Rugby Tens Championship (R10C) 2022 Kicks Off This Weekend

The first legs of the Rugby Tens Championship (R10C) take place this weekend in South Africa and more details have been announced about the coaches and players – which include Japanese women’s player Chiharu Nakamura.

R10C – Equality at the Forefront

Rugby Tens Championship co-founder Andreea Trufasu says the strive for gender equality and inclusivity in the sport is one of the primary reasons why its second-ever annual tournament will be held in South Africa, a country she believes is well-placed to take its advancement of women’s rugby to the next level.

Trufasu added “We want to show South Africans that girls and women’s rugby is worthwhile playing and worthwhile watching, it’s a pathway and a career for women and to break down some of the stigmas that exist in the rugby landscape for women in South Africa, which people know of, but we don’t talk about. ”

The other main goals are to create a social impact in the women’s community and to work with local female creatives and activists.

Teams and Players Rugby Tens Championship (R10C) 2022

The five teams involved in the Rugby Tens Championship 2022 in South Africa are:

1. Balkans Honey Badgers – The women’s team is coached by Head Coach Richard van Den Broek, the current Head Coach of Sweden’s Rugby Men’s 7s, while the men are coached by Sean Erasmus – Rugby Director and Head Coach at Paarl Boys’ High School.
2. Blue Bulls Rugby Union – TBC
3. Cape Town Wild Dogs – Ryno Combrink coaches the men while former Bok and current Director of Rugby Academy Ireland Dan Van Zyl leads the women, assisted by SA sevens legend Cecil Afrika (with 345 World Sevens Series matches and over 1462 points scored for the Blitzbokke).
4. San Clemente Rhinos – In the coaching department, legends such as Fiji star Waisele Serevi will take control of San Clemente Rhinos,  while the team’s women coach is former Blitzbok Frankie Horne.
5. Serengeti Elephants – The Serengeti Elephants men are coached by DTH Van der Merwe who has played for Canada at multiple Rugby World Cups and their women are coached by former Black fern Aimee Sutorius.

Some of the notable players and coaches include athletes from Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland and many more (more than 25 countries are represented!)

Fijians Adi Vani Buleki (HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series), Reapi Ulunisau (2020 Olympics), Viniana Riwai (HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series), Rusila Nagasau (2016 & 2020 Olympics), Kenyan Andrew Amonde (2013 & 2018 RWC7s) Oscar Ouma (2013 RWC7s), Grace Adhiambo (2020 Olympics), Stellah Wafula (2020 Olympics), Judith Okumu (2020 Olympics), Janet Okelo (2016 & 2020 Olympics), as well as New Zealand’s Shakira Baker (2014 RWC, 2018 RWC7s, 2016 Olympics), are just some of the World Series and Olympians to feature in South Africa.

South African stars Branco du Preez (2013 RWC7s), Marithy Pienaar (2018 RWC7s), Lorinda Brown (HSBC World Cup Sevens Series), Mathrin Simmers (2022 RWC7s),  Kirsten Conrad (HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series), and Ryno Benjamin (2009 & 2013 RWC7s) ars just some of the homegrown talent on display.

From Asia, Japan Sakura 7s star Chiharu Nakamura is returning to South Africa just weeks after representing her country at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town. Nakamura has also played at two Olympic Games (2016 & 2020) as well as the 2018 & 2022 RWC7s.

Rugby Tens Championship Schedule 2022

• October 7 2022 – Harlequins Rugby Club (schedule)
• October 8, 2022 – Loftus Versveld (schedule)
• October 14 & 15, 2022 – Danie Craven Rugby Stadium

Rugby Tens Championship (R10C) – Background

The Rugby Tens Championship (R10C) concept is the brainchild of Trufasu, a former Romanian Olympic swimmer, and her husband Derek Nellmapius, a South African who had previously played club rugby for Pirates Rugby Club in Johannesburg.

The inaugural competition took place in Lisbon in October 2022, with the aim to promote equal opportunities for men and women and to develop young talent in the girl’s and boys’ age-grade competitions through an alternative pathway.

Rules of Tens Rugby @ Rugby Tens Championship (R10C)

1. Each team has 10 players, five forwards and five backs
2. Forwards may include: 2 props, 1 hooker and 2 locks
3. Backs may include: 1 scrum-half, 1 fly-half, 1 centre, 1 wing, and 1 fullback
4. Matches are 20 minutes (10 minutes each half)
5. Five rolling subs on the bench.
6. Conversion attempts are drop kicks and must be taken within 40 seconds
7. The team that scores takes the kick-off
8. There are no loose forwards in the scrum
9. A yellow card suspension lasts two minutes
10. If a match is drawn after 20 minutes,  it goes to 5-min sudden death followed by drop kicking knock-out competition

Photo Credit: Rugby Tens Championship (R10C)

Where Can you Watch the R10C 2022?

The matches are due to be shown live in South Africa on Live on SABC. The organisers have confirmed that all matches will be streamed via their website – tv.rugbytens.com

Kyle Brown will be commentating after representing the Blitzboks for 11 years. Kat Merchant, a former England 15 Rugby World Cup winner in 2014 is also in the commentary booth.

Image Credit: R10C 2022

Rugby Tournaments 2022

• World Schools Festival 2022 – Thailand.
• Saxo Bank Women & Girls Sports 7s 2022 – Dubai.
• Chiang Mai World Flair International Rugby Tens 2022.
• Emirates Dubai Sevens Rugby 2022 dates confirmed.