Odense is Counting Down to International Rugby in the City
Throughout Europe some of the world’s best rugby nations are preparing for the European Sevens Rugby Championships qualification. For Whitsun, the City of Odense is staging sevens rugby on a very high level.
On 22 and 23 May, Odense Athletics Stadium provides the framework for an international qualification tournament within the Olympic rugby sports discipline called sevens. At the event, ’Odense 7s’, some of the world’s leading rugby nations are participating.
International elite
France, as topseeded, belongs to the absolute world elite within men’s rugby and Spain is seeded number 4 in Europe. Both nations are taking part in the men’s tournament, which Denmark is also attending and to which Denmark has high expectations in terms of own performance.
Concurrently with the men’s tournament, the women are competing in the European Sevens Rugby B-Championships. In fact, it will be the first time they are playing an international sevens tournament on home ground. Their opponents are the physically strong nations, Poland and Hungary. Nevertheless, the Danish ambitions are high. For both the Danish rugby men and women, the aim is to qualify for the semi-final as a minimum. And this is not at all unrealistic.
Olympic goal
The Danish rugby community is very focused on sevens rugby, in general, and several clubs experience a growing interest for the sevens discipline.
Technical Manager of the Danish Rugby Union (DRU), Mikael Lai Rasmussen points out: “The growing interest is not doubt due to the increased focus on sevens rugby. The Olympic Games are a fantastic “door opener” for the rugby sport and for the most ambitious players”. And he underlines: “The strong interest in the Danish rugby community to improve our sevens level makes me feel that our dream to participate in the Olympic Games some day is absolutely within reach”.
Excitement and action
The Whitsun days schedule includes almost 24 hours of intense rugby action. Sevens rugby has a high audience appeal with a high intensity and excitement. The matches last 2 times 7 full speed minutes. All matches are on the same venue and spectator support is an important ingredience. The rules are simple and easy to understand, even for first time spectators.
Read more about the event such as time table, facts on the participants, news, results etc. on www.odense7s.dk
Odense 7s, 22 - 23 may at the Odense Athletics Stadium. www.odense7s.dk.
At Odense 7s, 10 nations are participating in the men’s qualification tournament and 12 nations in the women’s European Sevens Rugby B-Championships. Sevens rugby will be on the Olympic programme from 2016 on, and in 2012, Denmark is hosting the finals of the European Championships. Odense 7s is organised by DRU for FIRE-AER in cooperation with Sport Event Denmark, Sport Event Fyn and the City of Odense.
On 22 and 23 May, Odense Athletics Stadium provides the framework for an international qualification tournament within the Olympic rugby sports discipline called sevens. At the event, ’Odense 7s’, some of the world’s leading rugby nations are participating.
International elite
France, as topseeded, belongs to the absolute world elite within men’s rugby and Spain is seeded number 4 in Europe. Both nations are taking part in the men’s tournament, which Denmark is also attending and to which Denmark has high expectations in terms of own performance.
Concurrently with the men’s tournament, the women are competing in the European Sevens Rugby B-Championships. In fact, it will be the first time they are playing an international sevens tournament on home ground. Their opponents are the physically strong nations, Poland and Hungary. Nevertheless, the Danish ambitions are high. For both the Danish rugby men and women, the aim is to qualify for the semi-final as a minimum. And this is not at all unrealistic.
Olympic goal
The Danish rugby community is very focused on sevens rugby, in general, and several clubs experience a growing interest for the sevens discipline.
Technical Manager of the Danish Rugby Union (DRU), Mikael Lai Rasmussen points out: “The growing interest is not doubt due to the increased focus on sevens rugby. The Olympic Games are a fantastic “door opener” for the rugby sport and for the most ambitious players”. And he underlines: “The strong interest in the Danish rugby community to improve our sevens level makes me feel that our dream to participate in the Olympic Games some day is absolutely within reach”.
Excitement and action
The Whitsun days schedule includes almost 24 hours of intense rugby action. Sevens rugby has a high audience appeal with a high intensity and excitement. The matches last 2 times 7 full speed minutes. All matches are on the same venue and spectator support is an important ingredience. The rules are simple and easy to understand, even for first time spectators.
Read more about the event such as time table, facts on the participants, news, results etc. on www.odense7s.dk
Odense 7s, 22 - 23 may at the Odense Athletics Stadium. www.odense7s.dk.
At Odense 7s, 10 nations are participating in the men’s qualification tournament and 12 nations in the women’s European Sevens Rugby B-Championships. Sevens rugby will be on the Olympic programme from 2016 on, and in 2012, Denmark is hosting the finals of the European Championships. Odense 7s is organised by DRU for FIRE-AER in cooperation with Sport Event Denmark, Sport Event Fyn and the City of Odense.