Indonesia will send its newly formed national rugby sevens team named ‘Harimau’ to participate in the International Rugby Board Asian Sevens Series 2009 – Borneo Sevens Tournament to be held in Kota Kinabalu from 31 October to 1 November 2009.
This will be the first rugby sevens tournament that Indonesia takes part in since the sport gained Olympic entry, to be played in the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
“Our team is young and eager and although Indonesia is still a very young rugby playing country, the team is fired up and ready to go,” says Sam Refshauge, national rugby sevens coach and Indonesian Rugby Football Union Development Officer. “The number of people playing – especially in schools – has really increased in recent years and we are hopeful that Indonesia can play and succeed at the top level in coming years,” Sam continues.
“This (event) is historical and even though we are ranked quite low for the start of the tournament, sports is always full of underdogs making surprises,” says team manager, Tito Vau. “The whole Indonesian rugby community is behind us and the ‘Harimau’ will show their appreciation by giving it their best on and off the field.”
Indonesia, ranked 12th out of 12 for the tournament is in the same group as Asian champions Japan along with regional powerhouses Thailand and Malaysia.
The national rugby sevens ‘Harimau’ will also take part in the prestigious Singapore Cricket Club Rugby Sevens Tournament to be held 7-8 November 2009.
