Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Bermuda World Tens the launchpad for 2021 series that hopes to become T20 of rugby

Toutai Kefu (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)

Eight privately owned franchise teams will take part in next month’s World Tens Series, a new version of ten-a-side rugby that has plans to expand to 16 teams across twelve locations in 2021 following completion of the inaugural three-week series in Bermuda on November 7. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Five of the eight teams have already been confirmed, include Ohio Aviators (Columbus), Asia Pacific Dragons (Singapore), SX10 (Cape Town) London Royals and Miami Sun, with the latter three brands created purely for this concept. 

Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu was recently unveiled as boss of Asia Pacific Dragons, with South African 7s legend Frankie Horne in charge of the SX10 franchise. On the pitch, players who will be involved include 7s stars Osea Kolinisau, Collins Injera, Cecil Afrika, Tom Mitchell and Willy Ambaka and XV players Nafi Tuitavake and Bryce Campbell who have both recently appeared in England’s Gallagher Premiership. 

Video Spacer

Watch Tonga boss Toutai Kefu in action in the behind the scenes documentary made by RugbyPass prior to Japan 2019

Video Spacer

Watch Tonga boss Toutai Kefu in action in the behind the scenes documentary made by RugbyPass prior to Japan 2019

These stars of the game will mix it up with young, hungry individuals, with 10 contracts being granted to players at the IMG academy through the rugby combines. 

World Tens Series management have reportedly worked closely with the Bermuda Government to follow the stringent protocols regarding Covid-19, with teams staying in their own resort where they will be in their own bubble throughout their time on the island.  

Bermuda World Tens Series COO Paul Holmes said: “We are hugely excited about launching the World Tens Series in Bermuda next month as a culmination of a lot of hard work finally gets realised. Lots has gone on behind the scenes to get us to this point and I would like to thank the five franchises we have announced for their total commitment to this series.

“I would also like to recognise the support of the Bermuda Government in allowing us to bring this historic event to the island, during these difficult times we face owing to Covid-19. There is an opportunity with the Tens Series to grow our game and bring new audiences to rugby. The rules have been designed with the audience at the forefront of our thinking, so matches can be exciting and competitive in equal measure. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“The Tens format can become for rugby what T20 has done for cricket where Test Match players can star in a shortened version of the game. Becoming the IPL of rugby is the ultimate goal and we look forward to October 24 and starting the World Tens Series journey.”

* Players who will feature include Tom Mitchell, Alex Davis, Tom Bowen, Cecil Afrika, Craig Hunt, Collins Injera, Willy Ambaka, Oscar Ouma, Andrew Amonde, Jacques Du Toit, JT Jackson, Christian Ambadiang, Tienje Burger, Harry McNulty, JP Du Plessis, Bryce Campbell, Dylan Fawsitt, Chris Baumann, JP Eloff, Shalom Suniula, Reikert Hattingh, Ben Cima, Peter Tiberio, Will Magie, Kyle Baillie, Eric Howard, Osea Kolinisau, Tomasi Alasio, Nafi Tuitavake, Chris Eves, Api Naikatini, Kurt Morath.

* Tournament rules are:

The eight teams will be drawn into two groups of four with a round-robin format on day one and a quarter-final, semi-final and the final taking place on day two. The series final will be played on 7 November which will allow for more drama and excitement to unfold;

Each team is made up of a squad of 20 players with match squads of 16. Matches are 10 minutes each half with two minutes for half time and unlimited rolling substitutes throughout the match;

ADVERTISEMENT

Conversion jeopardy with the conversion after the try ensures that the conversion is now worth between one and five points depending on which zone the kicker selects to kick from;

No match will be a draw with the excitement of a match play shoot-out if the game is all tied up after 20 minutes.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

19 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Tommy Seymour: ‘I'm just glad I'm not playing now. There's an embarrassment of riches’ Tommy Seymour: ‘I'm just glad I'm not playing now. There's an embarrassment of riches’
Search