11/02/2009
Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans Takes SA Players Through Their Paces
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has today taken 80 junior South Australian rugby players through an exclusive coaching session on the Adelaide Oval.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for South Australia’s up and coming players, the coaching clinic gave the national Wallabies coach a first-hand look at local talent as well as the venue for the 2009 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide from April 3-5.
Participants in the coaching session were all players under 16 years of age, vying for State representative selection and represent local clubs Brighton, Burnside, Elizabeth, North East Districts, Old Collegians, Onkaparinga, Southern Suburbs and Vikings, representing Port Adelaide and Woodville clubs.
The clinic involved a question and answer session as well as a practical skills and drills session, specific to Rugby Sevens.
Deans explained to the group the value he sees in Rugby Sevens as a development tool for the Test playing nations.
“Tournaments such as International Rugby Sevens Adelaide introduce our players to many of the same features that are prevalent at Test level.”
“This is the case both in terms of the public interest and interaction around the event, but also with regards to specific match preparation, and learning to counter the different playing styles on show among the competing countries.”
“Last year James O’Connor debuted for the Australian Sevens, featuring both at Adelaide, but also on the international stage at the annual Hong Kong Sevens.”
“While the 18-year-old had already shown his potential through the Australian Schoolboys programme, and with the Western Force in Super rugby, the grounding James received from his international Sevens experience undoubtedly fast-tracked his career.”
“There will be other James O’Connors who will use the Sevens pathway.”
“That is why International Rugby Sevens Adelaide is such an important event on the rugby calendar, not only for Australia, but also for the other 15 competing nations.”
“The game remains an important international development tool for Australian rugby, but the same is true for other nations, such as New Zealand, who first introduced Greats Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen, amongst others, to international play via their Sevens programme.”
“It may be that we see the next generation of Rugby Greats take the formative steps of their international careers at the Adelaide Oval in April.”
International Rugby Sevens Adelaide 2009 takes place on the Adelaide Oval from April 3 to 5, kicking off under Adelaide Oval’s lights this year for the first time.
The 16 competing teams are Argentina, Australia, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, USA, Wales
Tickets start from $17 and are available through Ticketek at www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849.