DUBAI SEVENS
SEVENS TIME AGAIN Round 2 - DUBAI Dec 5th & 6th
By Helen Lauaki
The "Road to Rio" Brazil is what the HSBC is calling the World Rugby Sevens 2014 Series. A picture which captures the smiles and hopes of the top four team Captains was taken in Dubai which is the next round of competition. Samoa and Fiji are definitely hoping to make it again to the Finals. The line up for the Samoan team is yet to be announced but no doubt Coach Tafua has his favourites to start on Friday, Dubai time.
American Samoa will not be playing in this round.
South Africa and England were third and fourth in the Gold Coast and are expected to make the quarter finals this round. They will be working harder to make the finals.
Australia is another Team hoping to make the Finals. Samoan Australians, Brisbanite Pama Fou and Melbourne based Allan Fa'alava'au will be suiting up tomorrow. Allan stated that it has always been a dream of his to play rugby and world class level. He says, "Id watch rugby with my dad growing up in NZ and I knew this is what I wanted to be. I dreamed about playing for the All Blacks but to play for Australia is good enough." Allan moved to Australia with his family when he was high school aged. He played for a Melbourne sports school and was often played in State competitions. He played in the Under 18s Rep National competitions and was approached by the Selectors for the Australian Sevens squad. He has played for them ever since. Plagued with injuries, he wasn't selected to play in the Gold Coast but he is elated to be back in the squad. "I plan to help the Team raise our game and keep the forwards pushing forward. England will be one our toughest teams to beat," he says. He knows Samoa will also be a tough side. "Samoa is always going to be a strong team but we hope to do well. Id love to play at the 2016 Olympics." This is something that would be another achievement and something he's wanted to do as a young boy.
Fox Sports will be broadcasting the Dubai Round here in Australia.
The "Road to Rio" Brazil is what the HSBC is calling the World Rugby Sevens 2014 Series. A picture which captures the smiles and hopes of the top four team Captains was taken in Dubai which is the next round of competition. Samoa and Fiji are definitely hoping to make it again to the Finals. The line up for the Samoan team is yet to be announced but no doubt Coach Tafua has his favourites to start on Friday, Dubai time.
American Samoa will not be playing in this round.
South Africa and England were third and fourth in the Gold Coast and are expected to make the quarter finals this round. They will be working harder to make the finals.
Australia is another Team hoping to make the Finals. Samoan Australians, Brisbanite Pama Fou and Melbourne based Allan Fa'alava'au will be suiting up tomorrow. Allan stated that it has always been a dream of his to play rugby and world class level. He says, "Id watch rugby with my dad growing up in NZ and I knew this is what I wanted to be. I dreamed about playing for the All Blacks but to play for Australia is good enough." Allan moved to Australia with his family when he was high school aged. He played for a Melbourne sports school and was often played in State competitions. He played in the Under 18s Rep National competitions and was approached by the Selectors for the Australian Sevens squad. He has played for them ever since. Plagued with injuries, he wasn't selected to play in the Gold Coast but he is elated to be back in the squad. "I plan to help the Team raise our game and keep the forwards pushing forward. England will be one our toughest teams to beat," he says. He knows Samoa will also be a tough side. "Samoa is always going to be a strong team but we hope to do well. Id love to play at the 2016 Olympics." This is something that would be another achievement and something he's wanted to do as a young boy.
Fox Sports will be broadcasting the Dubai Round here in Australia.