SA Rugby’s High-Performance Manager for Sevens Rugby, Marius Schoeman, who acts as manager for the SA A-team at the Africa Men’s Sevens tournament, has given it serious thought of how the standard of Sevens in Africa could be improved.

In the first place, he says in concurring with the views of African sides’ coaches, is that not enough Sevens is played at a higher level for players to develop and to up their own standards.

“It is our first Academy tour in two years,” Schoeman said – and he pointed out that South Africa, like so many of the current participating team’s managers, also had a problem in selecting a squad. Their squad included players from the Varsity Cup competition who were completely new to the Sevens game.

In the past, Schoeman pointed out, the African sides had only the Africa Men’s Sevens tournament over one round to hit their top gear and determine the African champion.

“This has been a great tournament so far,” he enthused. But, he said, more Sevens is needed for the players to develop.

“Perhaps, as an option, one can run two tournaments at the same venue, with say four or five strong sides in the one where they play among one another.”

The rest of the teams will meanwhile compete in a larger tournament as it is now.

The winners or top sides of each competition will then go through to the play-offs against one another, while the other sides continue as for the present tournament.

Schoeman suggests that such a system will provide coaches with the advantage of establishing a “conveyor belt” to build on going forward.

• Although Schoeman didn’t elaborate further on the structure, it makes a lot of sense: Four or five teams like Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and one or two others in one group and the other sides in the larger group of which the top sides will play for the winner’s honors.

It will progressively become strong opposition and good competition for all … a wish voiced by many of the coaches at the present competition, where the second leg is lauded by the coaches and promises to produce better rugby following the teams’ experience and competition at the first round.

The winner of the 2024 Africa Seven’s tournament will be determined on Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 at Labourdonnais Sports Grounds in Mauritius. Matches will be available for free live stream and broadcast on the platforms below, kicking off at 9:00 AM (Local Mauritius Time) (08:00 EAT):

LIVE STREAM

RugbyPass TV: https://rugbypass.tv/live/269217

SuperSport: https://www.youtube.com/@supersport/streams

Rugby Africa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RugbyAfrique

Rugby Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyAfrique/

LIVE BROADCAST

SuperSport OTT7: Channel 951

MBC 11

MBC HD