB Sevens World Series crown.

The two-day tournament in England is the penultimate tournament fixture on the World Series calendar. The popular Series ends a week later when Edinburgh play host to rugby�s Sevens stars.

South Africa has won three tournaments so far this season and they will be in action in three matches on the first day. The Springbok Sevens take on Wales in Pool A, followed by Germany and tackle Australia in their final fixture on day one.

Paul Treu�s team retained their Adelaide Sevens crown in their last outing, a result which stretched their overall lead over second placed England (76 points) to 28 points.

Hong Kong winners Fiji will face the much-improved Kenya side in Pool C, who will be buoyed by their first ever Series Cup final appearance in Adelaide. The USA and Scotland make up the rest of the pool.

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The Springbok Sevens defeated Kenya by 26-7 in the first all-Africa World Series Cup final played at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday morning (SA time) thereby retained the Adelaide Sevens title. The victory also allowed South Africa to stretch their World Series lead to 28 points over England.

South Africa thoroughly deserved their title again as they first had to overcome New Zealand and Fiji before their convincing display against Kenya on the third and final day of the tournament. In doing so they also exacted revenge for their 15-14 pool loss against the same opposition on day two at the Adelaide Oval.

Paul Treu�s team went into the halftime break with a vital 14-7 lead after tries by Robert Ebersohn and Vuyo Zangqa. The Kenyan captain Humphrey Kayange replied with a fine converted effort.

After the break, Kenya came out attacking the SA line almost at will, but the Springbok Sevens held firm and their defence was simply outstanding.

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The next installment in the exciting IRB Sevens World Series starts tomorrow in Adelaide and SA Sevens is ready to defend it’s crown from last year.

The Springbok Sevens won the 2008 final against a powerful New Zealand team and they eventually finished second on the Series log behind their great rivals.

The South Africans shrugged off their disappointing showing at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai with some sparkling displays of attacking rugby in Hong Kong last weekend, where they lost a thrilling final by two points to crowd favourites Fiji.

That performance allowed Paul Treu�s men to regain the outright lead on the Series log (84 points). Another good showing in Adelaide will edge the SA team closer to their ultimate dream of winning the Series outright for the first time.

Last weekend the team lost the services of Philip Snyman who, during the past few months, have developed into a key member of the team. Snyman sustained a hip injury in Hong Kong and have already returned home to Bloemfontein.

Howard Noble has already joined the team as replacement and his experience has allowed him to slot in easily with the rest of the squad.

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The Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has made two changes to the squad that will be competing in the upcoming IRB World Series tournaments in Hong Kong and Adelaide.

The inspirational Mzwandile Stick returns in place of the injured Gio Aplon, while Chase Minnaar replaces Paul Delport who, like Aplon, also suffers from a knee injury. The South African squad leaves on Sunday for Hong Kong via Johannesburg.

The hugely popular Hong Kong tournament is a vital event on the Series calendar because it will be played over three days and, more importantly, has 30 points on offer to the winner as suppose to the standard winning bonus of 20 points. The tournament starts on Friday 27 March.

Treu announced that the captaincy duties will be shared between Neil Powell, Mpho Mbiyozo and Stick. Stick was in sensational form for South Africa during the first two tournaments in Dubai and George, which the Bok Sevens team won in convincing style. He picked up an injury on the first day of the Wellington Sevens, which ruled him out of the USA event in San Diego and the World Cup Sevens in Dubai.

The SA team has two training matches against the Western Province Academy under its belt for the week and Treu believes that his team is well prepared.

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Springbok coach Peter de Villiers visited the Springbok Sevens teams in Dubai today for a motivational talk and customary jersey presentation.

De Villiers did the same in November, when the SA team played and won the Dubai Sevens title for the second time in three years.

South Africa is chasing a unique double. The fifteens won the World Cup two years ago in France and Paul Treu�s team is amongst the tournament favourites for the Sevens world crown, a feat, if achieved, would be unique and unmatched in world rugby history.

�You are the best in your positions and the best South Africa has to offer. Our country is Sevens mad at the moment and that is because of your wonderful achievements in Dubai and George last year, and also the manner in which you represent your country every time you guys pull the national colours over your heads,� said De Villiers when he spurred the team on to deliver their best over the next few days.

De Villiers was accompanied by SARU CEO Johan Prinsloo and SARU vice-president Rautie Rautenbach.

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