Eagles out to retain title in the Borneo Sevens 2024 rugby tournament
Published on: Saturday, March 09, 2024
By: Winnie Kasmir
Borneo Flyers.
SANDAKAN: Borneo Eagles will be going all out to defend their title in the Borneo Sevens 2024 rugby tournament being held at the Eagles Rugby Club here, this weekend.
However, the team will not be taking it easy as they expect to face a stiff challenge from Australian side Briars and the Cavaliers from New Zealand.
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Borneo Eagles team manager Iskandar Wasli said the squad which is led by New Zealander Kaleb Emile Vaoga wants to put up an even better showing than last year.
“We want to defend the championship title and play better than last year,” said Iskandar.
For Kaleb, defending their title is the target but he is also looking forward to getting on the field and having some fun with the local boys.
“This is what we do in New Zealand and it will be great for us. The weather is a big difference coming from New Zealand but we have got used to it and are looking forward to the tournament,” he said.
The local challenge will be led by defending champions Borneo Eagles
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Meanwhile, Borneo Sevens 2023 women’s champions Sabah NZ 7s are going by the name Borneo Flyers this year and they will be led by Dhys Faleafaga, a New Zealand Black Fern player.
Dhys when met on the sidelines said she is very proud of the team adding, “the girls are very skilful ruggers.
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“I am excited to play with the team this weekend and it is a privilege to be captaining this side. We hope to be able to defend the title but going into the tournament we will take it day by day, game by game and hopefully come up with a win,” she said.
Borneo Flyers manager Noor Shaidan Sa’ad identifies India and Uzbekistan as their strongest opponents, with the latter being a familiar contender.
The team aims to retain the championship title, aligning with the aspirations of Sabah Rugby Union President cum Eagles Rugby Club President Velayuthan Tan.
The Borneo Sevens 2024 sees 14 teams, including six women’s teams, contending for the prestigious title of the Greenest Sevens in the World at the Eagles Rugby Club from March 9-10.
Champions of Borneo Sevens 2024, both in the men’s and women’s categories will take home a challenge trophy and US$5,000 cash respectively.
The runners-up of both categories will receive US$2,000 cash respectively.
In the men’s category, the eight teams are divided into two pools with defending champions Borneo Eagles, Briars, Belgium and Malaysia Uni in Pool A.
Pool B comprises Cavaliers, Uzbekistan, Delhi Hurricanes and DKI Jakarta.
The women’s teams will be playing in a round-robin format and the teams competing for the title are Borneo Flyers, Uzbekistan, Philippines Eagles RFC, Briars, BAC Singapore and DKI Jakarta.
The tournament will kick off with the Borneo Flyers playing against DKI Jakarta at 9am today (Saturday).
Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh is expected to attend the closing ceremony and watch the finals of both men’s and women’s categories that will be held starting 4.30pm tomorrow (Sunday).
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